EcoRenovator - View Single Post - smoke tested my house looking for drafts. Found lots...

Student 07 · 02-23-12, 04:11 PM

Hi,
I have a question for S-F.
How do you pressurize a house? I really like your idea of using positive pressure to pinpoint leaks. Wouldn't positive pressure just open the dampers in the range hood, bathroom vents etc., as if their fan was running and relief all the pressure I was trying to build up. Negative pressure would pull the dampers closed.
At our old house, we could always hear the dampers flapping when it was windy outside

. Leaks, or a vacuum from the wind passing the exterior vent?
With negative pressure and a smoke stick, I am never sure if my movement causes the smoke to move or is the leak near the smoke or is it a draft from some place else?
Your idea of positive pressure should solve all those problems. Do you think the dampers relief too much pressure, or is there still enough pressure in the house to perform the test? My house is fairly large, maybe the solution would be to test each room, one at a time, instead of trying to do the whole house?
Anyway, thanks for the great suggestion and help

.

02-23-12, 04:11 PM	#7
Student 07 Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Gresham OR Posts: 35 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Hi, I have a question for S-F. How do you pressurize a house? I really like your idea of using positive pressure to pinpoint leaks. Wouldn't positive pressure just open the dampers in the range hood, bathroom vents etc., as if their fan was running and relief all the pressure I was trying to build up. Negative pressure would pull the dampers closed. At our old house, we could always hear the dampers flapping when it was windy outside. Leaks, or a vacuum from the wind passing the exterior vent? With negative pressure and a smoke stick, I am never sure if my movement causes the smoke to move or is the leak near the smoke or is it a draft from some place else? Your idea of positive pressure should solve all those problems. Do you think the dampers relief too much pressure, or is there still enough pressure in the house to perform the test? My house is fairly large, maybe the solution would be to test each room, one at a time, instead of trying to do the whole house? Anyway, thanks for the great suggestion and help.