HVAC Contractors License # 19497
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HVAC Contractors License # 19497
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NEWS
Energy Waste
The new 2012 energy conservation code has finally addressed the real problem with energy loss in a heating and cooling system. It’s not enough to raise the seer rating on heat pumps and air conditioning units. Replacing your old unit with a new efficient unit WILL NOT SAVE ENERGY OR MONEY with a leaking or poorly insulated duct system. Recent research funded by DOE and CIEE through LBNL has therefore concentrated on forced air distribution systems and found that typically a quarter of the energy (and therefore money) used for heating and cooling is wasted through duct system energy losses. Problem #1 Most HVAC Duct Systems are installed in attics, crawlspaces, garages, basements and other locations outside the conditioned space and in contact with the outside air. If the ducts are not insulated properly they will loose and gain heat from the outside by heat conduction. (= lost energy and money) Problem #2 Air Leaks are a common problem with most duct systems. Conditioned air to heat or cool your home is now leaking to the outside. Even worse your system could be pulling outside air into your home from the attic or crawlspace. Now you have more air to condition that your system was not designed for. (= lost energy and money) Problem #3 Load calculation and duct design are the most important parts of a system. If a system is not designed properly, the units could be over or under-sized, wasting energy and money. A poor system design will cause uneven temperatures and reduce the comfort of your home. Each room of your home has special needs depending on size, windows and doors, outside walls, and the direction the outside wall faces (north, south, east, and west). If the supply and return ducts are not sized correctly, your system could actually cause a negative or positive pressure in a room forcing air in or out of air leaks around doors and windows. (= lost energy and money)
Today’s code changes have solved these problems.
Solutions: In most areas R-8 Insulation is required on all ductwork. All duct joints, seams, terminations and connections have to be sealed with approved tape or mastic. All new construction and existing homes have to have a load calculation to determine the proper size of equipment. All new construction duct systems have to be tested for leakage by a certified technician.
Davie Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. welcomes the new codes and we are proud to say that we have performed a load calculation on every house we install a new system in. We always insulate ALL ductwork we install. We always seal all duct systems, even around floor registers before it was code. We test duct systems for leaks to make sure you get all the conditioned air you pay for.
Always use a licensed contractor with certified technicians and always obtain permits. If you don’t, the codes mean nothing because there is no one to be held accountable. (= lost energy and money) |
