Smoke Puffer for Checking Air Tightness

BMD

Hi,

Can anyone advise me on where I might be able to buy a manual puffer for checking airtightness and how much one of these would cost?

MicktheMan

BMD wrote: »

Hi,

Can anyone advise me on where I might be able to buy a manual puffer for checking airtightness and how much one of these would cost?

pm sent

Do-more

MicktheMan wrote: »

pm sent

Can I have that PM as well please?

fclauson

buy a disco smoke machine - attend a building smoke test the other day

NOTHING CAN HIDE from this machine - it finds every single little crack and crevis

Do-more

@fclauson

I see those type cheap on ebay OK but can you give us a run through of how to use it please.

Are you just smoking localised areas around windows and doors and along the wall junctions? What's the most effective way to use such a machine?

I'm particularly thinking in terms of checking my taping work prior to the blower door test, so without the assistance of the house being pressurised or de-pressurised.

sas

Do-more wrote: »

@fclauson

I see those type cheap on ebay OK but can you give us a run through of how to use it please.

Are you just smoking localised areas around windows and doors and along the wall junctions? What's the most effective way to use such a machine?

I'm particularly thinking in terms of checking my taping work prior to the blower door test, so without the assistance of the house being pressurised or de-pressurised.

We used one of those on my home after the blower door test (same day). The house was pressurised to about 80 pascals I believe and it was quite dramatic.

By the end it was like walking through icecream, the house was that full of it but the unit was being moved around the house during the test window by window as BeyondPassive (who was using it) directed us to move on.

I don't see it providing any help whatsoever if the house isn't pressurised (unless you've made a total mess of the taping which you won't).

Do-more

Cheers SAS I remember you mentioning about using a incense stick to check for leaks around your sliding door and was wondering if the disco smoker had been used in the same way but suspected that it would create just too much smoke to be used like that.

I figure I am better to get a smoke pen like the one used in this Youtube video to check my taping on a good windy day prior to doing a blower door test.

sas

Do-more wrote: »

Cheers SAS I remember you mentioning about using a incense stick to check for leaks around your sliding door and was wondering if the disco smoker had been used in the same way but suspected that it would create just too much smoke to be used like that.

I figure I am better to get a smoke pen like the one used in this Youtube video to check my taping on a good windy day prior to doing a blower door test.

I did have some luck with an incense stick and later a smoke pen on a windy day as you suggested. That however was for testing the overlap in the sliding unit, rather than the taping. It helped (sadly) because it was and still is such a bad leak....