Is Aeroseal Worth It? 5 Benefits of Aeroseal Duct Sealing
As your air-conditioning and heating systems get used, your air ducts undergo expansion and contraction. This is a normal part of their wear and tear process over time, but it can lead to leaks in the air ducts. And even a new high-efficiency furnace or AC system will waste 20 to 30 percent of heated or cooled air to leaks, gaps, and loose connections in the air ducts. In these cases, the savings from sealing your air ducts will quickly surpass its cost.
Many contractors still use a traditional bucket and brush method of sealing air ducts, which usually misses a significant number of hidden penetrations and small gaps—some of which might be impossible to reach using this method. Conversely, Aeroseal’s patented technology tackles leaks from the inside out—accurately measuring the duct leakage inside your home and pressurizing the leaking air and polymer particles until the leak is completely sealed off. This allows your HVAC technician to seal virtually every crack, hole, or breach in the duct system.
Here are five benefits that prove Aeroseal is worth it:
1. Lower Heating and Cooling Bills
Leaky ductwork allows the conditioned air to leak out and the unconditioned air to come into your house. This pushes your heating or cooling system to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. These leaks in the ductwork can result in the waste of up to 45 percent of your monthly energy bill. Aeroseal duct sealing saves an average American residence about $600 to $850 in energy costs in the first year alone. So Aeroseal has a direct impact on your bottom line.
2. Air Quality
When your air ducts have gaps and cracks in them, they not only leak the air that is cleaned and conditioned by your HVAC system, but also allow outside, unfiltered air to enter. This dirty air can contain dust particles, dander, fumes, pollen, contaminants, chemical pollutants, and other allergens. Such pollutants can be drawn in through any gaps and then circulated throughout the system—and your home. These elements can seriously affect occupants suffering from allergies, asthma, and upper respiratory diseases.
Besides that, leaky ducts can create excessive humidity levels and mold spores, which can actually cause damage to the structure of your home. Another important safety concern is the back draft of gas appliance fumes, auto exhaust, and radon gas into your living space.
By having your ducts sealed and investing in other indoor air quality systems, you can eliminate access so these contaminants stay out of your circulating air. This can improve your air quality significantly.
3. Safe and Non-Toxic
Aeroseal is a non-toxic aerosol sealant that has been UL tested and approved. It’s composed of vinyl acetate polymer, the same water-based solution found in water-based paints, hair spray, and even chewing gum. It also leaves no lingering odor. This makes Aeroseal the best technology available today for sealing ductwork in existing homes. In addition, since the application process happens from inside the ductwork, applying this technology doesn’t require any demolition. And it’s safe, so your day-to-day activities can remain virtually uninterrupted during its application.
4. Comfort
Duct leaks lead to uneven heating or cooling in different rooms of your home. For example, they might make your rarely used attic really cold, while leaving your bedroom poorly air-conditioned. However, if your HVAC equipment is matched with a properly sized Aeroseal-sealed duct system, it can eliminate drafts and stagnant air pockets to maintain the right temperature in every room of your house.
5. Dependability and Longevity
The Aeroseal duct sealing system has been extensively researched and tested in the most strenuous heating and cooling environments. After application, Aeroseal has a 10-year warranty, but its life span is much longer than that.
The warranty for Aeroseal is generally 10 years, covering the contractor for failure in parts and labor. But durability testing completed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory shows that the Aeroseal itself has a life span of over 40 years—longer than either tape or mastic. This exceeds all UL standards for durability.
Application Process
In addition to providing benefits to your home, the application process for Aeroseal is fairly straightforward.
The technician will begin by sealing off all furnaces, fans, vents, and grills—basically, anywhere you don’t want the sealant to travel. This pressurizes the duct system and ensures the Aeroseal isn’t wasted on spaces where it isn’t needed. Once the prep work is complete, the Aeroseal can be released into the sealed ductwork.
The liquid particles, which range from 2 to 20 micrometers in size, will flow through the ducts. When they reach a crack or small gap, they’ll attach to the space and solidify, sealing the leak. Leaks up to ⅝ of an inch in size will be sealed by the Aeroseal. It’ll take 20 to 30 minutes for the Aeroseal particles to reach all parts of your ductwork and seal off any leaks.
The technicians will use specialized software to monitor the entire process in real-time. This allows them to see where the leaks are initially and to ensure these gaps have been sealed by the time the process is complete. The homeowner will also be able to observe the process.
To maintain maximum efficiency of your HVAC systems, basic ductwork is not enough. Extra protection to seal every possible escape path in the thin membrane of the ducts is needed. Aeroseal is a low-cost and quick solution, and the application process won’t disrupt occupants’ lives. This revolutionary technology can be implemented in a number of hours by an experienced HVAC company such as Entek.
Aeroseal has received numerous awards, such as the Best of What’s New award from Popular Science magazine and the Best New Product award from 2011’s This Old House magazine. It has also been called “one of the most beneficial energy technologies for American consumers” by the Department of Energy.