Technology

Aeroseal's aerosol ductwork sealing technology was invented and developed by the Energy Performance of Buildings Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 1994. The research was funded by US Environmental protection agency, US Deparment of Energy, Electric Power Research Institute and California Institute of Energy and Environment.

The University of California was granted initial patents in 1996 and 1999.

This technology internally seals duct leaks in air distribution ducts by injecting a fog of aerosolized sealant particles into a pressurized duct system.

The key to the technology is to keep the particles suspended within the air stream without depositing on the duct surfaces until they reach the leaks, where they leave the air stream, deposit at the leak edges, and seal the leaks. Aerosol particles are directed toward and deposit at the ductwork leaks because:

All supply, return and exhaust grilles are temporarily sealed, so that all the airflow passes through the ductwork leaks;
Small aerosol particles are kept suspended in the airflow by continuous air movement;
As the air stream makes a sharp turn to exit through a leak, the particles collide with and adhere to the leak edges; and
Using adhesive solid particles allows the built-up seal to span leaks as much as 5/8 inch wide.

Advantages of Aerosol Ductwork Sealing

Aeroseal provides a solution to:

High energy bills
Air flow and air balance issues in commercial buildings
Uneven temperatures resulting in hot and cold rooms in residential homes
Excessive humidity and dust, musty odors or fumes and other ventilation problems

Commercialization of Ductwork Sealing Technology

Aeroseal has the exclusive license to use this technology on residential and commercial buildings.

Ductwork Sealing - Occupant Benefits

Aeroseal can reduce duct leakage by up to 90%, and save a typical homeowner up to $300 a year in energy costs and a typical building up to 30% of HVAC energy use.

Residential leaky ductwork sealing reduces the entry of:

Duct Excess humidity
Automotive exhaust
Radon gas
Fumes from stored paints, solvents, pesticides, etc.

Residential Leaky ductwork sealing improves the performance of heating and cooling systems, making a homeowner more comfortable by:

Cooling or heating the house more quickly
Delivering more hot or cold air
Distributing heating and cooling more uniformly throughout your house

Residential Leaky Ductwork Sealing - National Impacts

American homes use almost 25% of the energy consumed in the United States, with the average household spending $2000 a year on home energy bills. On average, 30 cents of every $1 spent on heating and cooling disappears into thin air due to leaky ducts. This duct leakage in homes costs consumers $25 billion each year on escaping energy. These leaks also force HVAC systems to work harder and ultimately wear out sooner.

Another related issue is duct leaks contribute to poor indoor air quality. Indoor air pollution is an EPA high-priority public risk with levels of pollutants indoors being up to 5 times higher than outdoor levels. According to the EPA, most people spend roughly 90% of their lives indoors. This makes indoor air pollution one of the five most urgent environmental problems facing the US with 1 in 15 Americans having allergies or asthma. In addition, the average home produces twice the greenhouse gases as the average car. In fact, 15% of all greenhouse gases are generated from the energy used in houses nationwide. Another issue to consider is that excess humidity levels can lead to costly repairs for homeowners.