Why TAB (Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing) Companies Recommend Aeroseal for Duct Leakage Q&A
TAB (Testing, Adjusting, and Balancing) companies are often the first to uncover duct leakage problems when a system can’t be balanced. These questions highlight real-world scenarios where sealing ductwork is essential.
Q1. Why would a TAB company recommend duct sealing?A TAB company’s job is to ensure HVAC systems deliver the specified airflow to each space. When the design airflow cannot be achieved at the diffusers, registers, or equipment, TAB technicians often trace the issue back to duct leakage. If air is lost along the way, balancing becomes impossible until the leakage is corrected.
Q2. What happens when airflow is lost between the AHU and terminal units?In new or retrofitted spaces, TAB companies sometimes measure the correct airflow leaving the Air Handling Unit (AHU), but the sum of air reaching the terminal units is significantly lower. For example, an AHU may supply 10,000 CFM while only 7,500 CFM is measured downstream. That 25% loss is air escaping through duct joints, seams, or takeoffs. TAB reports will note this deficiency and recommend duct sealing before final air balance can be achieved.
Q3. Why do duct leaks make room pressurization impossible in hospitals and labs?Critical environments depend on precise pressure relationships — positive pressure in operating rooms, negative pressure in isolation rooms. Duct leaks can undermine these conditions by allowing air to escape or by pulling in false air from ceiling spaces. TAB technicians often discover that no amount of balancing can hold the required pressure differential because of hidden duct leakage. Until the leaks are sealed, certification of room pressurization is not possible.
Q4. How can duct leaks be sealed if the ductwork is inaccessible?Much of a building’s ductwork is hidden above ceilings or behind walls, making traditional sealing with mastic impractical. In these cases, TAB companies often recommend Aeroseal. The Aeroseal process seals leaks from the inside of the ductwork, requires no demolition, and produces a computer-verified leakage report that TAB firms can use to confirm system integrity and proceed with balancing.
Aeroseal for TAB and DuctworkAeroseal restores lost airflow and helps TAB companies bring systems into balance by sealing leaks from the inside of the duct network. The process pressurizes the ductwork and releases a safe, aerosolized sealant that automatically finds and seals leaks up to 5/8 of an inch. Once complete, the system generates a before-and-after leakage report to verify performance.
To understand how it works, watch the Aeroseal process in action.
Ready to get started?Contact us to learn how Aeroseal can help you resolve duct leakage, restore airflow, and complete TAB certification without disruption.
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