Blower Door Basics:

Tried and true techniques for using this diagnostic tool effectively

Frank Spevak
The Energy Conservatory Minneapolis, MN
2010 The Energy Conservatory

Housekeeping
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Agenda
Overview of house leakage basics and Blower Door equipment. Setting up the Blower Door for consistent and accurate test results. Explore how to do a test and how to use a digital gauge to perform the test.

Common Air Leakage Sites

Hidden Construction Details

Often the largest and most important air leaks

Hidden Construction Details

Duct Leakage
In some homes, this is the highest priority (particularly in the sun belt)

Purposes of a Blower Door Test

Document the relative airtightness of houses (are they leaky - tight - or somewhere in between). Help find air leaks by inducing air to move through all leaks at the same time (chemical smoke, IR camera, feeling with you hand, zonal pressures).

Purposes of a Blower Door Test

Determine the effectiveness of airsealing activities (compare before and after measurements). Investigate duct leakage problems. Help estimate the need for mechanical ventilation.

Blower Door Test

Blower Door fan is used to blow air out of (or into) the house. Adjust fan until the house pressure is changed by 50 Pa. (Approx. pressure of 20 mph wind) Flow through the fan needed to create a 50 Pa change is the house airtightness CFM50.
Blower Door Fan
Return

Attic

Supply

-50 -50

Crawlspace

Blower Door Test

CFM50 is really a measure of the total equivalent hole size. ACH50 is used to adjust for house size<1.5 - very tight (requires mechanical ventilation) 1.5 to 3 tight (requires mechanical ventilation) 3 to 6 - typical pretty good new construction or retrofit (may require mechanical ventilation) 6 to 10 - leaky 10 to 20 - very leaky

ACH50 = CFM50 x 60 House volume

Blower Door Equipment

Adjustable aluminum frame and nylon panel. Calibrated Fan with two Flow Rings (A and B). Accessory case with gauge, tubing and manual.

Blower Door Fan Basics

Airflow is determined by measuring flow sensor pressure (with reference to upstream of fan). Airflow can only be measured in one direction (from inlet to exhaust). On older fans motor was reversible for diagnostic purposes only.
flow sensor

Blower Door Fan Basics (contd)

Flow Rings are needed when measuring flows below 2,400 CFM (tight houses). Failure to use Flow Rings can lead to large errors. Gauges will indicate when Flow Rings should be used.
Fan Configuration Open (no Flow Ring) Ring A Ring B Flow Range (cfm) for Model 3 Fan 6,300 - 2,400 3,000 - 900 1,000 - 300

Blower Door Placement

Try to install in exterior door of a large open room. Avoid installing the fan where there are stairways or major obstructions to air flow very close to the fan. If the fan is installed next to a stairway or major obstruction, use one of the Flow Rings if possible. Always open the inside door and outside storm door as much as possible to prevent airflow restrictions to the fan.

Blower Door Placement

Place the outside pressure tubing away from fan flow.

Outside pressure tubing should be placed away from fan exhaust.

Blower Door Frame

Adjust the aluminum frame to the width of the door. Adjust the frame to the height of the door. Remove frame from the door and place fabric around frame (secure with velcro). Place in door and tighten cam levers.

Install the Fan in the Panel

Fan is installed in the fabric panel and is supported by the frame cross bar. Nylon panel makes tight seal around the fan. Typically installed with inlet side of fan (Flow Rings) inside the house depressurization test.

Install the Fan in the Panel

For pressurization test, the fan must blow air into the house (fan guard facing in).

DG-700 Pressure and Flow Gauge

Gauge measures differential pressures. Used to simultaneously measure the change in house pressure, and the air flow through the Blower Door fan. Proper tubing connections and gauge settings critical.

Tubing Connections
Channel A used to measure house pressure. Channel B used to measure fan flow. Depressurization test configuration shown.
Channel B Input tap is connected to fan (fan flow).

Channel A Reference tap is connected to outside (house pressure).

Tubing Connections (cont.)

Blower Door pressurization test (gauge in house).

When pressurizing, Channel B Reference tap is also connected to the outside.

DG-700 Pressure and Flow Gauge

Simultaneous display of house pressure and fan flow. Fan and Flow Ring configuration are shown directly on the display. Channel A (left side) is connected to outside to measure change in house pressure. Channel B (right side) is connected to fan to measure fan flow.

Other DG-700 Features

Specialized Test Modes:
@50 and @25 test modes make it simple to conduct single point house and duct airtightness tests. Cant Reach 50 Factor is built-in to the flow measurement (CFM50).

Other DG-700 Features

Additional Test Features:
BASELINE feature makes it simple to always take a baseline measurement during the Blower Door test. Gauge displays the baseline adjusted house pressure. Eliminates need to remember how to add or subtract negative numbers.

Other DG-700 Features

Additional Test Features:

BASELINE feature can also be used for combustion safety testing (worst case depressurization).
0 -1 -2.6 -5.2
(Fan Off)

Change in Building Pressure From Turning On an Exhaust Fan (Pa)

-2 -7.8
(Change)

-5 -6 -7
(Fan On)

Other DG-700 Features

Push Baseline button and then Start. Wait several seconds while the Baseline is measured and displayed. Push Enter. DG-700 shows ADJ. Start measuring and see the true change in pressure.
0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7
(Fan Off)

(Fan Off) - Measuring Baseline Pressure

(Fan Off) - Baseline Adjusted Pressure

-2.6 -5.2 -7.8

(Change) (Fan On) - Change in Pressure (Fan On)

Other DG-700 Features

Cruise without a computer for maintaining constant house pressure. Cruise at 75 Pa, 50 Pa, 25 Pa and 0 Pa. Cruise 50 Pa for airsealing and investigation. Cruise 25 Pa for use with Duct Blaster for Duct Leakage to Outside. Older DG-700 Gauges may be upgraded to add Cruise.

Other DG-700 Features

Cruise control a requires a communication jack on speed controller, and a fan control cable (standard equipment).

Other DG-700 Features

Older fans can be upgraded to Cruise with a new fan speed controller, a fan control cable, and a DG-700 with Cruise.

TECLOG for Combustion Tests

TECLOG is a real time datalogging program for use with the DG-700. Displays and records both channels. Measure house depressurization while simultaneously measuring appliance draft.

Automated Testing with a DG-700

Requires TECTITE software and USB cable (standard equipment), plus a laptop computer. Reduces operator errors, improves consistency between tests. Better precision in windy weather. Store test results and generate reports.

Blower Door Set-up Common Errors

Tubing connections to gauge are wrong. Inputting wrong fan Flow Ring settings. Failure to take baseline house pressure reading. Not closing all windows and opening all interior doors.

Manual Blower Door Test

Set gauge to PR/FL@50 mode. Measure baseline house pressure with fan covered (Baseline feature). Uncover fan then increase fan speed with controller. Adjust controller to change house pressure (Channel A) by approximately 50 Pascals. Read CFM50 from Channel B.

Manual Blower Door Test (cont.)

If Channel B shows LO while reading CFM50, add Ring A or B, and change fan configuration setting on gauge. Determine if airsealing is cost effective. Perform airsealing work. Retest to verify work.

Blower Door Test (cont.)

Only direct value obtained from a Blower Door test is CFM50. All other values are calculations. Use TECTITE software (manual or automated mode) to help with other calculations.

Blower Door Test (cont.)

The latest version of TECTITE incorporates a mechanical ventilation guideline based on ASHRAE Standard 62.2. Written in Code language for adoption by local authorities.

Blower Door Test (cont.)

Estimated infiltration rates are just that estimates, use carefully. Infiltration rates vary from day to day and depend on parameters not measured by the Blower Door.

Other Tests Using A Blower Door

Air Leakage Path investigation:
Blower Door with an Infrared Camera View wall before Blower Door Test View wall with Blower Door running

Other Tests Using A Blower Door

Duct Leakage Diagnostics:
Pressure Pan test to determine if duct work is connected to the outside. With Blower Door maintaining 50 Pa, test registers with Pressure Pan. Qualitative test.

Other Tests Using A Blower Door

Duct Leakage Diagnostics:
Blower Door Subtraction (compare test results with registers sealed and unsealed). Simultaneous pressurization or depressurization of house and ducts with Blower Door and Duct Blaster (preferred method).

Other Tests Using A Blower Door

Zone Pressure Testing:
Measure pressure change in attached zones (e.g. attic, crawlspace) with Blower Door running. Can help to quickly identify dominant house leaks.

More Useful Information

Fan Calibration
Fans maintain their calibration unless physical damage occurs. These conditions are easily detected and should be tested for on a regular basis.

Main Issues Affecting Fan Calibration

The 2 most important aspects to maintaining proper fan calibration:
No leaks in flow sensor. Sensor in proper position.

Damaged fan housing (e.g. broken flange) and broken/ missing blades.

Checking Flow Sensor for Leaks

Model 3 flow sensors can crack from impacts & thermal stress. To test for leaks:
Connect a piece of tubing to the fan pressure tap. Tape off the 4 holes on the side of the sensor. Create a vacuum in the tubing with your mouth. The tubing should stick to your tongue for at least 5 seconds if the sensor is airtight. If sensor leaks, replace the sensor or find the source of the leak. Remove the tape from the sensor holes.

Flow Sensor Position

Because the Blower Door and Duct Blaster flow sensors are connected to the motor, the motor determines the sensor position. Motors can move if fan is dropped, or motor mounts can bend.
motor

motor mount

Checking Flow Sensor Position

Measure the distance between the inlet plane of the fan housing and the face of flow sensor. Distance should be between 3/16 to 5/16. Adjust sensor position, replace bent motor mounts or adjust motor position.

Digital Gauge Calibration

Calibration is recommended once a year. Calibration is performed at TEC factory. Cost is $75 and is usually completed in about 3 or 4 days. Blower Door and Duct Blaster manuals describe how to perform a calibration check in the field. Upgrade of older DG-700 to Cruise is an extra $50 on top of recalibration.

More Useful Information

Visit our website (www.energyconservatory.com) Articles on airsealing and duct leakage diagnostics. Previous newsletters. All product manuals and guides are online. Links to other sites. Download version of TECTITE. Download of TECLOG.