How Aeroseal can help prevent HVAC leakage

Ductwork is an essential part of any HVAC system. It facilitates heat exchange, removing warm air from homes, and supplying them with cool air.

To function properly, ducting relies on sealing technologies. These are methods that prevent air from escaping the ductwork as it moves around the system.

Sealing technologies are important because they keep HVACs efficient. If ductwork loses air, then the various components of your air conditioning system have to work harder, pushing up your energy bills.

Unfortunately, ductwork doesn’t always operate flawlessly. Lack of proper sealing means that most systems lose around 20 to 30 per cent of their air during a standard cycle.

There are several signs that your duct sealing isn’t up to scratch, such as:

1. Your rooms feel stuffy and uncomfortable in the summer.
2. Your energy bills are higher in the summer and winter.
3. Your rooms are difficult to cool.
4. You notice holes or gaps in your ducting system.
5. Your access panels aren’t properly fitted.

How Aeroseal ductwork sealing prevents leakages

Reliably sealing ductwork with conventional methods is challenging. It requires looking for leaks and then patching them up, usually from the outside. However, Hasman provides a sealing product called Aeroseal, designed to give you high-performance, airtight ductwork from the inside.

Here’s how it works. First, you inject Aeroseal into your ductwork system. It then travels through it, looking for holes to plug from the inside. As it flows, it eventually finds all of the air gaps, covering them over.

Contrary to expectation, Aeroseal is not just a product for small projects. It can seal large segments of ductwork up to 150 metres in length in a single application. Once in place, it can withstand more than 2000Pa of pressure and will last more than 30 years.

The product is odourless, which means that once it is in place, it won’t create a smell in your rooms. What’s more, it’s able to function and operate in a wide range of temperatures, all the way from minus 30 degrees C (colder than a home freezer) up to around 249 degrees C (the maximum temperature of most ovens).

It’s also able to seal large gaps in your ductwork — up to 20mm in diameter. For most applications, it reduces system leakage by an impressive 90 per cent, with a 100 per cent leakage reduction in some instances.

For larger HVACs, it may be necessary to perform the Aeroseal application process one section at a time. However, in most home systems, all you require is a single application of the product.

Properly fitted access panels

Access panels are removable sheets of metal that allow you to get inside your heating, ventilation or air conditioning system for cleaning and maintenance. They typically take the form of a hinged door with a cam-based lock to prevent the door from swinging open.

Having access to ductwork interiors is important, but it also increases the risk of a leak. Air can escape around the edges of the door, increasing the energy usage of the system.


Check for leakages

Hasman offers a leakage testing service that can tell you whether your ductwork leakage is within the allowable limits for your system. Our tools work by detecting subtle changes in the pressure on your system for all classes, running from A to D.

If you require it, we can then resolve HVAC leakage issues. As discussed above, the best method for doing this is Aeroseal, since it can seal areas of ducting that might be difficult to reach or have complex shapes.

Conclusion

Aeroseal is a market-leading method for sealing leaky ductwork. Using it is easy and affordable and can reduce the burden on your system. Ultimately, it cuts your energy bills and helps your HVAC last longer.