power company duct leak test

 

has anyone had their local power company perform an attic duct leak test?
can you describe what they did and what were the results?
did you have the leaks fixed and did you then reschedule the power company to
retest?

 

Jim Baber wrote:
    If you are a California resident, the laws were changed recently and
now require that anyone doing work on your central air conditioning /
heating system must inspect and correct duct work leaks.  A friend in
the HVAC business gripes about this change because it slows his crews
down, but he admits that it does raise his income.

    I had never heard of getting your power company to do it, but I
admit that I know that some power companies do perform extensive on-site
energy assessments.  The inspection of ducts would be necessary in a
good comprehensive energy survey.

    I called a neighbors attention to the fact that I suspected his
ducts were leaking.  He asked why I thought they were and I pointed out
his turbine style attic vents were spinning quickly and everyone else's
were not spinning hard, if at all.  I was right, two ducts had come
apart.  His next months bill was 1/3 of the previous.

Harris wrote:


Jim Baber
Email jim@NOJUNKbaber.org
1350 W Mesa Ave.
Fresno CA, 93711
(559) 435-9068
(559) 905-2204 (Verizon IN cellphone (to other Verizon IN accounts))
See 10kW grid tied solar system at "http://www.baber.org/solarpanels.jpg"
See solar system production data at "http://www.baber.org/solar_status.htm"

 

I was up on the roof a while back and was standing on the lee side of
the chimney, and this cold wind was blowing on me... damn chimney was
suckin all my ac out on the roof.... wonder how much that is costin me??

 

Jim Baber comments:

Bob's problem is not uncommon, they put devices called dampers in both
fireplaces and woodstoves to serve several primary purposes.

    * regulate the draft for a fire in the fireplace/woodstove to
      exhaust the smoke but to retain as much heat as possible.
    * close the flue to prevent birds and other critters from entering
      the building.
    * to prevent airflow thru the chiminey/stovepipe when not heating

The draft damper in fireplaces is usually a flat plate attached to a
lever that hangs down at the top front of the fireplace.  In woodstoves
and freestanding fireplaces with round stovepipes it is usually a lever
protruding from the side of the stovepipe within a short distance of the
top of the stove.  Many peoples first encounter with these devices is
very unpleasant.  If you try to start a fire while it is closed, you
will end up with a house full of smoke.

Many people will open their draft damper the way they like for their
neat fire and just leave it set that way.  This will always waste heat
in the winter and in some cases (like Bob's) with a wind blowing across
and up a roof pitch develop a draft that sucks some of that expensive
cool air right out of your home.  Note: A well designed chimney is
intended to develop this draft easily, because if it does not, it will
smoke badly and can be hard to start a fire in.

BobG wrote:


Jim Baber
Email jim@NOJUNKbaber.org
1350 W Mesa Ave.
Fresno CA, 93711
(559) 435-9068
(559) 905-2204 (Verizon IN cellphone (to other Verizon IN accounts))
See 10kW grid tied solar system at "http://www.baber.org/solarpanels.jpg"
See solar system production data at "http://www.baber.org/solar_status.htm"

 

My utility co wont do that test but a real Hvac pro can test ducts and
do a Blower Door test on your house, show you all the leaks with a
chemical Smoke Stick, and give you a printout on the spot of present air
exchanges per hour and recommended air exchanges. Both tests should be
no more than 700 and were free with my new Hvac unit. These are tests
that are worth doing.