"One unwitting aspect of the UK's Green Deal is that they finance air sealing around windows and doors but not in the attic. Perhaps the Brits are yet to learn about a new business opportunity that we have learned at great cost, the repair of…"
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Colin Genge
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What is the value of using a pressure pan to test outlets?
18 Replies
I had this question recently and my response was:If the blower door takes the home up to 50 Pa, and the pressure pan reading across the outlet is 49 Pa for example, that says that total of the rest…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Colin Genge Sep 5, 2012.
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Colin Genge's event was featuredLarge Building & Multi-Family Air Leakage Training at Jersey City, NJ Courtyard Jersey City Newport
April 16, 2013 all day
Large Building & Multi-Family Air Leakage Training Testing Larger Multi-Family and high rise buildings has become more commonplace both for compliance to standards and improving the value of energy, air quality and enclosure integrity. FREE download of a 60 day demo on our website at: http://retrotec.com/residential/Products/Software Contact us at training@retrotec.com or…See More
Colin Genge posted an eventLarge Building & Multi-Family Air Leakage Training at Jersey City, NJ Courtyard Jersey City Newport
April 16, 2013 all day
Large Building & Multi-Family Air Leakage Training Testing Larger Multi-Family and high rise buildings has become more commonplace both for compliance to standards and improving the value of energy, air quality and enclosure integrity. FREE download of a 60 day demo on our website at: http://retrotec.com/residential/Products/Software Contact us at training@retrotec.com or…See More
Colin Genge replied to George J. Nesbitt's discussion Duct Testing High Velocity Systems"This duct system should be tight enough that it should not matter where you test it from. I recommend you test under negative pressure to ensure you get good seals at the registers. How high was your reading and what flow range were you…"
Colin Genge replied to Colin Genge's discussion What is the value of using a pressure pan to test outlets?"If the cavities are that tight that their pressures don't move in step with the house pressure ( or close to it) their contribution to the result or ability to affect the result in any way are microscopically small to non-existent so you…"
Robert Riversong replied to Colin Genge's discussion What is the value of using a pressure pan to test outlets?"Michael,
That was so counter-intuitive that I had to create a spreadsheet to verify. Because standard atmospheric pressure is 101,325 Pascals (14.7 psi), a change of 50 Pa requires only a proportional change in volume of about 0.05%.
That would mean…"
Michael Blasnik replied to Colin Genge's discussion What is the value of using a pressure pan to test outlets?"John-
I think I can answer this one as well. The pressure will equalize pretty much instantly in all of the building cavities. The only exception would be for cavities that are extremely tight -- as in much less than even 1 CFM50 of…"
John Brooks replied to Colin Genge's discussion What is the value of using a pressure pan to test outlets?"Hi Colin, I hope this is not too far off topic.....
I found one of your Linked-In quotes about blower doors to be very fascinating.....
Colin Genge quote"Atmospheric pressure adjusts inside and out almost instantaneously even for a tight house.…"
Colin Genge replied to Colin Genge's discussion What is the value of using a pressure pan to test outlets?"If you don't have an Exhaust Fan Flow Meter, you could simply use a shoe box, cut a hole in it and use the formula that Paul mentioned. You can also use the "Hole Flow" feature on the DM-2 gauge to do the math for you and to calculate…"
Paul Morin replied to Colin Genge's discussion What is the value of using a pressure pan to test outlets?"David, you could use the Exhaust Fan Flow Meter to measure air flows above 10 cfm through the recessed light, but you would need to pressurize the house to 50 Pa. For flows below 10 cfm, you would need to make the hole in the Exhaust Fan Flow…"
David Meiland replied to Colin Genge's discussion What is the value of using a pressure pan to test outlets?"Michael, I'm trying to follow you here and wonder if you could comment on the following example. We recently did work on a house with a large number of can lights, some with floor above and others with open attic above. Lots of pressure pan…"
Michael Blasnik replied to Colin Genge's discussion What is the value of using a pressure pan to test outlets?"Colin-
I just have to chime in here - the dP across the pressure pan has nothing to do with how leaky the outlet is. When covered by the pressure pan the outlet leak has no flow - it has become a pressure tap into the wall cavity. The pressure is…"
David Meiland replied to Colin Genge's discussion What is the value of using a pressure pan to test outlets?"I've thought of doing that. I have a building that's perfect for it, and I actually already have a very large supply of the gaskets, which were given to me . However, what I've observed it that air comes right through the receptacle…"
Ed Minch replied to Colin Genge's discussion What is the value of using a pressure pan to test outlets?"Of course you are right, but what I am saying (obviously ineffectively) is that the network of leakage paths through the exterior and interior walls, and through the joist cavities, caused by the drywall not being fastened tightly agains the studs…"
David Meiland replied to Colin Genge's discussion What is the value of using a pressure pan to test outlets?"If the delta P is held constant--such as with a blower door in cruise mode, or (presumably) with natural pressures, reducing the hole size reduces air flow. If the delta P is not held constant, such as with a blower door controlled only by the speed…"
Ed Minch replied to Colin Genge's discussion What is the value of using a pressure pan to test outlets?"If a window is open 12" and you close it 1/2", have you reduces the amount of air going through it? And does closing the window a bit change the delta P?"
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Comment Wall (1 comment)
- At 7:09pm on July 15, 2012,
Diane Chojnowski said… Hi Colin,
Welcome to Home Energy Pros.
Feel free to join the conversation in the Forum and Groups. And share your energy efficiency photos, videos and upcoming events. If you're blogging about home performance, this is the place for you!
Don't forget to upload your profile photo. And add your location on our Member Map.
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