Is Your Heating Ductwork Sealed and Contained

Heating ductwork is an unseen part of your home but it has a great impact on the comfort level and temperature of your home. If your ductwork leaks air then you are not getting maximum airflow to all parts of your house. This can lead to some rooms being noticeably colder than others in the winter or hotter than others in the summer. An even bigger issue, though, is the extra energy costs and the energy loss that occurs with leaky ductwork.

You can check your heating ductwork for leakage in a couple of different ways. The most common method is to measure the airflow in each room to see just how much air is making it from the furnace out through the ducts. In older homes, it is not unusual to find that as much as 40% of heated and cooled air is lost through leaky ductwork. That is a huge number and one that makes going back and re-sealing ductwork seem appealing. The difficult part is how to go about accessing the ductwork in order to seal it. After all, it is located behind finished walls and is not readily accessible.

Heating Ductwork

There are two primary ways of sealing leaky ductwork. The first way is the most thorough way, but it is also the most expensive way - cutting through drywall to expose the ductwork and tape the joints securely. Many homeowners believe that sealing up leaky ducts with duct tape is a simple solution to their problems. However, this is not a good choice for sealing ductwork because it does not seal tightly enough. Instead, use specialty metal tape that does not get brittle over time.

The second way to seal leaky ductwork is to higher a professional company to spray an aerosol sealant into the ductwork. This method is quicker and easier than cutting through your drywall, and you don't have to go back and do drywall repairs afterwards. Regardless of the method you choose, properly sealed heating ductwork is one of the best things you can do for your home. It will keep you more comfortable in your home and save you money on energy.

By Gregg Hicks

Protecting against Energy Loss In Your Ductwork - Whether or not Your House Is Old or New

Because the entire treated air within your house travels within the ductwork, there's a considerable possibility of energy reduction in this part of the system. In new houses or old, however, there are certainly efficient ways to prevent this energy loss as well as waste of money that results.

Design

The design of both the supply and return ductwork has a major effect on duct efficiency and energy loss. Your duct system has to be made to fit inside the space available to it. Based on your home’s configuration, the design could possibly be insufficient to deliver conditioned air for all areas of your house. An excess of “Y” branches or damaged ducts may also mean very poor performance. Design factors are simpler to address during new construction, but even in existing houses, ductwork can be reconfigured to become more efficient.

Sealing

Your whole network of ducts needs to be properly sealed for preventing air leaks and energy loss. Each part of the ductwork should fit securely together with adjoining sections, specifically elbows and joints. Connections have to be sealed with mastic or metal tape. Typical duct tape isn't suggested because the adhesive can dry up and fail after some time. Ducts also need to be adequately insulated since energy is often lost within the thin metal of the ductwork itself.

Sizing

Ducts have to be correctly sized to be effective and avoid energy loss. They have to be large enough to carry and disperse sufficient volumes of heated or cooled air to the furthest points of the duct network. They can't be too small or they'll limit airflow within the system.

Placement

Ducts must be placed into conditioned and insulated parts of the house where possible. Running ductwork through garage areas, crawl spaces, or unfinished basements or attics increases the chance of energy loss.

Contact Sandium Heating and Air today for answers to your questions about ductwork efficiency and just what may be done to reduce energy loss all through your ductwork system.

5 Tips To Winterize Your Home

1. Tune-up the heating system

 

As you probably know from the previous winters, approximately 30% of the household expenses during the cold season stem from the heating system. On a side note, based on the region you live in and the resource you utilize for heating - mainly electricity, gas and oil - this expenditure could easily double. Therefore, it is highly advisable to test their functionality, check for faulty devices, change filter systems and perform any other maintenance tasks to ensure they are in top working condition.

 

2. Check the insulation on the ductwork

 

Without properly insulating the ductwork that runs all across your house, you risk wasting about 60% of the heated air by trying to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors. If you're tired of wasting so much money, then it would be a good idea to insulate the ducts, particularly in the cold areas of one's house such as the basement, attic or crawlspaces. In case you observe pinches and gasps, then utilize a metal backed tape to fix them. Even though regular duct tape can do the trick in most cases, it won't be as efficient if you have an older ductwork. Don't forget to wrap up the pipes that run outside your house as well.

 

3. Button up the home windows

 

Ideally, winterizing the windows would imply replacing the current home windows with resilient storm house windows as their extra layer of protection works great on keeping the warmth inside the house. However, if you can't afford to spend money on new home windows, there is still a viable solution for your personal situation, namely insulated blinds. While many homeowners don't give them too much credit, in reality the insulated blinds have the potential of doubling or even tripling a window's efficiency level.

 

4. Block the air leaks

 

Did you know that air infiltration is the number one reason for the low temperatures at your residence? However, air leaks are simple to handle as all you need to do is walk around with a smoke stick to  discover and block them. Getting door sweepers and caulking the doors and home windows is usually an easy trick to prevent cold air from making its way into your house.

 

5. A programmable thermostat would really come in handy

 

Since you want to keep the heating bill from eating into your bank account too much, it would be wise to spend money on a programmable thermostat that will turn the heating system on and off according to the desired interior temperature.

Warning signs of HVAC Ductwork Problems

HVAC ductwork issues can go unnoticed for a long time, but the efficiency of this air delivery system directly influences the performance of a home's air conditioner, central heater or heat pump.

A home's HVAC may be losing as much as 30 percent of its conditioned air as a result of faulty or leaky ducts. The HVAC system contains of a long, branching group of duct pipes that snake throughout a house, hidden behind walls, ceilings and floors, or in the attic, crawlspace or garage. Because the majority of this system is hidden, house owners can have a hard time visually assessing ductwork's condition. Further, even if the ducts were installed correctly, over time connections can loosen or ducts can incur damage.

Most often, ductwork problems require the help of a expert; however, house owners can use the list below to confirm their suspicion of problematic ducts:

* Uninsulated ducts - When a portion of the ductwork system travels through areas that do not have access to cooled or heated air, like an attic or garage, cool air moving through the ducts will succumb to the hotter attic air surrounding the duct pipes, a process called conduction. In the winter, heated air can cool off for the same reason. This ductwork problem, however, is easily remedied by insulating ducts.

* Damaged ducts - A variety of factors can lead to damaged ducts, such as connections breaking loose, human interference or poor installation methods. No matter the cause, if conditioned air leaks out of the ducts, the house owner will pay for it in terms of higher energy costs because of reduced efficiency of the HVAC system. Sealing ducts can remedy leaks, but seriously damaged ducts may require that the house owner replace a portion of the HVAC system's ductwork.

* Poor duct returns - A healthy, efficient ductwork system relies on a balanced supply of air sent into the house, along with a healthy amount of return air that moves back into the HVAC equipment. The return air portion of ductwork is particularly prone to problems such as a lack of adequate return grilles, and the HVAC system is prone to leakage too. Proper inspection will identify the root of ductwork problems. There must be an equal amount of return air to support the supply air ducts. For every 1 ton of a/c capacity there must be 400 cubic feet per minute of air volume available in both return air duct and supply air. So for example, a three ton a/c systems will need 1200 CFM of duct duct work in both supply and return air ducts.

For house owners experiencing hot or cold spots and restrictive air flow in their house should contact an HVAC qualified professional. They will perform a comprehensive ductwork inspection in the house, and will make any recommendations to improve the house owner's HVAC service.

Getting Your Furnace Ready for the Winter Weather

November is here, the cold weather season is upon us. In fact many of us are already dealing with snow and freezing temperatures. This is the season that many people love. I mean who doesn't long for the brisk chill of a cool November day? Cold weather, cuddling by the fire, hot chocolate..  That said- winter has a way of sneaking up on us.  As a result, it's imparitive to take quick action to ensure that your home is a warm, comfortable living space during what could be a very cold winter.

Neglecting your hvac system can lead to disastrous results. If you aren't careful your living room could turn into the Arctic Circle. The cold weather, as much as we love it, belongs outside. You look forward to the wondrous benefits of winter: hot cocoa, crackling fire in the  fireplace and family gatherings. Well, in order to enjoy these traditional winter activities you should make sure that your heating system is serviced and running properly.

If you have a older, outdated heating system whether it has performed wonderfully or questionably, have it inspected soon. Even if it worked without a problem during  past winters, there may be hard-to-detect problems, the result of wear and tear from years and years of use.. If you're hesitant to spend money on a heating system evaluation, consider it an investment in your peace of mind. Having a factory-trained HVAC technician perform a system evaluation can lead to more energy efficiency and lower heating bills over the next few years. Maintaining your heating system will not only bring a financial savings on your heating bills, but also help you avoid  future repairs that may have been prevented if caught when they were minor issues.

It's important to schedule regular servicing to guarantee uninterrupted cold-weather operation. In addition to having a seasonal check-up performed by a certified HVAC technician, there are additional steps homeowners can take to increase the efficiency of their heating systems. Change the air filter's at the beginning of every heating season and check it every few weeks tthrough the winter. Also, inspect the heat exchanger for holes or cracks and make certain there are no carbon monoxide leaks.

Keep your eyes open for red flags. If your house isn't being heated evenly you should figure out why, and if you are also having humidity problems, your system could be malfunctioning.

If your furnace appears to be on it's last leg it may be smarter to invest in a energy efficient model than to be dumping money into a sinking ship. Remember, it's an investment. So do your research.

In the event that you need to purchase a new furnace, take a deep breath and contact your local HVAC company. They can solve your heating problems well in advance of winter's cold weather. This is why it is important to take preventive measures as opposed to waiting until the last possible moment to take action, or worse, putting it off completely.

Remember, don't rely solely on your judgment to diagnose heating problems call your local heating professional. With his expert service and your own regular maintenance checks you and your family will enjoy a safe, warm home all winter long!

4 Benefits of Regular Duct Cleaning and Repair

The drive home from work: traffic congestion, hard on the lungs- all the smoke from semi trucks and other big vehicles. After a full day inside a cubicle, you may look at the city you live in and see nothing but air pollution. How do you survive breathing the fumes of what you and your fellow neighbors have created?

You can't wait to get inside under a cool air conditioner and breath in some clean air for a change. Maybe that is what you expect to happen. But if it is, sorry to deliver some bad news, you are not breathing in the clean air you think you are..

Are you aware that the Environmental Protection Agency estimates household air is up to 70 times more polluted than what you breath in everyday during your work commute?

70 TIMES!

Most of this indoor pollution exists because people fail to get their ducts and furnace cleaned as often as they should.The cost of ignoring basic maintenance on your HVAC system can produce  pollution worse than anything you will  encounter outside, and could lead to expensive air duct service - or more serious, duct replacement.

You can't afford to take air duct cleaning for granted any longer.  Here are 4 benefits of quality air duct cleaning and care:

1. Your health. Inside your current ductwork, there are actually all sorts of unwanted critters waiting for yourself to uncover. Harmful bacteria, fungus, mold and mildew spores, animal dander, as well as pollen, consistently collect to contaminate the quality of your own clean air. Through air-duct cleaning and heater cleaning, you can remove these factors before they take control of you by way of allergies, asthma, or or other illnesses.

2. Energy savings. The EPA estimates that it doesn't even take one-tenth of an inch of dust buildup on a heating coil to negatively affect your energy efficiency. 

3. Less work around the house.  By engaging in routine maintenance and air duct cleaning you can greatly reduce the time you spend on menial chores like dusting.

4. Longer life expectancy of your heating and air conditioning equipment. By regularly engaging in good quality air-duct cleaning, or hiring an HVAC specialist to ensure your ducts are getting the treatment they need for maximum overall performance, you help reduce the possibility of air duct repair or air duct replacement, that will certainly be awaiting you down the road otherwise. 

It is best to stay on top of the problem before it is too late. But if it is time for an air duct replacement, act quickly. The money you can quickly make up for in a more efficient energy system and future awareness that will prevent serious problems before they occur.

6 Ways to Reduce Your Winter Heating Bills

It has been another difficult year economically but now it's time to gear up for the holidays and plan for next year. We spend a lot to heat our home, now it's time to come up with a plan to reduce those heating bills. I know you don't like throwing your money away. A family spends approximately $2000 a year for winter heating, this amount can be even more if you do not take care of little things that can increase efficiency of your heating system.

Insulating

The first step you should take is making sure your home is properly insulated.  Proper insulation will keep your indoors warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There are various forms of insulation like spray foam, fiberglass, rigid foam and cellulose and many others. Once your home is properly insulated your winters will be more comfortable and you will be saving money on the cost on heating for those cold days.

Plugging Air Leaks

Whether your home is new or old, before winter hits you should check every window and door for air leaks. A leaky home will allow cool air to get inside and warm air to go outside and that will increase your heating bills. Your HVAC system will have to overwork to keep your home warm which will mean more fuel and maintenance expenses for you.

Here are a few tips to check and fix the air leaks in your home.

1) Check out the weather stripping around the windows and doors

2) If your insulation has leaks then use the insulation tape to seal them.

3) If there are rooms in your home that you do not use frequently, make sure to apply sheeting to the doors leading to them.

4) Install vent blocks in the rooms your don't use.

5) Seal all the cracks in the walls.

6) Try to prevent constant running in and out of the house (remember your parents constantly reminding you to stop running in and out of the house when you were a kid?). Everytime you open the door you are letting in cold air and letting out warm air. 

These are some simple tips that can greatly reduce winter heating costs. You should also call your HVAC company to come in and do a routine winter servicing of your heating system and make sure that there are no leaks in your duct work. Don't forget that lowering your thermostat by even 1 degree will save you money over the long term. 

How to Test Your Heating & AC Ducts for Leakages

Developing a home that's energy-efficient has numerous benefits. It'll lower your carbon footprint, therefore making your house more eco-friendly. It'll make your house more energy-efficient, therefore costing you less every single month in your energy bill. There are many areas within your home that you should pay attention to in order to find air leaks that wreak havoc on efficiency and your wallet. Certainly one of the individual areas is the air conditioning (heating, ventilating, and ac) unit's ductwork. Even when your house is new, but particularly if it's old, air leaks can exist through the system.

Checking and repairing any air conditioning leaks within the ductwork is crucial to keeping the system, as well as your home, efficient. A lot of the ductwork inside a house send either heated or cooled air in to the different spaces of the house. Usually, there's one large duct that functions as the return to the heating/cooling unit itself. Each one of these ductwork should be correctly sealed from air leaks to be able to function correctly and effectively. Many houses, however, frequently have significant problems like shredded insulation, damaged duct junctions, even holes chewed with the insulation and ductwork by rats and/or rodents.

Air conditioning ductwork are pressurized, so leaks which exist could be far worse and much more pricey than other air leaks around your home. The quantity of air that escapes via a leak inside a duct is magnified due to that pressurization.

Being able to access all your ductwork could possibly be the trickiest part, although fixing the leaks could be relatively easy. Leaks many times can be seen with just a flashlight. You may also make use of the "wet hands" technique - turn the air conditioning unit on therefore the ductwork become pressurized and ready: a wet hand may lead you directly to the leak. If you have trouble finding the leaks yourself then I suggest calling a qualified HVAC specialist to come out check the ducts for you. If you were able to find the leaks yourself then continue on with how to repair the leaks.

Hardware stores carry various kinds of sealing kits for ductwork. Prior to going towards the store, though, you will need to have the ability to tell the sales representative assisting you what material your ductwork are, and just how they're suspended to be able to find the appropriate repair package.

Duct tape can be used for  a lot of things, however this is somewhere the title states everything! Easily repair rips or tears in ductwork with duct tape. Take this into account when you use duct tape - it doesn't adhere well to dusty surfaces. When the surface where your leak is provides extensive dust (also it most likely will), then you've two options:

1. Clean off the dust (much more difficult than you think)

2. Wrap the duct tape around and round the section in which the leak is and just hide the dust - much simpler than the first option!

If while you are checking the ductwork you see the insulation appears thin, it is simple to add more to the surface of the existing insulation.

Caulk works effectively to seal the air leaks that are commonly found at the junctions between ducts and the registers where the air is pushed out into your home.

Heating Alternatives to Reduce Winter Heating Costs

With the winter season upon us, most people are researching ways to help lower their heating bills. There are many ways to do this, and they can be as simple as a few quick do-it-yourself home improvements or a call to your local HVAC company.

The three most effective and simple steps can be completed in as little as a few hours. 

1. Lower the temperature on your thermostat. 3 to 5 degrees may not feel like much but can make quite a difference in terms of saving money over a period of time, and if you start to get a little chilly add an extra layer of clothing before turning up the thermostat. 

2. Space heaters are fairly inexpensive and can be very energy efficient if you do some research. Heating the 1 or 2 rooms you use the most instead of your whole house can save money on heating bills, and is often recommended by government departments. 

3.  Winterizing your home by adding window seals where needed or using caulk to stop leaks is a simple and effective way to ensure your heating system is not working in vain. If you don't already have them you may want to consider  double-paned windows, although you may need to call a professional to have him install them for warranty purposes.

While the above tips will increase efficiency and lower bills, sometimes it is necessary to discuss some steps that include a larger investment. They are long- term solutions that  will pay off by lowering your heating bills. Here are four heating alternatives to look into.

Natural Gas Conversion: While a natural gas heating solution is a financial investment to install it does have other advantages, such as its ability to be used to run appliances, fuel a fireplace and heat water. However since natural gas is provided by local utility companies it may not be available in all areas so be sure to call your local supplier.

Ground (Geothermal) Heat Pump Systems: Geothermal Heat Pumps have become quite popular as an alternative way to heat residences and businesses alike. They work by relying on the relatively constant temperature of the earth 3-5 feet below the surface. While the upfront costs can be daunting, it is possible to recoup your investment in as little as five years, and to reduce your energy consumption by 44-72% according to the EPA.

Solar Heating Systems: Solar power is economical, renewable, and environmentally friendly, making it appealing to many consumers. While the initial costs can seem to be staggering the long term benefits are worth the work, as the Department of Energy estimates that a properly designed and installed solar system can provide 40-80% of a home's heating needs.

Wood or Pellet Burning Stoves: Wood burning stoves have become more efficient and operate much safer than they did five to ten years ago, and with the increase cost of gas and oil have also been able to provide an economical solution for many homeowners.  The Environmental Protection Agency states that they are one of the "cleanest-burning heating appliances available today" and exempts them from smoke-emission testing requirements.

Insulation, Sealing Air Leaks - A Green Remodel to help Cut Power Bills

How would you like to dramatically slash your electricity bill as much as 85%? Superinsulating a house can significantly enhance the energy performance of an old house. These so-called  deep energy retrofits achieve household energy as much as 85% by addressing all (or almost all) energy loads - space conditioning, warm water, lighting, home appliances, and plug loads - or even transportation. Energy cutbacks of this magnitude require a rigorous and extensive systems approach: The natural associations among energy, indoor quality of air, sturdiness, and thermal comfort should be honored throughout construction and designs. Passive photo voltaic design and renewable energy systems are typical during these projects.

The objectives of any house energy retrofit can be like those of a brand new green residence, however like all remodels, a big difference is basically you have to deal with a pre-existing building. Below are a few house systems with particular areas you should focus on.

1. Upgrade Your Home's Windows

With the top and bottom of the home sealed tightly and insulated, the very next prospect will be the walls. Did you know that old and outdated windows is like having a significant hole in your wall? While functioning poorly, they often leak both water and air into the house. Correctly mounted, Energy Star (or even better) windows seal off the gaps in the walls to hold out water and climate extremes.

2. Modernize The Mechanical Equipment

A classic heater or central heating boiler is frequently the worst energy user within an old house. Many houses built just before 1920 have old coal-fired central heating boilers which were transformed into gas or oil. These models are workhorses, but use lots of energy. A brand new furnace or boiler can help to save energy dollars immediately. Changing window air conditioning units, which we did in most these houses, having a central system may also save energy immediately, as lengthy because the tubes continues to be put into the conditioned space. Photo voltaic water heating is a great choice to add here if you're able to afford it, but at the

minimum, upgrade the efficiency of warm water production by coupling the tank towards the boiler.

3. Bring The Basement And Crawlspace Inside Your Home

Warm, dry cellars and crawlspaces can extend living and space for storage. Wet cellars are the source of high humidity levels and discomfort in the summertime in old houses. They can also cause mold growth that will get distributed throughout the house. Spray foam is really a fast, efficient way to create these areas in to the conditioned space while sealing the leaks between foundation and floor framework.

4. Super-insulate And Air-seal The Roofing

If air leaks in at the bottom of the home, it leaks out at the very top, making a home cold and drafty in the winter months. A poorly insulated roof also can produce a hot house in summer time. Air-sealing is really a by-product of excellent insulation, so it’s a real one-step process. Using spray foam within roof may also eliminate the requirement for roof ventilation, that is tricky in complicated roofs.

5. Insulate Your Walls

Filling empty wall cavities with cellulose is really a cheap, easy, efficient way to warm-up a classic house. Blowing cellulose into existing wall tooth decay is definitely an art, to be certain, but you will find many companies who've been doing the work for a long time. Actually, you will find now affordable methods to seek advice from infrared cameras to make certain that voids happen to be filled without disturbing the present plaster or sheathing on outdoors walls. Because siding or shingles on old houses may also normally wear out, we go ahead and take chance to set up foam sheathing around the outdoors of the home before re-siding.

6. Get Energy Star (or even better)

Fittings, home appliances, and lighting after you have reduced your parking space conditioning and water-heating loads, the lighting, appliance, and plug load will probably be your next large energy item. A brand new Energy Star refrigerator uses 15% less energy than the usual standard model. Changing old light fittings with pin-based compact fluorescent fittings guarantees your utility bill will remain lower (as much as 30%).

7. Put In A Renewable-Energy Supply

When your energy consumption continues to be reduced considerably, it might be reasonable to create your personal energy with systems such as photovoltaics, wind energy, or hydro, if you possess a stream nearby. Before you slash the energy usage, though, it isn't worth the money in renewable energy sources. Conservation remains the least expensive game around.

Heating and Air Conditioning Duct Maintenance

Your HVAC ductwork is the series of tubes that carry treated air through out the building. If you are thinking about installing a brand new central air or heat pump inside your residence, you should make certain the ductwork that could carry your new higher efficiency air conditioner is up to par with the system. As the air flows by means of these ducts, any leaks or issues will ruin the impact in the whole system. You may believe that the system itself isn't working as it should- when it is really the duct-work that is causing the problems.

When installing or diagnosing a system for HVAC repairs, a good technician will inspect all of the ducts. First off he is looking to determine if the existing duct system will match the new air handler that was installed. This will also show if there are any leaks or other challenges. Lastly, ducts need to be insulated and routed inside a certain way to maintain safety. This approach is known in the industry as: checking for ductwork integrity.

The typical residential HVAC system has some leakage. So it is possible that you may get the same cost savings in just repairing the ducts as you would in investing in a new HE system. If 20% of the air is leaking, then your HVAC unit will need to function harder. This results in larger bills and possible furnace repairs. So it is important to ask the HVAC tech to check the integrity on the ducts. They will not mind- it is what they are trained to do.

To sustain the efficiency of this well sealed ductwork, your local Sandium HVAC company will install insulation around it. The insulation also serves to safeguard the inside of your property from the temperature variations brought on by hot or cool air flowing. At these temperature change points moisture tends to accumulate. As water saturated air below the dew point gets in contact with warm beams, then it'll sweat. This ruins the ducts and may trigger mold and mildew difficulties. To counteract this be sure there is a vapor barrier between the treated air and the outside air.

To schedule an appointment with one of our skilled technicians to check your duct work please visit Sandium.Com or call (408) 894-9072