Air leaks remediation and house tightness

[David A. Andersen]

Did you go to my site?

http://www.thermalimagingscan.com/bu...erformance.htm

Hope you didn't miss this page:

A critical step in performing weatherization repairs on your home is to maintain your health and safety during the process.

Any changes you make to your home may change conditions which are hazardous to your health and safety.

Many of the energy auditing programs available do not adequately address these significant concerns!

If you seal up just one window in your home, you may potentially change the performance of the appliances in your home which may cause carbon monoxide poisoning or other indoor air quality issues.

It is of utmost importance that your home be properly tested before and after weatherization practices are performed, not only to ensure the effectiveness of the repair but to ensure the safety of you and your family!

[Roy D. Cooke, Sr]

Originally Posted by dandersen

Did you go to my site?

http://www.thermalimagingscan.com/bu...erformance.htm

Hope you didn't miss this:

Thanks I am lucky to have a friend who has done this for years
When he did the second Test and I said I had a couple more small air leaks He said No stop now.
Go any further and you will need to put in an HRV .
Been two years now and every thing seem perfect , He had me put on both Bath fans Dryer and Kitchen exhaust to confirm his reasoning .
Humidity at this time is 39% slight moisture on edge of the windows out side temp is 16°F inside 72°F .
Thanks for your concern ,Do you have any thoughts .
. We have some Plants in the home no fish tanks .
Do not dry laundry inside .
Is there any more info you need ..
2 adults one dog all Bath exhaust on timers . Gas fire place uses outside air . Gas water heater uses inside air .
Have 4 C/O detectors and 5 smoke detectors .
Electric dry uses inside air

[ggal]

Originally Posted by dandersen

Did you go to my site?

http://www.thermalimagingscan.com/bu...erformance.htm

Hope you didn't miss this page:

This is exactly what I was writing about.
You must be 1 of the 2 sites that I mentioned (out of over 40 sites) that addresses the issue of over tightening a house when hunting for leaks.

Gabe

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by ggal

So you are OK with inspectors going into houses with their IR cameras, pointing out air leaks and moisture and suggesting that the air leaks should be eliminated without telling the home owner about the consequences of on overy tight hosuse without make-up air systems?

I'm not!

Many people are sold equipment with promises from vendors of being a leader in the field, making more $$$.....that's all you're both concerned about......making more $$$$$$.........and then enter the field with their new service very poorly trained especially in IAQ, backdrafting, etc. If you have not been in the IAQ field for a few years fulltime in a truly professional manner, having previously been trained/mentored by a person with many years of building science, air leakage testing/sealing, HVAC training, you're putting yourself in danger of being labeled a "charlatan" with complaints and your customer giving you a bad reputation.

It's not that simple.....a 1 or 2 week course from BPI or RESNET is still just a "lead-in" to the field; experience will teach you a lot more....hopefully it's not costly and a bad experience!

[Brian A. MacNeish]

[quote=jbushart;741599]That is because an infrared camera is insufficient to address what you are referring to as "house tightness". It is like attempting to photograph the wind and use your photo to judge its speed and volume.

Lack of insulation has nothing at all to do with air leakage. Insulating an air bypass simply filters the conditioned air as it leaves the building.[/quote]

Dense-pack cellulose has been used for many years as part of an airsealing program for homes. It's been mentioned many times in articles about "projects weatherization" programs. (Home Energy magazine)

Even if it's not dense-pack, cellulose reduces air leakage in homes. After buying a blower door in 1981, the first house my company insulated was a 1920's balloon framed 2 storey. We were only contracted to do the walls with the homeowner to do any further interior airsealing at the walls on his own. We did a pre-insulation air leakage test and a second immediately after the walls were blown. At this point nothing else was done to the house......The air leakage at 50 pa had been reduce by 38%.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by ggal

Thank you for the brochure Brian.

As for your comment that NO HOUSE IS TOO TIGHT, why else would newer houses need mechanically assited air exchangers (HRVs)?

Too tight is obviously a relative term but let's assume that an older home can be sealed to the level of a new house, wouldn't you agree that if an HRV is not added that house WILL be too tight to the point that it will be uncomfortable.

Gabe

This is a termed from the "STREET", spoken by those that have no real training in energy efficiency and no understanding in good building practice for durability of homes.

When you speak to a well trained and experienced practitioner in these fields, your jaw will drop as you learn about things you were never taught in your professional studies!

[James H. Bushart]

[quote=Brian A. MacNeish;742222]

Originally Posted by jbushart

That is because an infrared camera is insufficient to address what you are referring to as "house tightness". It is like attempting to photograph the wind and use your photo to judge its speed and volume.

Lack of insulation has nothing at all to do with air leakage. Insulating an air bypass simply filters the conditioned air as it leaves the building.[/quote]

Dense-pack cellulose has been used for many years as part of an airsealing program for homes. It's been mentioned many times in articles about "projects weatherization" programs. (Home Energy magazine)

Even if it's not dense-pack, cellulose reduces air leakage in homes. After buying a blower door in 1981, the first house my company insulated was a 1920's balloon framed 2 storey. We were only contracted to do the walls with the homeowner to do any further interior airsealing at the walls on his own. We did a pre-insulation air leakage test and a second immediately after the walls were blown. At this point nothing else was done to the house......The air leakage at 50 pa had been reduce by 38%.

It works in retrofits but it is not the air sealing method of choice. I have brand new construction in my area where gaps around windows are "sealed" with crushed batt.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

[quote=jbushart;742227]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

It works in retrofits (Agreed) but it is not the air sealing method of choice. I have brand new construction in my area where gaps around windows are "sealed" with crushed batt.

Well trained, aren't they?

[measter]

[QUOTE=jbushart;742227]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

I have brand new construction in my area where gaps around windows are "sealed" with crushed batt.

It's state-of-the-art around here. They don't know anything different.