Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine November 2024

HVACR NewsMagazine November 2024 Tech News

things would be done to code by another trade. The end product? There was little to inhibit the flow of unconditioned air in and out of the home and little to keep temperatures at bay on a calm day. Another point we need to make before ending the conversation is that of larger homes. Homes over 3,000 square feet should be tested in isolated stages to ensure air tightness is maintained. You must isolate the zones testing each individually. If you wait to test the finished product, it may be necessary to remove drywall (or worse) to find out where and why a home does not meet testing criteria. Some larger homes will make it almost impossible to correct errors. Where foam is employed as a combination insulator and air barrier, just one small area skipped will keep all the other foam utilized in the structure from performing. If you suspect foam is not properly installed, a blower door can help immediately identify the issue. If a scuttle or pull down is present inside the envelope, set up the blower door, power it up and see if cracking the scuttle or pull down allows air to flow. If so, the attic is not sealed. Where foam is utilized, the seal must be absolute. With all the technology available, it is foolish to depend on chance. Honestly, how do you justify working on million-dollar homes with a set of hand tools alone? Lady luck will let you down.

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(Article furnished by Tom Turner, Air Evangelist. Tom’s resume makes him a valuable contributor and we appreciate him as a partner with the NewsMagazine.)