Register Sealing before having BECT do a duct leakage test

Subject : Register Sealing before having BECT do a duct leakage test

Hello,

Please make sure that the registers are sealed as in the photo below, before BECT comes to test the system for duct leakage.

Seal the register boxes to drywall or hardwood floor with UL 181 aluminum tape as shown below.

Aluminum Tape (must be UL 181)        

                              Register sealed to drywall with Al tape.

The photos below are examples of what the registers/returns should not look like.

Unsealed boot in drywall, on ceiling. This won't hold air.

Unsealed 1950s boot in hardwood floor, unsealed.

1920s register boot, unsealed to plaster yet painted black.

Also, please make sure that your forced air unit set on the highest speed so that you can achieve 350 cfm/ton​ for the 1. Total Airflow Test and 2. The Fan/Watt Draw Test.


Also, don't forget to drill a 1/4 inch hole in each side of the plenum (both supply plenum and return plenum) and mark the hole, HSSP, for Hole for Static Pressure Probe. Put aluminum tape over the hole but make sure marking is visible for HERS test. If those access holes are not there - you'll need to do it at the test. They are so that someone can insert a probe on each side and see the difference in temperature and humidity changes before and after the air moves through the evaporator coil.

If you have any questions on how to seal it, we also have a video on our website detailing how to properly seal your ducts. Click this link here to watch the video, http://bect.us/videos/. You can also watch our other videos on energy efficiency in the home on BECT's YouTube channel. Check it out here, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAd8LCb6fzHAkzqOu9loGrQ/videos?view_as=subscriber.

Stay cool and comfortable, 

BECT