Commercial Air Duct Sealing

A commercial building’s heating and cooling requirements are significantly greater than those of a normal building. As a result, large scale HVAC system components need to be operating at peak levels or else there can be massive cost inefficiencies and failure on a large scale. Here’s a brief overview of one seemingly minor consideration that has a huge impact on cost and effectiveness.

The ductwork connects your commercial heating and cooling system to various locations across your property. This ductwork, which is often comprised of a network of large pipes, serves as a conduit for heated or cooled air to circulate between your air conditioner, furnace, heat pump, or boiler and the inside of your commercial building. The ducts are responsible for directing all of the conditioned air generated by your HVAC system.

Any issue with the duct system — broken seals, loose or missing pieces, detached pipes, or damaged ducts — can result in significant air leaks, resulting in loss of energy and money. These issues can be avoided through HVAC air duct sealing, as well as thorough inspection and repair of the ducting. The conditioned air you pay for will reach the target space, your HVAC system will operate at peak efficiency, and you will pay less to maintain the comfort of your commercial building.

A well-designed and sealed duct system can improve your building’s comfort, energy efficiency, and safety.

Comfort
Air duct sealing and insulating can assist solve common comfort issues, such as rooms that are excessively hot or chilly in the summer or winter.

Indoor Air Quality
Chemical fumes, insulation particles, and dust can all enter your duct system, worsening asthma and allergy symptoms. By minimizing the possibility of contaminants entering ducts and circulating throughout your building, duct sealing can effectively improve indoor air quality.

Safety
Gas appliances such as clothes dryers, water heaters, and furnaces discharge combustion gases (such as carbon monoxide) through their ventilation systems during regular operation. Leaky ductwork in your heating and cooling system might result in “back drafting,” in which these gases are pulled back into the office rather than being discharged to the outside. Eliminating leaks can help mitigate risk.

Save Money
Leaky ducts can impair the effectiveness of heating and cooling systems by up to 20%. Duct sealing and insulation improve efficiency, reduce energy bills, and frequently saves energy savings. Additionally, if you’re installing a new heating and cooling equipment, a well-designed and sealed duct system may enable you to downsize to a smaller, less expensive heating and cooling system that provides improved dehumidification.

Protect the Environment
Our buildings are frequently powered by fossil fuels used in power plants, which adds to smog, acid rain, and climate change. Simply said, the less energy we consume, the less pollution we produce. By air duct sealing and lowering the amount of energy required to heat or cool your building comfortably, you may help reduce air pollution.

If there are issues with your ductwork, one or more solid indicators of difficulty are expected. Among these indicators are the following:

Discomfort complaints from employees or customers: If your employees or customers have expressed concern about the indoor thermal environment of your commercial building being too hot or excessively cool for the season, the source could be in the ductwork.

Uneven heating or cooling in your commercial building: Ductwork leaks can prevent conditioned air from reaching its intended destination, resulting in inconsistent heating or cooling in locations with ductwork leaks.

Reduced indoor air quality: If your indoor air quality has deteriorated, as evidenced by an increase in dust and allergens, this could be an indication of damaged seals or ductwork leaks. Gaps or damaged seals can allow dust and other particles to enter the ductwork and be discharged into your indoor rooms.

Unidentified increases in your monthly heating or cooling costs: Leaks in the ductwork can result in significant energy loss and associated increases in your heating and cooling costs. You wind up paying more to maintain the temperature of your indoor areas without experiencing any noticeable increase in comfort.

Duct sealing should be handled by a qualified HVAC professional in your area. Among the tasks associated with duct sealing are the following:

Step 1: Thorough Inspection Of HVAC System’s Duct Network
This comprehensive evaluation enables your technician to locate and address problems throughout the duct system.

Step 2: Replacement Or Repair Of Duct Sections
Any parts of ductwork that are missing or damaged should be replaced or, if possible, repaired. Any kinks, dings, or other issues should be addressed.

Step 3: Reseating Of Duct Sections
Any loose duct sections should be adjusted so that they fit snugly against adjoining portions. HVAC units and supply registers should be inspected to ensure that ductwork is securely connected in these places.

Step 4: Ductwork Sealing
All ducting connections should be carefully sealed with mastic, a specialized rubbery substance explicitly made for ducts. Additionally, the metal tape can be used. Mechanical linkages can also be made using sheet metal screws. Avoid using standard duct tape since the glue may dry out and cause the tape to fall away.