Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine January 2026

HVACR NewsMagazine January 2026

Energy Talk

enhance or even maintain integrity where efficiency is concerned. Much of the process is out of the hands of the HVAC contractor so corrections should be address at rough if possible. When leakage occurs at the boot or bucket penetrations, we are quick to identify as duct leakage when in fact the envelope is involved. Traditional insulation has little to do with stopping air flow. The paper tape used in drywall application is often a contributor to infiltration. Framing remains low on the priority list of energy conservation, yet in some instances framing can contribute to well over half of envelope leakage. Platform returns or chases on existing structures are significant contributors to leakage. Some years ago, code attempted to address leakage by mandating abandoning cavity returns. Often the chase had a duct dropped though it and attached at each end, ignoring the fact the square chase was the correct size, and now we have reduced air flow significantly. Whether you have local officials that demand duct and envelope testing, or not, the answer is the same. Testing always must take place if you are to be successful at applying correctly sized equipment in any home.

Diagnostic

equipment

gives

information only How to proceed with data has its own set of requirements. Many times, it takes several points and types of measurements to confirm data sets. We must not forget fundamentals, if we are ever to manage test data. A TrueFlow Grid will identify how much air flows, but does not ascertain the origin, (inside or outside the envelope) or at what energy cost. Static pressure may identify values at each point in the system, but you must match the data that points to components to identify proper operation or deficiencies. A blower door or duct blower discovers differences between structures, but we need a general understanding of construction outside of the HVAC industry to deal with what the data reveals. This knowledge will help the HVAC contractor avoid accepting substandard techniques or materials early on. The competent contractor avoids the blame game and works to not accept inferior products or processes, nor expect performance out of the builder specified HVAC system. We work to calculate the need, apply the appropriate equipment, and evaluate outcomes to prove expertise. You and your company must catalog every customer’s call whether installation or service and track the job and any issues that arise. You will not want to repeat the problem again. Everyone in your business must have ready access to view those files for comparison.