We’ve been hearing a lot lately about the importance of duct sealing in regards to home energy savings. It’s no wonder, when you figure that heating and cooling costs represent the overwhelming majority of utility expenses for homeowners, and that an average of 30% of that cost is leaking out the ductwork instead of being delivered to the rooms that need it. Aeroseal is the first effective solution to sealing leaky air ducts located throughout the entire ductwork system.
But lately, Aeroseal has been getting addition attention for its ability to solve a problem that has been plaguing engineers and building managers ever since…well, ever since there were engineers and building managers. That problem is poor exhaust ventilation.
We’ve all experienced it. The government building that smells of stale air, the office that seems to attract headaches, the public restroom that smells like a floral shop on steroids, the apartment building with chronic mold issues and condensation on the windows. These are all symptoms of an ineffective exhaust system – one that is simply not doing its job of removing the old stale air along with the odors and bacteria they often contain.
Buildings with poor ventilation are not only in violation of federal and local code, but they can also be subjecting residents to serious health risks.
But the problems of poor ventilation have been well known for some time. Little has been done about it for one reason – in many cases, there simply has been no adequate solution to the problem. Aeroseal technology has changed that for good.
In many cases, poor ventilation is due to leaky exhaust shafts. Like a straw with holes in it, no matter how hard you (or the exhaust fan) sucks on it from the top, it’s impossible to get much of a draw. Seal those leaks and you solve the problem.
This is much more than theory. In fact, over the past few years, Aeroseal has been used to solve poor ventilation issues in some of the country’s most prominent buildings – from major casinos along the Las Vegas strip, to medical facilities, museums, apartment complexes and office sky scrappers.
My guess is that now that there is a solution to this critical problem, you’ll be hearing a lot more about the ill effects of poor ventilation. Remember you heard it here first.
2012 is really shaping up to be the year of the duct – air duct that is. Starting on the very first day of 2012, the updated Energy Star 3.0 specifications for the home takes full effect and that means any builder looking to receive Energy Star certification for their constructions will have to meet the more stringent requirements. A big part of these requirements includes lower duct leakage rates.