Why Commercial Buildings Benefit Most From AeroSeal Duct Sealing
How much energy is your commercial building wasting when it comes to heating and cooling? Whether you’re a hospital, school, factory, or towering mixed-use building, the U.S. Department of Energy reports that about 30% of energy used in a commercial building is wasted.
Four things stand out when it comes to avoiding the loss of heating and cooling in a commercial building. You need to replace drafty doors and windows with energy-efficient ones. You must seal any leaks if replacement isn’t an option. Finally, you need to make sure your building and ducts are well insulated. Finally, regular HVAC cleaning and maintenance are essential.
When was the last time you had your ducts checked? If it’s been years or even decades, you’re overdue. It’s time to look at having your ducts maintained and even sealed. AeroSeal duct sealing is a must-have in any commercial building.
What Is AeroSeal Duct Sealing?
AeroSeal duct sealing is a non-toxic aerosol sealant that seals ducts with 95% efficiency. Cold or hot air doesn’t leak out and increase your energy consumption.
The product is non-invasive. It only builds up to fill holes, cracks, and gaps as big as 5/8s of an inch. It doesn’t stick to the walls of the ducts where it’s unnecessary. If your commercial building’s ducts have holes, cracks, or gaps that are larger than that, the duct expert will plug them first.
With gaps, holes, and cracks filled, hot and cold air in the duct stays where it should. It’s not leaking out into walls or ceiling space. The air conditioned or heated air goes to offices, apartments, classrooms, or other commercial spaces. This ensures the money you pay on electricity, gas, or heating oil isn’t wasted on leakage.
You may need to have your ductwork cleaned before the sealant is applied. It’s impossible to tell if it’s necessary or not without a visible inspection. That’s why AeroSeal dealers perform an initial assessment and tell you if it’s necessary.
Tests find that AeroSeal’s non-toxic DuctSeal LT sealant has extremely low volatile organic compounds (VOCs). While the mixture used in this sealant is a trade secret, the company does say that the main component in the mixture has no maximum exposure limit set by OSHA. It’s a water-based acrylic polymer that cleans easily with soap and water.
DuctSeal LT is mold and mildew resistant. It also resists moisture, making it a great choice for humid buildings. It also remains solid in extreme heat or cold as low as -20ºF. In Chicago’s cold weather, you don’t have to worry about the sealant freezing and cracking if your HVAC system fails.
What AeroSeal’s Case Studies Find
AeroSeal has several studies that demonstrate how effective their non-toxic duct sealant is.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP): The towering 1970s facility had a major issue with leakage. Before AeroSeal was applied, the duct leakage reached 49,147 CFM. After the duct sealant process, leakage dropped to 5,731 CFM. The federal building reduced energy bills by $140,000.
- Florida’s Nemours Children’s Clinic: Older ductwork increased airborne infections in a hospital’s pediatric unit. Sealing the hospital’s entire building took a month, but it was worth it to end the spread of airborne illnesses. System leakage dropped from 4,912 CFM to 723 CFM. Plus, the hospital found that its energy costs decreased.
- Hilton Riyadh Hotel: The popular Saudi Arabian hotel couldn’t hold a soft launch because leakage in the ducts kept delaying the building’s completion. AeroSeal’s sealant fixed the leaks, dropping the rates from a whopping 33,089 CFM before duct sealing to 1,279 CFM after.
- Ohio’s Licking Heights West Elementary School: The heat in this elementary school was so inefficient that students and teachers in some areas of the building had to wear hats, gloves, and coats to class. Duct sealing reduced the leakage by 27,350 CFM. Energy bills dropped by $45,000 per year.
- Pennsylvania Correctional Facility: When the correctional center needed to make energy-efficient upgrades, duct sealing was necessary, but the prisoners had to stay confined during the work. AeroSeal’s non-toxic formulation was critical to the work. Leakage dropped from 2,450 CFM to 256 CFM. The prison saw energy savings of over $7,100 per year.
How Is AeroSeal Duct Sealant Applied?
The process occurs while the building is occupied, so there’s no need to keep all workers, students, or residents away. It’s a multi-step process.
1. Ductwork Is Prepared
Protective covers are placed over HVAC components like coils, sensors, and smoke detectors. Some components may be removed until the work is completed. A tape covering goes over all registers. This makes sure that items are protected as the ducts are pressurized.
2. AeroSeal Equipment Is Connected
AeroSeal SmartSeal equipment and a lay-flat tube are connected to an access point in the ductwork or to a register. A Duct Blaster test is performed to check for leakage before the sealant goes in.
3. Sealant Is Injected
The AeroSeal duct sealant is pumped into the ducts using pressured air. Heat within the ducts removes moisture, which makes the sealant tacky. It collects on the edges of cracks, gaps, and holes as air escapes, which seals them.
Pressure and flow rates are adjusted with a computer that monitors progress the entire time. It needs no more than 10 minutes to cure before tests are performed. It’s dry to the touch when it’s applied. As it’s a flexible polymer, it isn’t going to break if your ductwork expands or contracts due to heating or cooling.
4. Final Tests Are Performed
A second Duct Blaster test is performed to make sure the leakage rates have decreased significantly. Once the target leakage rate is achieved, the equipment is removed, and registers and components are uncovered or reinstalled.
Choose an AeroSeal Duct Sealing Expert
You need a commercial HVAC team that specializes in AeroSeal duct sealing for homeowners and businesses. Not every HVAC company does.
Air Blue Heating and Cooling is an AeroSeal specialist. Ask us about this innovative, non-toxic duct sealing. It’s also offered to homeowners losing cold or hot air in their ducts and offers a 10-year warranty for residential duct systems. While there’s no commercial warranty, it’s worth noting that no one has ever filed a warranty claim.
Are you ready to save money and stop dealing with inefficient heating or cooling in your commercial space? Schedule a free consultation online or by calling (847) 450-7366.
