- What Are My Air Ducts Made Of? What Are My In-Ground Air Ducts Made Of?
- For many years, ductwork in New Jersey was made using primarily galvanized metal, asbestos/cement (Transite), and Sonotube.
- What should I do if I have In-Ground, Transite Air Ducts?
- Two potential options include encapsulating your ductwork with Duct Armor or abandoning the in-ground ductwork altogether and rebuilding with overhead ductwork.
Disclaimer: Atlantic Duct Armor is biased on this one! Encapsulating your in-ground air ducts is simple, takes just a few hours, and maintains the efficiencies of your original air distribution system.
But you do need to evaluate your options. Abandoning the transite ductwork would require some or all of the following over a period of days, weeks, or months: 1) Filling the existing ducts with cement; 2) Purchasing a new, updraft furnace; 3) Permits; 4) Deconstructing walls and ceilings in order to run the new ductwork through your house; 5) Putting your house back together and painting…everything. Beware the temptation to put the new supply vents and the return vents at the ceiling level: This could lead to huge energy bills because most of the conditioned air never reaches the floor level. And if you settle for the lower cost flexduct option, you may be impeding air flow, thus increasing energy costs. Flexduct can also introduce more carcinogens into your home because of its fiberglass insulation which is usually protected with just a thin plastic barrier. (fiberglass is a carcinogen)
- What is Transite and Why Is It a Problem?
- Transite originated as the trade name that the Johns-Manville Corporation (originally in Manville, NJ) created for a line of asbestos-cement products. In time, it becomes something of a generic term for other companies’ similar asbestos-cement products. This material was made with cement and varying amounts (12-50%) asbestos fiber. From the 1950’s through the early 1980’s, many slab construction homes in New Jersey used Transite to fabricate in-floor HVAC ducts. Trenches were dug, the Transite ducts were placed in the ground, the slab was poured over the top, and then the furnace was connected and the vents put in place.
After 30 to 65 years of being subjected to the hot and cold blowing air through them, the Transite cement has experienced some level of deterioration. You might see this as a fine, white powder-like substance in the ducts or around the floor vents.
- What is Sonotube?
- A thick gauged cardboard with a foil lining that was used for in-floor ducting in some construction from the early 1970’s to the mid 1980’s. The problems with these systems all results from water: High water table, bad drainage away from the house, or humidity/moisture damage over many years from within the HVAC system. When the cardboard starts to deteriorate, air flow is impeded and allergens are released into your home or office space.
We will remove as much of the damaged or rotted Sonotube as possible before sealing with Duct Armor.
- What If I Have Water In My Ducts?
- Our video inspection will assist you with identifying the source of the problem. This could be a drainage issue or a leaking water pipe. It is our perspective that the water in the ducts is a symptom of a larger problem that needs to be fixed or you could eventually see much more significant damage to your foundation. There may first be a need for such remedies as rain gutters or drainage to draw water away from the foundation. Then we can apply Duct Armor to restore the integrity of your ductwork. When properly applied, Duct Armor does create a solid barrier.
- What if I have Rusty Ducts?
- Galvanized metal has been a very common material used to build both in-ground and over-head air ducts for over 60 years. If you see rust inside your ducts or even on the outside of your ducts, you need Duct Armor. Extended exposure to moisture is deteriorating your ductwork and releasing allergens into your home or office. Duct Armor will arrest further deterioration, extend the life of your existing ductwork, and restore high indoor air quality.
- Is Mold in Air Ducts a Problem in New Jersey?
- Yes. According to the Center of Environmental Prediction at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University, New Jersey typically sees atmospheric mold levels ion the 2,000 – 6,000 range. After Hurricane Irene those levels spiked to nearly 14,000. So called, “Sandy Mold” as a result of Hurricane Sandy has also been a big problem. And the record snow fall and rain that we have experienced during the winter of 2013 – 2014 will only contribute to mold levels in New Jersey.
When mold spores get into our homes, they can settle in the air conditioning system and ductwork along with dust and other contaminants. Air ducts, especially during New Jersey’s humid months, can be virtual incubators for microbial pollutants such as mold and bacteria. With the alternating high and low humidity conditions which regularly occur in our air conditioning ducts during normal operation, mold will produce spores and distribute them throughout the house. Natural humidity levels as well as the installation of humidifiers into our HVAC systems both contribute to this problem.
- What Are The Signs That I Might Have Mold In My Air Ducts?
- The simple answer is a bad smell. Some people will not feel well or have otherwise unexplained headaches. Molds emit spores and chemicals as part of their normal life cycle. Individuals may exhibit reactions when exposed to these materials. Spores emitted by molds are microscopic and once airborne can be inhaled easily. Spores may contain allergens and can cause irritation in the nose, throat and respiratory tract. Common allergic reactions include sneezing, nasal congestion, coughing, and skin rashes. Molds may also trigger asthma attacks in persons who are allergic.
- Will Duct Armor Solve My Problem With Mold In My Air Ducts?
- Yes. Duct Armor will address the current mold problem in your air ducts as well as prevent future growth. Mold requires air to grow. By encapsulating any existing mold with Duct Armor, oxygen is removed. And because of the high zinc content in the material, mold cannot grow on the new lining of your ductwork. See our mold test results here.
- What If I Had a Fire and My Air Ducts Were Filled With Smoke?
- Even after the air ducts have been professional cleaned, there will still be sooty residue in the ductwork. That is when we can apply Duct Armor to encapsulate the sooty residue and restore your air ducts to better-than-new condition.
- Will Duct Armor Fix My Leaky Air Ducts and Save Energy?
- Yes. According to the US Department of Energy, between 10-50% of conditioned air is lost during transit through the air ducts. Leaky air ducts is a recognized problem, especially in hard-to-reach or otherwise inaccessible spaces. Business owners and home owners are spending a great deal of money to purchase Energy Star Rated furnaces and air conditioners, and they are losing that efficiently conditioned air through leaky ductwork. Don’t forget to seal your ducts from the inside, with Duct Armor.
- Is Duct Armor Safe?
- Yes. Our proprietary Duct Armor product is water-based, non-toxic, and environmentally safe. It has a high zinc content to prevent mold growth and is comprised of over 50% adhesives. It has a NFPA Class A fire rating. It will dry to a rigid, rubber-like coating. It contains no VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) so there is no out-gassing of bad stuff in the short or long term. You can stay in your home as we apply it, and you will be using your HVAC before our technicians pull away from your property
- How Long Does It Take To Apply?
- Using our patented process, the average home takes 3 – 4 hours.
- How Much Does It Cost?
- The video inspection cost starts at $250 (for the average home). Call for a quote for larger homes or businesses. The video inspection fee will be applied toward the Duct Armor Lining job should you decide to proceed with that. The cost for the Duct Armor process will start around $30 per linear foot and be impacted by the existing condition of the ducts, the length and diameter of the ductwork, and access. (Compare that to the $140 per linear foot cost (+/-) to seal sewer lines using an epoxy process that is toxic and not to be used for air ducts.)
- What Is The Warranty Against Delamination?
- 15 years against delamitation. Our proprietary product is made up of more than 50% bonding agents.
- Does your process replace air duct cleaning?
- No. We may recommend that you have your ducts cleaned by a professional duct cleaning service before applying Duct Armor, unless it has been done recently. In the future, you will still want to have your ducts cleaned to remove dust, dirt, and debris that can enter your system through normal operation or through the floor vents. Duct Armor will eliminate the need for any future mold treatment.
- Who Is The Typical Atlantic Duct Armor Customer?
- The Duct Armor product has been applied in thousands of applications across the country for over twelve years. These include small homes, estates, banks, office buildings, high rise commercial buildings, restaurants, hotels, schools and universities. Regardless of the problem that originally brought Duct Armor to their attention, every one of our customers is appreciating the benefits of an improved infrastructure, great indoor air quality and reduced energy costs as a result of implementing the Duct Armor Solution.
- What Areas Does Atlantic Duct Armor Cover?
- Atlantic Duct Armor is the Certified Duct Armor dealer for the North & Central New Jersey as well as The Shore Region through Ocean County. We will also respond to needs in New York and Connecticut. If you are outside of this area, please give us a call anyway to determine our availability to travel
Atlantic Duct Armor in Bridgewater New Jersey • 908.202.7624