Pinpointing Leaks with Fog Machines

[arook]

After an informative discussion with Jason Kaylor, I did a quick search for "Pinpointing Leaks with a Fog Machine."

It's an interesting concept and probably would be neat to watch. Although it makes me wonder about what homeowners would say about fogging their house.

Has anybody ever done this?


With an IR camera this method seems unnecessary, but I still find it interesting.

[iniquette]

Looks pretty cool. Wish they had a video clip.

[Bob Elliott]

Ha
I mis -read this as finding leaks in fog machines and thought it was a joke.

[iniquette]

I can just see them rolling up in the van and sliding the big side door open with the fog machine rolling already. Now that would be hilarious.

[Peter C. Russell]

What do you do if it's a windy day????

[arook]

Originally Posted by prussell

What do you do if it's a windy day????

Makes you wonder doesn't it?

I would also wonder how long it takes for the fog to completely dissipate once it's in the house.

[Jason Kaylor]

Andrew, sorry for getting distracted at the end of our conversation. The power kept going off and on, and of course no one around here can handle anything that comes up during the day that is out of the ordinary.

Another issue I read about when doing this is some of the fog machines use a solution that is oil based. By using the fog and a blower door to pressurize the structure you could be putting oil in places it probably should not be.

However, there are water based solutions from what I hear.

Here is a video of it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eigp-g7oSiw

The picture on the bottom of this page shows it being used with a duct blaster

http://www.esgtesting.com/DuctBlast.aspx

I do not remember where I read about this application at originally, but the person that did the test was using it prove to a general contractor where mistakes were made in the structure that the GC built. He said that when he turn on the blower door smoke started pouring out of the house. The GC walked away and had someone out to the house in a day fixing the problems. I guess the visual of doing this is pretty impressive.

Jason Kaylor – JJ
VP of Specialty Products
877/207-1244
AC Tool Supply
Energy Auditor
TSI 8375 Air Flow Hood
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Intec Insulation Blower

[arook]

You were right. I couldn't find a YouTube video of someone actually performing a building envelope test using a fog machine.

[rbibler]

I have the same fog machine they show at the bottom of the page. it is an oil that the unit uses. I would want a damage waver from the owner be for I Used that in same one in a home. A fine art work or some Lady's nice dress, or other items that can be found in a home could be damage beyond repair or clenning...

I don't think my insurance would cover any of this...

The fog does leave a fine film... and has a smell. My wife has Asama and she can not be in a room with that stuff... the air is to thin for her.

Sometime these machine will spit and sputter and drops of oil can come out the spray tip... You would wand to set is up in and air without carpet or floor coverings... I use this at shows we did with my band... sometimes
people would step away from the stage so we stop using the fog machines...

I could see it being used in a new home with no sheet rock but not in a nice home.

You mite think about dry ice and water much better program only has the ammonia smell for a short time.

Best

Ron

[iniquette]

Originally Posted by rbibler

I have the same fog machine they show at the bottom of the page. it is an oil that the unit uses. I would want a damage waver from the owner be for I Used that in same one in a home. A fine art work or some Lady's nice dress, or other items that can be found in a home could be damage beyond repair or clenning...

I don't think my insurance would cover any of this...

The fog does leave a fine film... and has a smell. My wife has Asama and she can not be in a room with that stuff... the air is to thin for her.

Sometime these machine will spit and sputter and drops of oil can come out the spray tip... You would wand to set is up in and air without carpet or floor coverings... I use this at shows we did with my band... sometimes
people would step away from the stage so we stop using the fog machines...

I could see it being used in a new home with no sheet rock but not in a nice home.

You mite think about dry ice and water much better program only has the ammonia smell for a short time.

Best

Ron

I was actually wondering that myself. But I would also have concerns about the wind conditions, like Peter, when conducting this sort of test.

[rswartz]

Hi all. I'm somewhat new to these forums. I've enjoyed what I have learned thus far from all of you guys.
I had RESNET training last summer and became a HERS Rater through that. On our day in the field, I got to see a fog machine in action. It was used in a house that was being qualified for the Energy Star label. It pinpointed the leaks in the duct system wonderfully. By the way, these machines should be used in the duct system only, not an entire house.

[Jason Kaylor]

Welcome to the forums Randal.

I agree 100% on the duct system fog machine test. I think for the entire structure technologies like IR are better suited. IR still has the same visual effect for the home owner or any one else involved. However, with duct systems generally harder to access with IR and made of low E value materials, smoke is a much better option.

Jason Kaylor – JJ
VP of Specialty Products
877/207-1244
AC Tool Supply
Energy Auditors
Bacharach Fyrite Insight
TSI 8375 Flow Hood
Alnor EBT721 Flow Hood