Posts tagged: Air-testing

Introduction

The follow-up for a Mid-Construction Air-Test is a Final Home Evaluation. The team from Homesol Building Solutions provides a final inspection of a newly built or renovated house to assure all of the mechanical systems are in place for the energy certificate or label.

Final Home Evaluation

At final inspection or evaluation, we come to the house close to when the house is completed and we do an air-tightness test. It’s one of the things that we do for all about Energy Star and Net-Zero R2000 homes. And the process would be that we would take photo documentation of the exterior of the house and elevation so someone can compare to the plans and to the energy model that the house is what it is and also to document the mechanical systems and anything else that is visually available for us to document at this stage.

And then all that gets put into the file and then it gets cross-checked with what is put into the energy model and what the specs are. And if anything differs in a substantial degree than we can count as a deficiency and work with the builder to offset any that may be present.

Final Air Test

So another part of the process of the final evaluation set up to blower door at the front door or any of the exterior doors, make sure that all the windows and doors to the exterior are closed. Make sure all the interior doors are open so that there’s good flow throughout the house and then run the air test to check for additional holes and leaks.

Quality Assurance

So even though a project has had a passing, mid-construction, air-test a final test is still required because many things can happen between that mid-construction air test and the final holes can be put into the air barrier that gets covered up and represents an air leak. So that’s why it’s good quality assurance for the final air test to confirm the actual air tightness of the house.

If you are interested in a Final Home evaluation for your houses or construction projects, get started with Homesol Building Solutions today!

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Mid-Construction Air-Tightness Testing

Homesol Building Solutions offers mid-construction air-tightness tests to builders looking to make more energy-efficient homes. Our mid-construction air-tests show builders where the air leaks are in their builds, so they can be properly sealed before the work covers them up leading to less energy waste.

The Importance of a Mid-Construction Air-Test

The first requirement in conducting a mid-construction air-test, the house needs to be prepared. For a house to be prepared, the air barrier needs to be complete. Whatever the primary air barrier is, there could be multiple air barriers, but as long as one is complete, then we can come in to do a mid-construction test that will include the windows and doors needing to be installed prior to our test.

The mid-construction air-test is a great marker to make sure that the air barrier is as complete as possible at that point so that they can continue on in the process of construction, knowing that they’re already achieving the air tightness target. And if they happen to not be, then we can go around looking for air leaks before they get covered up.

How the Test Works

So the process that happens with the mid-construction air-test is that we come in and we have to have power, that’s a big one, which is not always the case in the during construction, in which case sometimes they’ll bring over a portable generator. But as long as we have power, then we can run our fan and run our laptops. Then we set up the blower door. We make sure that all the windows and doors are closed. We spot check for other areas where the air barrier may not be complete, and then we run the test.

And when we finish the test, we can get a result to see if we need to look around for air leaks. And when we look around for air leaks at this time, the best method is to feel with our hands and use special infrared cameras in typical areas where we find air leaks, and then inform the builder on where they are so they can be sealed before construction can continue.

Interested in a mid-construction air-tightness test for your construction operation? Contact Homesol Building Solutions to get started!

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