Duct leaks are the main cause of comfort problems, contribute to indoor air quality and energy consumption in a home. indoor air quality and energy consumption in a home.
Typical duct systems lose 25 to 40 percent of the heating or cooling energy generated by the boiler or air conditioner. As a result, more and more countries are adopting and enforcing duct tightness requirements for new construction and new system installations.
Duct Testers are the tools used to measure and expose air leakage in a duct system. It is a calibrated fan with a high precision pressure gauge that is attached to the duct system, usually at a return grille or air handler. The duct system is then sealed with special grille masking tape or grille caps and pressurized or depressurized to 25 Pa pressure. The high accuracy pressure gauge, which comes with the Duc Tester kit, converts the pressure reading in cubic meters per minute of air flow to 25 Pa (CFM25). This CFM25 reading is the desired leakage result.
Most codes require duct leakage to be a percentage of the floor area served by the HVAC system. Codes typically require that leakage not exceed 4% - 7%. For example, if the code requires 6% leakage and the system serves 90 square feet of conditioned floor area, the leakage result must be equal to or less than 60 CFM25.
Duct Testers are used to determine the overall quality of HVAC duct systems, which means that the quality of the system you use is very important. Therefore, it is essential to get hold of the best product available so that you can work smarter. When making the purchase of a Duct Tester system, there are a few things to consider to make sure you are getting the best bang for your buck.
1. What is the durability of Retrotec Duct Testers?
Not all Duct Testers are not all the same. Remember that you will be transporting this equipment to job sites and loading and unloading it repeatedly. This tool is an investment, so it must stand the test of constant work over time.
The durable fan housings of the Duct Testers Duct Testers fan housings are made of high-impact automotive plastic. Makroblend® resins have a property profile that includes high toughness (even at low temperatures), good chemical resistance to many lubricants, solvents and cleaning agents, along with reduced susceptibility to stress cracking.
The Duct Testers Duct Testers also have a design that prevents accidents from occurring. For example, Retrotec' s line has a flat base to prevent rolling and a handle molded into the fan housing so it won't break when picked up or carried.
2. Accuracy: Can I trust the measurements made with the Duct Tester?
Ultimately, reliability is determined by the accuracy and repeatability of your measurements. is determined by the accuracy and repeatability of your measurements. The most reliable Duct Testers are calibrated by an ISO 17025/ILAC accredited laboratory. ISO 17025/ILACwhich is mandatory in many countries. This applies to both the fans and the digital pressure gauges used as well as the digital pressure gauges used for leak testing.
The Duct Tester fan and pressure gauge must be accompanied by a NIST traceable calibration certificate. Look for the accreditation stamp on your certificate to ensure that your tool has been calibrated with NIST traceability and to the stated requirements. Just as our buildings and HVAC systems need third-party testing and verification to be healthy and efficient, the tools that perform the tests must also have rigorous third-party evaluations to help ensure the highest quality.
State-of-the-art 14-bit digital pressure sensors give you precision and accuracy, so this is something to look for in a high-resolution digital pressure gauge. Auto-zeroing manifolds minimize sensor drift, allowing the system to maintain its accuracy over a longer period of time.
3. Intelligent design: Are Duct Testers easy to use and intuitive?
Duct Testers kits that present fewer user errors have color-coded tube connections. This also allows for faster setup. Retrotec is the only manufacturer that provides color-coded pressure ports and color-coded tubing with all of its models. Other manufacturers do not have a color-coded protocol, which can lead to errors when configuring the device. Setting up kits without a color-coding protocol can be difficult to remember, especially if you do not test frequently.
The method used to switch from pressurization to depressurization must also be considered when selecting a Duct Tester. Some manufacturers require additional tubing and a flow straightener when depressurizing the system. These additional steps can lead to user error and additional troubleshooting. Retrotec's DucTester line changes the direction of air flow in just a few seconds.
Ergonomic design is also essential when selecting a kit. Some Duct Tester pressure gauges allow the user to operate it quickly with one hand, while others require two hands due to the configuration of the device. The Retrotec DM32 is designed to fit in one hand like a smartphone, allowing users to quickly navigate settings. Retrotec's 340x model also has a magnetic plate on the fan housing to which the pressure gauge attaches. This keeps the gauge off the ground and out of harm's way. The DM32 pressure gauge also works with competitive products. So if you already have a kit from another manufacturer, the DM32 can not only handle it, but enhances your testing experience with that product.
4. Installation and disassembly of Duct Testers. Is it fast?
There is an old saying that "time is money". This absolutely applies to the construction and HVAC industries when it comes to diagnostic testing. Make sure you select a system that allows you to set up the equipment, run the tests and pick it up as quickly as possible so you can move on to the next task.
Time-saving aspects of the design include the method of attaching the flexure to the Duct Tester fan and HVAC system. The method used to change the range or orifice should also be considered when selecting a kit. For example, on the Retrotec 340x residential DucTester, a quick-connect collar is included to allow a quick transition between pressurizing and depressurizing ductwork. There is also a transparent flange that quickly attaches to a return grille. This saves the user from having to struggle to attach a flange to the grille when the return is in the ceiling.
For both its residential and commercial DucTesters, Retrotec designed its orifices, or ranges, so that they can be changed quickly without disassembling any other part of the tool. The amount of time it takes for the gauge to start up is another thing to consider. Retrotec has the only high-accuracy digital pressure gauge that starts instantly.
5. Experience: Who can I count on when I have questions about Duct Testers?
Retrotec first developed the Duct Tester for residential spaces in 1989 for the Canadian government. Since then, Retrotec's DucTester models have evolved extensively with the introduction of digital pressure gauges, lighter and more durable fan housings, wireless capabilities and features that make system setup quick and easy.
Retotec has been manufacturing these types of air tightness testing tools since 1980 and has unmatched industry expertise in diagnostic tool design, fan calibration, pressure gauges, and field testing.
At Apliter, we have a complete technical support to answer all your questions and get the most out of the Duct Testers. Visit our Youtube channel where we also show you more in depth some products.
We hope that this article has served as an orientation and guide to continue searching for the right DucTester kit. As you can see, they are not all the same. Just as buildings and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems continue to improve with new technologies and third-party testing procedures, so do Retrotec's test kits. We are constantly researching and developing new technologies to improve accuracy, speed and ease of use, while subjecting our own laboratory, processes and personnel to the most rigorous third-party accreditation processes on the planet. This ensures that we can deliver the best possible product.
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