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  1. #1
    todd anderson's Avatar
    todd anderson Guest

    Default BlowerDoor Homemade

    Has anyone ever made a blower door ?or
    has seen any plans to makes one.?

    They really dont look like much for what they cost

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
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    5,851

    Default Re: BlowerDoor Homemade

    Quote Originally Posted by todd anderson View Post
    Has anyone ever made a blower door ?or
    has seen any plans to makes one.?

    They really dont look like much for what they cost
    Not to pick on you, but somethings you will just need to purchase for this profession!

    The Krawller I could understand, sort of..

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  3. #3
    todd anderson's Avatar
    todd anderson Guest

    Default Re: BlowerDoor Homemade

    No Problem,
    I am new, but i like to make things
    Thanks for your reply



    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Patterson View Post
    Not to pick on you, but somethings you will just need to purchase for this profession!

    The Krawller I could understand, sort of..



  4. #4

    Default Re: BlowerDoor Homemade

    The devil is in the details. It's not the door but the calibrated, hi-tech equipment that goes with it that is expensive. Sure, you (or I) could knock one together, it ain't rocket science. The variable speed fan and the monitoring guages is where it gets to be rocket science. Everything must be calibrated to work together and it must be consistant, repeatable and verifyable, every time. Good luck with that!

    True Professionals, Inc. Property Consultant
    877-466-8504

  5. #5
    Jason Kaylor's Avatar
    Jason Kaylor Guest

    Default Re: BlowerDoor Homemade

    Even if you wanted to rig one up, you would be in for about the same price as you can buy one on the open market. A really good manometer is 2-3k by itself. The manufactures buy their stuff in bulk and get extremly good pricing. Whereas you would be buying one piece at a time. The manometer is only one piece. By the time you throw in the fan (6300cfm minimum) the frame, and door, I would expect you to be around 5k anyway.

    If you just want the airflow aspect of the blower door to enhance an infrared inspection, you could just buy one of the bigger fans at HD and set it up in a doorway or any other opening. It would not be difficult to tarp that off or whatever. This is not going to work for a "certified" energy audit, but it will increase/decrease air pressure in the structure to assist an infrared inspection.


  6. #6
    andy88's Avatar
    andy88 Guest

    Default Re: BlowerDoor Homemade

    search the google about it, you will find many designs
    -------------
    wooden doors


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Colorado Springs, CO
    Posts
    1,217

    Default Re: BlowerDoor Homemade

    Quote Originally Posted by todd anderson View Post
    Has anyone ever made a blower door ?or
    has seen any plans to makes one.?
    Quote Originally Posted by Dana Bostick View Post
    The devil is in the details.
    True. Your biggest hurdle will be in getting an accurate measurement of air flow through the fan. The standard design has a tube with small holes around the center of the fan that measure the pressure drop of the air across the fan. That pressure drop is then converted to CFM (or whatever units of air flow you care to use) and is dependant on the size of the opening (which is specially shaped so as to not impede the flow of air through it).

    Don't forget that you will need a set of rings with different size openings for use in houses of different volumes and leakiness. (The faster the fan runs the more accurate your measurements. For a small, tight house you need to restrict air flow by inserting a small ring so your fan runs at a fast enough speed to get a meaningful measurement.)

    Good luck with getting everything calibrated. (You will need to calibrate the fan for every ring.)

    "Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." Leo Durocher
    Bruce Breedlove
    www.avaloninspection.com

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Chicago IL
    Posts
    2,048

    Default Re: BlowerDoor Homemade

    It is amazing how simple a blower door kit looks. Once you use one and look at the details, it isn't a simple or cheap thing at all. If you need one, buy it. I'm more than willing to build and improvise but this wouldn't be one of those items.
    Another concern would be if there were ever any questions about the validity of your test. "So Mr. Inspector by what approved testing agency has your homemade unit be tested and accredited for accuracy'?

    www.aic-chicago.com
    773/844-4AIC
    "The Code is not a ceiling to reach but a floor to work up from"

  9. #9
    Richard Fuselier's Avatar
    Richard Fuselier Guest

    Default Re: BlowerDoor Homemade

    What's the typical cost for a blower door test?

    Thanks, R


  10. #10
    Dan J. Payne's Avatar
    Dan J. Payne Guest

    Default Re: BlowerDoor Homemade

    Richard,
    There are some variables for pricing as to what is trying to be accomplished.
    Blower door testing can be as simple as to determine the air change rate (ACH) of the home or to use the BD to do zonal pressure testing or used in conjunction with a duct blaster to determine the HVAC duct leakage to the outside of the thermal envelope. I any case when performing an audit other considerations such as Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) testing are required if appliciable.
    If all that is trying to be accomplished is ACH and to locate air leaks and thermal deficiences, and with or without CAZ testing, usually in the $300-400 range which will include a detailed report prioritizing recommended retrofits (with experience) as to ROI.
    Your market should be looked at individually!


  11. #11
    Richard Fuselier's Avatar
    Richard Fuselier Guest

    Default Re: BlowerDoor Homemade

    Thanks


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