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At Pape Service Company, we are always looking
for ways to improve and better serve our customers. This does not always include repairing
or replacing air conditioning equipment. As part of this ongoing effort
we now offer duct leak testing because we have found a reliable way to
determine which systems are leaking and then to locate those leaks and
eliminate them.
Scroll Down for
a description of this process.
Duct Leak
Testing steps:
- We cover the supply and
return air grills in your home with a thin “mask” to block air
flow through the grills
while testing.
- We connect a calibrated
fan to the duct system and measure the air flow through this fan at
the typical pressure the system operates at.
- Based on the measured air
flow into the duct system with the outlets covered, we calculate
the loss that is directly related to leaks in the duct system. While no loss is ideal, a maximum
of 10% is the target for a duct system that is considered
efficient today.
- When excess leakage is
detected, we go looking for the leaks and begin making repairs
until the 10% maximum is obtained. Most of the repairs can be made
at very little additional expense to the customers and no billable
expense is made without your prior authorization.
- After the test, the
grill “mask” is removed from each grill and the calibrated fan is
removed.
Sounds
simple? It should because it really is very
simple. Most leaks in your
attic are sealed using a brushed on soft paste or mastic that hardens
over time and lasts much longer than the duct tapes and calks of the
past. This is applied in your
attic or furnace closet just like paint on an old barn. Some repairs are made using a special
foil tape in places where the
mastic might not be appropriate. No high
technology process is usually needed other than the test itself.
So why is it
FREE for 31 ONCOR customers? Because
ONCOR has a rebate program that is covering all the costs of testing (as
long as the repairs are made to reach the target efficiency). Since
they only pay on repaired systems, we are ‘experimenting’ with the free
offer on 31 only. However, we
may find that we can offer the FREE test for more customers in the
future if we continue to find that most homes need duct repairs and
customers, once aware of the need, are willing to pay for the needed
repairs. While we love our
customers, we also like to eat, so we will always want to make a little
on each job whether paid by ONCOR or by our satisfied customers.
How long does
the typical Leak test job take? Preparing a
system for testing, doing the test, and removing the grill “masks” after
the test takes about one hour for each system. Additional time for sealing leaks is
directly tied to where and how big the leaks are when we locate them.
Can all
systems be repaired to a satisfactory level? No, unfortunately some systems are so leaky that abandonment
of some of the duct runs or chases is the most practical action. In fact, we are finding a surprising
number of systems with major leaks allowing large amounts of attic air
to be pulled into the system and blown directly into the homes. In this case, quite often the best
option is to abandon the entire return inlet and cut a new dedicated
inlet in the ceiling of a hall or corridor. The typical cost for this type of repair is $250 to $400
depending on size and location but the rewards of cleaner air and lower
utility bills should make this expense worthwhile.
Can a non ‘all
electric’ ONCOR customer have the test and repair done? Absolutely Yes, a system with a gas
furnace is just as likely to leak as an ‘all electric’ system. Unfortunately, the rebate from ONCOR
is structured so that we need to charge a fee for the test. We will gladly provide you with a
price for testing prior to doing any work and if leaks are found, we
will also provide you with a repair estimate prior to commencing any
billable repairs.
So give me a
call or email to schedule an appointment or ask more questions!
Stephen Pape
DuctLeakRepairs@PapeAC.com
972-223-6410
Pape Air Conditioning Service
Company supports the local communities in which we serve and also
supports improvements within the industry. We are members of the
DeSoto Chamber of Commerce, Lancaster Chamber of Commerce, and the
Glenn Heights Chamber of Commerce.
We also are active
members of the North Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Association,
Texas Air Conditioning Contractors Association (TACCA), and the
National Air Conditioning Contractors Association (ACCA).
Our family and employees serve in many civic and educational positions
including; State Legislative Chairman for TACCA, Board of Directors for
NT ACCA, Board of Directors for TACCA, a Founder and Board of Director
for the Red Oak ISD Education Foundation. Other involvement includes
Board and Officer positions for various municipal, school, church, and
industry related organizations. We care about our community and
we will continue to make it a good place for everyone to live and work.
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