One of the most important things an energy auditor can have is his specialized tools. Like a plumber without his plunger, a home energy auditor without his tools can’t be of much help to his clients. One of the key tools that energy auditors use on a frequent basis is the duct tester.
Why do I need to test the ducts of a house?
A major problem that many homes face is inefficient heating and cooling ducts. Whether the ducts themselves have holes in them, there are gaps in the duct welding, or they are not installed properly into the walls and HVAC units of the home, there are many reasons why a duct system will perform below their full capacity.
And when the hot or cold air that is passing through the ducts does not arrive at its intended destination, the homeowner ends up paying for it in their energy bill.
What does a duct tester do?
A duct tester is basically a fan and air pressure reader which is connected and tightly sealed around a vent in the client’s home. All of the other vents connected to the duct are then sealed shut so no air can escape through them. Once this is all setup, the fan is turned on to a specific pressure.
If there were no leaks in the duct system, then the air pressure pushed through the fan should remain in the ducts. However, if there are leaks in the ducts, the air will escape through them and the pressure inside the ducts will drop. The air pressure reader then tells the home energy auditor how much air is escaping through leaks in the ducts, and the efficiency of the ducts can then be calculated.
Contractors who are then hired to repair the ducts may also use a duct tester to find out how effective his repairs have been, or if there are leaks present that he was unable to find.
Overall, duct testers are an invaluable tool for many in the home energy auditing industry, and every auditor should have one as a part of his arsenal. Visit the Home Energy Team Store for even more useful home energy saving products.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Is the duct tester really the only, or most important, tool a home energy auditor uses? I thought they also used blower doors? I’m interested in learning about which tools are the most necessary or if they are all necessary.
The duct tester is only one of the tools used by a home energy auditor. They also use the blower door, as you mentioned, as well as combustion safety testing equipment and thermal imagers (infrared cameras).
Wow this is a great resource.. I’m enjoying it.. good article