Pictorial showing multiplicity air infiltration sources

[udarrell]

A good pictorial showing the multiplicity of air infiltration sources.

Half or more of the heating & cooling loads (Esp. high Humidity areas) can be due to air infiltration.

Should be part of our Energy Saving Service to customers willing to pay for the time. Convince them of its importance to their pocketbook.

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[vstech]

that picture is missing several huge leaks....
the fireplace is a giant heat gainer... in a bad way.
energy loss/gain camera's are quite pricey... are there rentals available?

[udarrell]

I agree fire places can be huge air loss/gain situations.

Well, it seems to me that the govt & local rentals ought to make duct cameras, infra red, blower door & even Alnor-type airflow Balometers to check airflow CFM into each room, available at low as possible rental rates.

Local HVAC companies could rent them for short periods on a need basis.

I have heard of NO govt or other local organization work being done here.

If govt wants to save on energy use, they need to communicate via broadcasting & organize to provide what is needed at the most local levels; at this point they're doing nothing! Just my opinion. - Darrell

[energy_rater_La]

I hear you Udarrel.
but cost of this equipment and training of proper use of equipment is a factor.
here, our dept of natural resources had a blower door and duct blaster they would loan out to the raters who didn't have their own equipment (which they should have had on their own..but go figure) within one year duct blaster disappeared and blower door was missing several parts.

I wouldn't loan my equipment or rent it to anyone.
I learned a long time ago that no one takes care of your stuff like you do.
it costs a pretty penny to replace parts and recalibrate equipment.. plus time lost which quickly offsets any rental fees I would collect.

I think that epa is making steps with energy star.
even they realize that homes need to be inspected and tested to achieve savings. however equipment needs to be operated by
experienced technician, not just whoever has rental fees.

there is a local hvac company that loans me their flow hood
for air flow issues, but we have had a working relationship for 10+
years to achieve this level of trust.
I don't get enough calls to make it cost effective to purchase my own, and am glad to have use of the flow hood on the few occasions I have need for it.

it is a good picture of air infiltration locations that you posted,
too bad it has a basement and not a second story or bonus room
these are the pita areas for us here in high humidity areas.

until houses are understood to be systems and not just unrelated
pieces of windows insulation and mechanicals we have a long long way to go.

but little by little education will overcome installing 5 tons on
a 1800 sq ft house...or so I have to believe!

[Thebil Illpay]

After looking at that pictorial and reading another thread about introducing fresh air directly into the return to pressurize the house, I wonder whether there exist any heat and pressure controlled dampers that could be fitted into the second floor ceiling and would it be advantageous to do so [during cooling]? I'm thinking that combined with a powered attic ventilator as a device that also controls whether or not the damper opens could *eliminate* any other control to stop the damper from opening during heating. Just some thoughts.

I have a powered attic ventilator because I just don't like ridge vents although they may be the greatest thing since sliced bread.

change eliminate to simplify

[Shophound]

it is a good picture of air infiltration locations that you posted,
too bad it has a basement and not a second story or bonus room
these are the pita areas for us here in high humidity areas.

until houses are understood to be systems and not just unrelated
pieces of windows insulation and mechanicals we have a long long way to go.

but little by little education will overcome installing 5 tons on
a 1800 sq ft house...or so I have to believe!

I keep wanting to make some graphics that apply to slab-on-grade, stick frame construction in mixed and hot humid regions of the U.S. Seems almost every time I see a graphic like this, it includes a basement. Yes, many homes in the U.S. have basements, but many do not. The dynamics are different in each type of house.

I want to believe education will eventually get the upper hand, but only if the customer base is able to both receive it and afford to implement it. There's plenty of wrong information out there, or correct information being misapplied. Just yesterday I heard an ad on the radio touting water misters for condensing units...I wanted to reach through the radio and slap the announcer. As long as crap like this is peddled, pitched as the panacea for energy dollar woes, folks will lap it up. Applying more intelligence to the problem requires more thought and effort, something that seems many are averse to. But...it is so much more rewarding!

[Carnak]

you could reverse the directions of a lot of arrows in cooling