1 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Duct Sealing and Insulation TRAIN THE TRAINER WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010

2 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Learning Objectives By attending this session, participants will: Understand how and why to conduct duct diagnostics. Learn guidelines of proper duct installation. Be exposed to materials and techniques used to fix leaky ducts. See other duct system improvements. DUCT SEALING AND INSULATION

3 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Why Duct Sealing? DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR Photos courtesy of PA Weatherization Training Center (WTC) Large holes. Branch duct leakage.

4 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Other Mechanical Measures Duct and Pipe Modifications Add return ducts. Replace grilles, diffusers, and registers. Replace air filters. Install thermostatic radiator controls on steam and hot water heating systems. Replace or add air-purging vents on steam heating systems. DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR

5 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Duct Diagnostics Vocabulary Pressure Pan Duct Blaster Dominant Duct Leakage Duct Induced Pressure Differences DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR

6 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Pressure Pan Test the duct system with a pressure pan and blower door to identify: Leakage to outdoors when ducts are located outside the thermal boundary. Leakage pathways from duct-containing building cavities to outdoors (e.g., floor- joist cavities adjacent to porch roofs, cantilevers). Photo courtesy of NRCERT Pressure pan testing duct system DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR

7 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Depressurize house to 25 or 50 Pa with blower door. Test each register and document readings. Registers too large or oddly shaped may be covered with plastic and taped on edges. Seal duct leaks and retest. Goal = Readings lower than 1 Pa. Pressure Pan Procedure Summary Photo courtesy of NRCERT The handle allows for easy testing of hard-to reach ducts. DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR

8 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Use duct pressurization testing to quantify: Total duct leakage. Duct leakage to outdoors. Duct Blaster Photo courtesy of Energy Conservatory DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR

9 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov To Test Total Duct Leakage: 1.Open a window or door. 2.Install duct blaster at the air handler compartment. 3.Temporarily seal all supply and return registers. 4.Insert manometer hose into a supply duct. 5.Open up rooms containing ducts. 6.Pressurize the ducts to 25 Pa and record the airflow. 7.Return system to operational condition. Duct Blaster Procedure Summary DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR

10 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov To Test Duct Leakage to Outdoors: 1.Set up home in normal heating or cooling configuration; no fires burning! 2.Set up blower door to pressurize the house. 3.Connect duct blower to air handler compartment and run a manometer hose to air handler compartment. 4.Pressurize the ducts to 25 Pa WRT outdoors. 5.Pressurize the house until the pressure difference of the house WRT the duct is 0 Pa. 6.Record the airflow at the duct blower. Duct Blaster – Procedure Summary DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR

11 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Dominant Duct Leakage Conduct a dominant duct leakage test to determine if the supply or return ducts have more leaks to outside. DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR

12 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Duct Induced Pressure Differences Measure Room Pressure Imbalances Room pressure imbalances over 4 Pascals should be remedied by adding supply or return air, then retested. Photo courtesy of PA WTC DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR

13 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Butyl-backed Tape Repairing & Sealing Ducts – Materials #1 DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR Photo courtesy of PA WTC

14 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Repairing & Sealing Ducts – Materials #2 DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR Mastic Sealant Photo courtesy of PA WTC

15 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Depressurize the home to 50 pascals. Pressure pan each register location. Record pressure differences. Repair and retest. Pressure Pan Testing The goal is to reduce pressure pan readings at each register location to less than 1 pascal. Remember this number! DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR Photo courtesy of PA WTC

16 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Results! DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR Photos courtesy of PA WTC Post Pressure Pan Testing

17 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Static Pressure Length and material of ducts. Bends, kinks and elbows. Grills and end-caps. DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR

18 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Air Flows More Easily… #1 through this…than this. DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR

19 | WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM – August 2010 eere.energy.gov Summary Many ducts leak and mobile home ducts are especially prone to leakage. Diagnosing and repairing duct leakage is typically cost-effective. Effective duct sealing requires using proper duct sealing materials. Other duct improvements such as cleaning, removing obstructions, and system balancing can improve comfort and lower fuel bills. Consider static pressure when installing ducts and sizing fans and blowers. Follow proper duct installation guidelines. DUCT DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR