How do I measure total air handler flow?
This test is used to measure total air flow through the air handler. First make sure all supply and return registers are open and untaped (keep filters installed if they are reasonably clean). Set up a pressure gauge to measure the duct pressure WRT the house at the supply plenum or a few feet away from the supply plenum in a main supply trunk. Use a static pressure probe to measure duct system pressure and be sure the static pressure probe is pointing into the air flow. Turn on the air handler and measure the normal operating duct pressure WRT the house. Record the normal operating duct pressure and turn off the air handler. Do not move the static pressure probe used to measure duct pressure because we will need to use it later in this test.
Open the air handler cabinet access panel and seal off the return opening in the cabinet from the air handler fan using tape and cardboard. Now install the Duct Blaster system in the access panel opening of the air handler cabinet. This is typically done by attaching the Duct Blaster’s square transition piece to a piece of cardboard that has been cut to fit over the opening and taped in place. In this configuration, all return air flow will be moving through the Duct Blaster fan, with the return ductwork effectively sealed off from the supply system.
Turn the air handler fan back on and re-measure the duct pressure WRT the house. Now turn on the Duct Blaster fan and adjust the fan speed until the duct pressure equals the normal operating duct pressure measured above. Once adjusted in this way, determine the flow through the Duct Blaster fan by measuring the fan pressure and using the flow table. The measured Duct Blaster fan flow is your estimate of the total system air flow including flow through return registers, plus return duct leakage, plus leakage at the air handler access panel. The only component of total system airflow that is not included in this measurement is any leakage on the return side of the air handler cabinet (other than the air handler access panel).
If more fan flow from the Duct Blaster is needed to complete this test, remove the flexible extension duct from the fan and connect the exhaust flange from the fan directly to the access door opening using tape and cardboard.
Note: If you have installed the Duct Blaster in an unconditioned space (attic, garage or crawlspace airhandler), open a door from the house to the outside to prevent pressure changes in the house when the Duct Blaster is operating. Also open any vents or doors between the unconditioned space and outside to prevent that space from experiencing pressure changes from Duct Blaster fan operation.
Single Return Systems:
In single return systems, there is a simplified procedure which can be used under certain circumstances. If you are already hooking up the Duct Blaster to the central return to conduct an airtightness test, and you verify the duct system is tight (following retrofit or as part of a new construction performance test), then the air handler flow test can be performed without moving the Duct Blaster fan to the air handler cabinet. In this case you will need to measure the normal operating duct pressure prior to installing the Duct Blaster system to the return grill. Once your airtightness test has been completed, then remove the temporary register seals, turn on the air handler fan, and adjust the Duct Blaster fan to achieve the same normal operating pressure measured earlier.
The main advantage to this procedure is that you do not have separate the return side of the system from the air handler fan, which can be a laborious and time consuming process.
Can the Flow Blaster® battery powered speed controller be used for a duct leakage test?
Yes, but the total flow you are able to achieve will be reduced by 30-40%.
Please note that TEC discontinued sales of the FlowBlaster in January 2017.
Can I use the FlowBlaster® Capture Hood Accessory without a Duct Blaster® fan?
No. The FlowBlaster Accessory requires the use of the Duct Blaster fan to match the flow either coming out of a supply register or going into an exhaust fan or return grill. You do not need to buy an additional Duct Blaster fan. The FlowBlaster Accessory comes with all the parts needed to configure your Duct Blaster fan.
Please note that TEC discontinued sales of the FlowBlaster in January 2017.
Can I use the Exhaust Fan Flow Meter for measuring air flow from supply registers?
No. The Exhaust Fan Flow Meter can only measure air flow moving from outside the device to inside. The flow measurement has been verified on our calibration equipment. Flow coming into the device from a register is severely restricted and supply flow measurements are unreliable.
Why is it important to take pre-test baseline readings?
Because differences in air temperature between indoors and outdoors create changes in house pressures, we need to measure and adjust for this baseline stack effect pressure during a Blower Door test. Failure to account for a baseline stack effect pressure of –2.5 Pa would cause an underestimation of the house leakage measurement (CFM50) by about 3%.
Which is a better metric for measuring airtightness: ACH @ 50 Pa or CFM/ ft² of surface area @ 50 Pa?
Airtightness is really a property of the building enclosure, exactly analogous to moisture permeability and U value. It doesn’t depend on the volume, but does depend on the surface area. The air permeability of materials is typically measured as a flow per area at a given pressure difference across the material. U value is similar. If we want a metric to use to measure the airtightness quality of the exterior enclosure of buildings it just makes sense to use something very similar.
Here is an example to help demonstrate how volume is not proportional to surface area:
Comparison between ACH50 and CFM50/ft² for a 2000 ft² home at 3 ACH50
House Is 50 X 40 X 8
Volume = 16,000 ft³
Surface Area = 50 X 40 X 2 + 180 X 8 = 5440 ft²
CFM50 = (3 X 16000)/60 = 800 CFM
CFM50/ft2 = 800/5440 = 0.147 CFM50/ft²
Increase height to 2 story at 3 ACH50
House Is 50 X 40 X 16 Volume = 32,000 ft³
Surface area = 50 X 40 X 2 + 180 X 16 = 6880 ft²
CFM50 = (3 X 32000)/60 = 1600 cfm
CFM50/ft2 = 1600/6880 = 0.233 CFM50/ft²
In this example, when the volume doubled, the surface area increased by 26%. And when the ACH50 stayed the same, the CFM/ ft² of surface area increased by 58%.
The use of Air Changes per Hour at 50 Pa (ACH50) started at least 60 years ago by researchers who were interested in ways to predict the natural infiltration rate of buildings, which at the time was most commonly measured in Air Changes per Hour. The use of this metric when studying air quality in buildings does make some sense. If a pollutant is suddenly released in a building, the time for the concentration to decay by a certain percentage does depend on the infiltration measured in air changes per hour. The analysis of a tracer gas decay test gives a result in air changes per hour. So when they started measuring airtightness, for use in estimating natural infiltration in air changes per hour, it made sense to use ACH50 as the metric. But two homes with the same volume can have very different surface areas and the purpose of measuring is to determine something about the construction quality. We think ACH is the wrong metric.
Many standards are now trending in the direction of using square foot of enclosure area instead of ACH. Examples include US Army Corp of Engineers, LEED, Swedish and US Passive House.
Where should I place the building pressure tubing?
The location of the outside end of the building pressure tubing is very important when setting up your blower door.
When installing the building pressure tubing, be sure the outside end of the tubing is at least 5 feet to the side of the exhaust airflow from the blower door fan. Although it is common practice (and was our recommended installation procedure for years) for blower door operators to insert the open end of the tubing just a few inches through the patch on the nylon panel, and leave it, we have determined that this set up practice can produce inaccurate building pressure readings due to the exhaust airflow from the fan hitting the end of the tubing.
A good location for the end of the building pressure tubing is at the base of the building where it meets the ground. We have redesigned our nylon blower door panels with two access holes near the floor to make it easier to properly install your building pressure tubing. If the fan is exhausting to a porch, garage or other enclosure, it is best to install the end of the building pressure tubing outside of the enclosed space.
What is the maximum square footage that can be tested with a single fan Model 3 blower door?
The answer is it depends on the leakiness of the building. The maximum flow through a Model 3 fan at 50 Pa is about 5,800 CFM. A 10,000 square foot house that was built with airtightness in mind may not have 5,800 cfm of leak while a 1,200 square foot Georgian with huge holes to various parts of the building may not be able to reach 50 Pa with the Model 3 fan at full speed. With this information, that is why our fans are rated based on the amount of flow each can generate.
What is a good location for my outdoor reference tube on a windy day?
Of all of the environmental effects, wind has probably the largest impact on blower door testing. If you have to test under windy conditions, try to set up the Blower Door on the leeward (downwind) side of the house. Also place your outside reference tube toward the center of the leeward side of the house close to the house. If it looks like it might rain, tape the tube to the house with the opening pointing down and close to the ground.
What else can be done on a windy day to achieve more accurate results?
Use long time averaging periods for both the pre-test baseline house pressure reading and for the CFM50 reading. To do this, use the baseline function on the DG-700 and let it count up for 30 to 60 seconds. Also use the CFM@50 mode on the DG-700 and when the building is at about 50 Pascals, change the time averaging period to Long and allow it to display the long term average for 30 to 60 seconds before recording the CFM50 number. If the wind speed is greater than 5 mph, we recommend that you do a multi-point test using our TECTITE software. The TECTITE software has the ability to calculate the accuracy and repeatability of the test, so you will have an added confidence in your readings.
What do I need to do different when performing a pressurization air tightness test?
You will need to turn the fan around so the flow rings and flow sensor are outside. Older fans have a reverse switch, but the switch cannot be used when you are measuring air flow. If the DG-700 is inside the house, you will also need to install a third tube on your DG-700. That tube will go from the reference tap of channel B to the outdoors near the side of the fan, but not in the fans airstream.
What can I do if a door opening is taller than 8 feet?
A good solution is to bring along a piece of 1.5” or 2” thick rigid foam board. When you get to the house, cut it to size so it will fill in above the blower door frame and bring the height down to about 7’. You can tape any cracks between the foam board and the door frame as needed.
What are the advantages of conducting automated blower door tests?
With automated Blower Door testing, you will be able to perform more accurate and repeatable airtightness tests in windy weather conditions where manual testing is extremely difficult or sometimes impossible. By automating the test procedure, the DG-700 (along with the TECTITE software) is able to quickly gather and analyze hundreds of times more readings during a single test sequence than would be practical with a manual Blower Door test. Quickly collecting large samples of data in windy conditions greatly improves the repeatability of your test results.
Automated operation also eliminates many common operator errors and ensures that tests are performed the same way every time. During the automated test, the TECTITE software provides a series of on-screen messages to the operator to ensure that proper testing procedures are followed. It even tells you when to switch flow rings on the Blower Door fan. The software also detects common set-up and equipment problems (e.g. tubing connected to the wrong pressure tap) and provides appropriate warning messages to the operator.
If you are a frequent Blower Door user, automated testing should save you significant time. Automated operation eliminates the need to zero pressure gauges, adjust and tweak the fan speed, write down test data, and manually enter data into an analysis program. And the cruise control feature makes it much easier for 1 person to perform other test procedures such as pressure pan testing or zone pressure diagnostics.
Should I be adjusting my blower door readings for temperature and altitude?
The temperature of air affects its density. When air heats up it expands, and when it cools it contracts. Because of this and other effects, we need to make an air density adjustment. For example, if you performed a test on a house when the inside temp was 70 and the outside temp was 0, and then performed another test on the same house (in the same physical condition) when the inside temp was 70 and the outside temp was 90, you would expect to see test results differences of about 8%, if you didn’t make corrections for temperature.
Corrections for differences in air density due to temperature are automatically made in our TECTITE software using either the CGSB or RESNET test standards. Because of the way the CGSB test standard deals with air density, you do not need to correct for altitude. The RESNET test standard in TECTITE will have you enter the altitude for the test location so it can make corrections for altitude.
I plan to purchase a battery power pack or a generator to operate my blower door at job sites that do not have power. What is the watt draw for the Model 3 Blower Door?
The maximum watt draw is 1000 watts. It is best to oversize a supply source slightly, so 1200 watts will work best.
I did a blower door test with the wrong ring setting on my DG-700. Is there a way to calculate the correct reading?
Yes, there is. Channel B of the DG-700 is actually measuring a pressure at the flow sensor of the fan and converting the pressure to flow based on the Devise and Configuration settings on the gauge. Appendix B of the blower door manual has Flow Conversion Charts that allow you to determine what fan pressure the gauge was reading during the test. Here is an example that will demonstrate the process. Let’s say you recorded a reading of 3736 CFM and had the DG-700 configuration set to Open. On your way home you are thinking that the home should have been much tighter and you realize that you actually had Ring A installed on the blower door fan. Here is the process to find the correct reading:
- Follow down the Open Fan column until you reach 3736 CFM
- Follow across to the Fan Pressure column and you will see that you were measuring a fan pressure of 60 Pascals during the test
- Follow across to the Ring A column and see that 1400 CFM is the correct reading
How do I calculate Air Changes per Hour (ACH)?
The formula is (CFM50 X 60) ÷ the volume of the house. So if your blower door CFM50 reading is 1000 CFM and house is 30’ x 40’ x 8’ tall, the ACH = (1000 x 60) ÷ (30 x 40 x 8) = 6.25 ACH
Can I wash my blower door panel?
Yes. Here are the options for washing your blower door panel.
- If the coating on the back of the panel is not flaking off and is not damaged, then it can put it in the washing machine, cold water cycle, on a gentle cycle and with a little bit of gentle detergent.
- If the coating on the back of the panel is flaking off or is damaged at all, then it’ll need to be hand washed in cold water with a little bit of gentle detergent.
In either case the panel should never be put in the dryer. It should always be air dried.
Can I operate a Minneapolis Model 3 blower door from North America overseas using a transformer to convert from 220 volt 60 Hz to 110 volt?
Will using a transformer in this situation compromise the durability or accuracy of the Model 3 blower door?
Assuming that the transformer will provide a “clean” power source (no large voltage spikes), and will provide 110V 60 Hz power (not 50 Hz), there should be no durability issues. Calibration is not affected by this issue.
Will iTEC-700 work with the DG-1000?
Yes, an updated version will be released when the DG-1000 is released that will work with the DG-1000, as well as the DG-700 with the WiFi Link.
What is the password for WiFi (Create Network) mode?
The SSID and password for WiFi (Create Network) mode is
SSID: DG1000-(serial # of gauge)
Password: dg1000pw
What is the calibration interval?
TEC recommends calibrating the DG-1000 once every four years.
Is WiFi built into the DG-1000 or does it cost extra to add?
WiFi is included in each DG-1000 at no additional cost.
Is the DG-1000 replacing the DG-700?
Not yet. We will continue making the DG-700 for at least a couple of years.
I’ve heard the DG-1000 will run apps, what does that mean?
Think of the DG-1000 as a tablet or smartphone. Just like a tablet or smartphone, apps can be added. Each app will do something different. When the DG-1000 is released, it’ll have the Gauge app and an Updates app. Other apps will be added in future software updates such as an automated testing app, a tubing assist app, a tutorial app and much more! As we develop and release apps, we will release software updates. When you install the updated software, these new apps will be automatically added. (The DG-1000 will not run apps by third party developers at this time.)
Does the DG-1000 work with Retrotec equipment?
No, it does not.
Do you have a trade-in offer for the DG-700?
TEC currently has a trade-in promotion to upgrade your DG-700 to a DG-1000. Click here for details
Can the DG-1000 store data?
Yes, the DG-1000 will be able to store data/test results, which can be downloaded onto your computer. This feature won’t be available when the DG-1000 is released, but it will be added in a future software update.
Will you continue to sell the WiFi Link?
Yes, we will.
Will you continue to sell the DG-500?
Yes, we will, for at least a couple of years.
Why isn’t the fan speed slider working when using the TEC WiFi Link with the TEC mobile app for the gauge?
Ensure that the knob that adjusts the speed manually on the fan speed controller is turned all the way down but not off. If the knob has been turned up to adjust the speed of the fan, remote apps and software will not be able to control the fan.
Why do I keep losing the connection to my WiFi Link?
As a first step, try switching WiFi channels. This can be done by holding down the A button briefly. The A button is on the bottom of the WiFi Link. The DG-700 must be on, the WiFi Link plugged in and the first two lights on the WiFi link should be solid (not blinking). If the green light does not go from blinking to solid, hold down the A Button on the bottom of the WiFi Link until all 4 lights blink. This will reset the WiFi Link and the green light should change to solid (not blinking). The WiFi on some computers will not work well on Channel 1, the default channel on the WiFi Link. Also, if you are in a noisy WiFi environment, switching channels will help. In rare cases, the WiFi on your computer is not very compatible with the WiFi Link and using an external USB wireless adaptor such as a Linksys WUSB6300 will solve the problem.
What password do I use to connect to the WiFi Link?
The password to connect to TEC WiFi Link is tecwifi12. This password is different from your personal WiFi connection password and cannot be changed.
I Did A Regular Calibration Check Of My Digital Gauge Against A Recently Calibrated Digital Gauge, Can I Override The Calibration Date That Shows In A TECTITE Report With The Calibration Check Date?
No. The reports will always show the date of the last time it was calibrated at TEC. To provide information about the frequent calibration checks of your gauge, you should include a copy of your calibration log with your TECTITE report.
Does the TEC digital gauge store/show the last time it was calibrated by The Energy Conservatory?
Yes, when your gauge is returned to us for factory recalibration, the date of the last calibration is embedded in the gauge. It is also displayed on the calibration sticker on the back of the gauge.
Do I need both gauges if I buy a Blower Door and a Duct Blaster?
This depends on whether you will use the Blower Door and Duct Blaster with one person or split the kits up. If both systems are with one person or on one truck and are used one at a time then only one gauge would be necessary. You can always add another gauge at a later date. It also depends on whether you would conduct a Duct Leakage to Outside test. This test requires that the Blower Door maintain a building pressure of 25 Pa while the Duct Blaster adds flow to offset the pressure of the Blower Door on the ductwork. It is easier to perform the test when you have 2 gauges. Please call for pricing.
Can any Ethernet HUB work with multiple gauges?
TEC has had success using a variety of 4-port, 8-port and 16-port serial to USB hubs for connecting to multiple DG-700’s.
Will iTEC-700 work with the DG-1000?
Yes, an updated version will be released when the DG-1000 is released that will work with the DG-1000, as well as the DG-700 with the WiFi Link.
What is the password for WiFi (Create Network) mode?
The SSID and password for WiFi (Create Network) mode is
SSID: DG1000-(serial # of gauge)
Password: dg1000pw
What is the calibration interval?
TEC recommends calibrating the DG-1000 once every four years.
Is WiFi built into the DG-1000 or does it cost extra to add?
WiFi is included in each DG-1000 at no additional cost.
Is the DG-1000 replacing the DG-700?
Not yet. We will continue making the DG-700 for at least a couple of years.
I’ve heard the DG-1000 will run apps, what does that mean?
Think of the DG-1000 as a tablet or smartphone. Just like a tablet or smartphone, apps can be added. Each app will do something different. When the DG-1000 is released, it’ll have the Gauge app and an Updates app. Other apps will be added in future software updates such as an automated testing app, a tubing assist app, a tutorial app and much more! As we develop and release apps, we will release software updates. When you install the updated software, these new apps will be automatically added. (The DG-1000 will not run apps by third party developers at this time.)
Does the DG-1000 work with Retrotec equipment?
No, it does not.
Do you have a trade-in offer for the DG-700?
TEC currently has a trade-in promotion to upgrade your DG-700 to a DG-1000. Click here for details
Can the DG-1000 store data?
Yes, the DG-1000 will be able to store data/test results, which can be downloaded onto your computer. This feature won’t be available when the DG-1000 is released, but it will be added in a future software update.
When doing a Total Duct Leakage test, should you open the attic hatch?
When doing a Total Duct Leakage test, should you open the attic hatch? Duct leakage standards and protocols say that if ducts run through unconditioned spaces, those unconditioned spaces should be opened to the outside. One way of opening those spaces to the outside would be to open an attic hatch to the home and also open a window between the home and outside. The goal is to prevent the duct leaks from changing the pressure in the spaces containing ducts.
What is the difference between a Static Pressure Probe and a Pitot Tube?
A static pressure probe is pictured at the right. It includes a magnet to help hole it to a duct, a 90⁰ bend, and a sealed bullet like tip. The shorter side of the tube has four tiny holes in it. The static pressure is the outward or bursting pressure in a duct. You can think of it as like measuring tire pressure.
A pitot tube is pictured at the lower right. It measures both total pressure and static pressure and has locations for connecting two tubes. When you connect the two tubes to one side of the DG-700, it will give you a reading of the pressure difference between total pressure and static pressure, which is velocity pressure. If you connect the tubes to the B channel and put the DG-700 in the PR / V mode, it will read out in velocity in feet per minute instead of velocity pressure in Pa.
Click here to watch a video with more information.
Very low flow at -50: Use the blower door or the Duct Blaster?
A theoretical question here. I tested a small building that’s around 110 CFM50. I have ring C for the blower door, and that’s what I used for the entire test. Tec-Tite asked to switch to ring D near the end but I don’t have that. During the test the fan speed moved up and down quite a bit as it tried to hold each pressure point. That doesn’t hapen during more normal tests with higher flows.
Any chance this test would be more accurate if done with a duct blaster fan?
Answer
Good question. If you had Ring D or if you used a Duct Blaster, either would have allowed you get those lower data points. So in that sense, yes the Duct Blaster may have led to a slightly more accurate test. So would Ring D have helped.
But the issue you were experiencing with the fan speed not stabilizing is a curable one regardless of which fan you are using. In TECTITE you want to decrease the Fan Adjust Rate (one of the Auto Test Parameters found on the Test Settings screen). What is happening is that you have a very tight building (and I would guess from your symptoms it is NOT a very small volume). The combination of very tight and medium to large volume leads to fundamentally slow response times for the building pressure to stabilize. What happens is that the auto fan adjust logic starts making corrections even before the final result of the previous correction has been seen. This leads to overshooting and undershooting of the target (oscillations). By decreasing the fan adjust rate (try 0.5 instead of 1.0) you can likely solve the problem. In extreme cases you may need to resort to using “Semi-Auto” mode which is a mode where YOU are controlling the fan, yet the data are all being electronically captured for you. It is found on the same settings screen under “Method”. This allows you to test almost no matter how tight and how large the building is.
Ring Placement for Depressurization Test
Q: Why am I getting weird test results when I am depressurizing ductwork?
We have received a few calls lately from testers that have been seeing unusual readings with a Duct Blaster System while trying to perform a depressurization test on the duct work. In fact one person tested a sealed length of duct and then measured 30 cfm of leak. Obviously this raises questions on the validity of other tests taken when depressurizing duct work. One way we help users with their tests is to review how the system is set up for the test. We ask them to describe where and how each component is connected together along with the settings of the Pressure and Flow Gauge. What we have found recently is that people are not using the air straightener and are placing the flow rings in backwards. Here are a few pictures to ensure that your Duct Blaster is set-up correctly for testing.
This is the RIGHT way to place the rings on a Duct Blaster System. Doesn’t matter whether it is pressurization or depressurization.
Whenever you depressurize a duct system, you MUST use the flow straightener placed inside the round transition piece before you connect the flex duct to the fan.
Is it normal to see a difference between the total duct leakage and duct leakage to the outside numbers?
Question
I have been doing duct leakage tests on single story homes that have all of the ductwork is in the attic. I am testing both total duct leakage and duct leakage to the outside. Quite often am seeing 60 to 80 CFM differences between the tests with the total duct leakage being higher. Is it normal to see a difference in these two numbers? I am wondering if there is anything I could be doing wrong in my set up, or is this a normal occurrence?
Answer
I suspect that what you are experiencing is an attic space that is not well vented to the outside and / or has large bypasses between the house and attic. In these instances, the blower door will pressurize the attic and reduce the duct to attic pressures resulting in lower duct leakage to outside numbers. If you run across this again, try doing the duct leakage to outside test by measuring the duct to attic pressure on channel A instead of the duct to house pressure and your total leakage and leakage to outside numbers should be the same.
Below is a copy of a section from Chapter 7 of our Duct Blaster manual that describes this situation.
7.1.a Building Pressure Measurements:
During the test, you will need to monitor the change in building pressure caused by the Blower Door system. Typically the Blower Door building pressure gauge will be setup to measure building pressure with reference to the outside (this is the typical set up for a Blower Door test).
However, if you are testing a duct system that is located primarily in one unconditioned zone (e.g. a single attic or single crawlspace), you have the option of setting up the building pressure gauge to measure building pressure with reference to that zone, rather than with reference to outside. The purpose of making this change is to ensure that the duct leaks located in that zone are subjected to the full test pressure.
For example, it is possible that a crawlspace containing most of the ductwork may be significantly pressurized by air being forced into that zone from the Blower Door fan (through air leaks between the building and the crawlspace). In this case, you may underestimate the duct leakage rate if you are measuring building pressure with respect to outside during your test because the leaks in the crawlspace ductwork will not be subjected to the full test pressure (i.e. they will be subjected to the test pressure minus the crawlspace pressurization caused by the Blower Door fan). Changing the reference tap on the Blower Door building pressure gauge from outside to the crawlspace would eliminate the underestimation problem in this building.
I plan to purchase a battery power pack or a generator to operate my Duct Blaster at job sites that do not have power. What is the watt draw for the Minneapolis Duct Blaster?
I did a Duct Blaster® test with the wrong ring setting on my DG-700. Is there a way to calculate the correct reading?
Yes, there is.
Channel B of the DG-700 is actually measuring a pressure at the flow sensor of the fan and converting the pressure to flow based on the Devise and Configuration settings on the gauge. Appendix B of the Duct Blaster manual has Flow Conversion Charts that allow you to determine what fan pressure the gauge was reading during the test. Here is an example that will demonstrate the process. Let’s say you recorded a reading of 260 CFM and had the DG-700 configuration set to Ring 1. On your way home you are thinking that the home should have been much tighter and you realize that you actually had Ring 2 installed on the Duct Blaster fan.
Here is the process to find the correct reading:
- Follow down the Ring 1 column until you reach 260 CFM
- Follow across to the Fan Pressure column and you will see that you were measuring a fan pressure of 40 Pascals during the test
- Follow across to the Ring 2 column and see that 99 CFM is the correct reading
How to clean a Duct Blaster® of the residue from a glycol-based smoke generator or fogger
Ever wondered how to clean your Duct Blaster fan after using a glycol-based smoke generator or fogger? Simply follow these instructions to get rid of that residue.
Unplug the fan from the controller. Clean all parts of the fan using soft shop cloth. You can use paper towel, however we recommend a soft cloth. Clean the fan housing, motor mount hardware, exit guard, fan blades, as well as the outside of the motor, and the flow sensor. You can remove the exit fan guard to reach more of the internal parts.
With any remaining residue, wipe down with a diluted solution of Simple Green or other general purpose cleaner. Dilution can be as little as a 4 to 1 but no more than 2 to 1. Using a soft shop cloth with the solution sprayed on the cloth, wipe the fan housing, motor mount hardware, exit guard, fan blades, as well as the outside of the motor, and the flow sensor.
Make sure the holes of the flow sensor are unobstructed. You can use a pin or paperclip to clear the holes.
Make sure that everything is reassembled and dry before plugging in the controller and using the Duct Blaster fan.
If you have any questions please contact technical support at (612) 827-1117.
Duct Leakage at a Kitchen Toe Kick Register
Recently we received a question from one of our customers. It is not a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) but a good one and thought you should know about this.
“I was wondering if there are products or guidance for sealing a toe kick plate duct during a duct blaster test. Specifically, when conducting a test when the home is complete and the cabinets are already installed, such as a test for a retrofit application. I have seen very little information on potential solutions for getting a good seal on these types of duct registers – especially when taping the inside face of the duct is not sufficient. Any guidance would be appreciated.”
Many times, the HVAC contractor will run the duct to the area of the kitchen cabinet and connect the boot to the subfloor or floor and then the cabinet is placed over the opening. After the cabinet is installed an opening will be created so that a small register is placed at the toe kick recess of the cabinet. This creates a number of duct leakage issues.
Usually the water lines are also brought up from the floor. To do so there are two holes in the floor and then two holes in the bottom of the cabinet. In addition, there are supply lines and a return drain for the dishwasher drilled through a hole in the side of the cabinet. Then there is the vent stack for the sink drain that is placed in the outside wall and little care is taken to seal it up properly. When air moves out of the boot and meets the bottom of the cabinet it must go somewhere. Positive pressure is created, and air is supposed to follow the arrows on the designer’s drawings by going out the toe kick register. But it also goes in a lot of other places; through the holes in the floor, through the holes in the cabinet, extend around the cabinet to the back of the dishwasher, and out the wall at the drain stack. This is then adding to the total duct leakage number as well as a small amount of air that is duct leakage to the outside.
When performing a duct leakage test with a toe kick, place the register sealing tape on the register. The register is the intentional opening. Everything behind the register is unintentional leakage and is part of the total duct leakage calculation.
So, when you are baffled by a duct leakage number that seems too high, take a look under the sink. What you find might surprise you.
Do I need to temporarily seal registers and grills when doing a Duct Leakage to Outside test?
ASTM E1554, RESNET Chapter 8, the Duct Blaster® manual and the Retrotec duct tester manual are all in agreement that supply registers and return grilles must be sealed during the duct leakage to outside test. If you are not taping registers, you are going to have a hard time justifying it.
There has also been research that is in agreement with this requirement. The Energy Center of Wisconsin did a study for Focus on Energy in August 2008. The title of the study is A Field Study of Exterior Duct Leakage in New Wisconsin Homes. Here is a link to that study: http://www.ecw.org/publications/field-study-exterior-duct-leakage-new-wisconsin-homes. Among its findings are the following:
“The reliability of measured leakage to the outside from duct pressurization tests depends on the level of leakage to the interior. High interior leakage makes for less precise measurements of exterior leakage. This reinforces the need to properly (temporarily) seal registers before conducting leakage-to-outside test using duct pressurization. It also indicates that exterior leakage measurements in homes that use building cavities or panned joists as duct runs are subject to substantial error.
Another aspect of the duct pressurization tests that was investigated was the impact of leakage to inside on the resolution of the estimates of leakage to outside. Since leakage to outside estimates require that the pressure difference between the home and the ducts to be zero, and small error in adjusting this pressure difference could result in a large error in the leakage estimate if the leakage if the inside is large. For example, it the pressure between the house and the ducts was actually 0.2 Pascals instead of 0 Pascals, and the leakage to the inside was large, the flow to the inside at 0.2 Pascals could be large, and would be read as additional leakage to the outside.”
Can the Flow Blaster® battery powered speed controller be used for a duct leakage test?
Yes, but the total flow you are able to achieve will be reduced by 30-40%. Please note that TEC discontinued sales of the FlowBlaster in January 2017.
Can I use a Duct Blaster fan to conduct airtightness tests of houses?
Yes. The Duct Blaster fan’s 1,350 cfm (cubic feet per minute) air flow capacity at 50 Pascals will allow you to conduct a complete airtightness test on most houses built to energy efficient airtightness standards. For example, the Duct Blaster fan can generate a 50 Pascal test pressure in a 3,000 square foot house built to a performance standard of 3.0 air changes per hour. For tighter houses (1.5 air changes per hour) the Duct Blaster fan can test a house up to about 6,000 square feet. We even make a nylon door panel for use with our adjustable aluminum frame that is sized just right for the Duct Blaster fan.
Which conferences should I attend to get the latest information on building diagnostic and repair techniques, and strategies to market and sell performance testing services?
Listed below are a number of national conferences which offer an excellent opportunity to keep abreast of the latest technologies, programs and strategies.
Affordable Comfort Conference
Contact: Affordable Comfort, Inc.
Phone: 800-344-4866 or 724-627-5200
Fax: 724-627-5226
www.AffordableComfort.org
ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Contact: American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Phone: 202-429-0063
Fax: 202-429-0193
www.aceee.org
Better Buildings: Beter Business Conference (Wisconsin and Illinois)
Contact: The Energy Center of Wisconsin
www.ecw.org
Comfortech National Residential HVAC Seminar and Comfort Technology Showcase
Contact: Contracting Business
Phone: 800-467-0997
hvaccomfortech.com
Construction Business & Technology Conference & Expo
Contact: Journal of Light Construction
Phone: 800-375-5981
www.jlconline.com
Energy Efficient Builders Association (EEBA) Conference and Expo
Contact: Energy & Environmental Building Association, Inc.
Phone: 612-851-9940
Fax: 612-851-9507
www.eeba.org
Performance of the Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings
Contact: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
www.ornl.gov/buildings/2010
RESNET Building Performance Conference
Phone: 760-806-3448
www.resnet.us
What is a Pascal?
A Pascal is small metric unit of pressure. One Pascal is approximately 0.004 inches of water column. Commonly used airtightness test pressures of 25 and 50 Pascals are approximately 0.10 and 0.20 inches of water column respectively. 1 psi is approximately 7,000 Pascals. 1 lb/ft2 is approximately 50 Pa.
What effect does wind speed, variations in inside-outside temperature, barometric pressure and humidity have on Blower Door testing?
Environmental conditions affect readings by varying amounts depending on the type of conditions that exist. The article below may help you with understanding how each of the different conditions can affect your readings.
Click here for PDF file on environmental effects and Blower Door testing.
How often do I need to have my equipment recalibrated?
We recommend DG-700 and DG-500 pressure gauges be recalibrated once every two years. Blower Door and Duct Blaster fans do not need recalibration unless testing requirements mandate a calibrated fan.
How long does it take to perform a standard airtightness test of a house or duct system?
A standard airtightness test of a house can usually be completed in 30 minutes or less. Once you arrive at a house, the Blower Door can typically be installed in about 5 – 10 minutes. Additional preparation and inspection of the house prior to beginning a test adds another 10 minutes. At this point, a test of the house to determine the overall leakage of the envelope can be conducted in less than 5 minutes. Once the simple airtightness test has been completed, additional diagnostic procedures to find and prioritize the major leakage sites can add another 20 to 45 minutes depending on the size and complexity of the house, and the procedures used. A standard airtightness test of a duct system using a Duct Blaster usually takes a little longer than a house test (about 15 – 20 minutes more), due to the need to temporarily seal all registers and grills before starting the testing procedure. Use of an adhesive backed register sealing material, such as TEC’s Duct Mask, can keep this additional time investment to a minimum.
How do I use the blower door subtraction method?
For years, technicians have been using a simple Blower Door comparison test to estimate residential duct leakage to the outside. The technique, called Blower Door subtraction, involves conducting two whole house Blower Door airtightness tests with and without the supply and return registers and grills sealed off from the house. A subtraction of the sealed register test from the unsealed register test provides an estimate of duct leakage to the outside.
Researchers now realize that the Blower Door subtraction test has a number of drawbacks with respect to the accuracy of test results. Accuracy is reduced for two reasons. First, subtraction will typically underestimate duct leakage due to connections between the duct system and the interior of the house which are not sealed when the registers and grills are temporarily sealed. The Blower Door subtraction method assumes that once the registers and grills are taped off, the duct system is effectively outside of the pressure envelope of the house, and as a result the Blower Door does not measure any duct leakage in that configuration. However, connections between the duct system and the interior of the house cause a certain amount of duct leakage to be measured even with the duct system sealed from the house. The amount of underestimation due to this phenomenon is a function of how well the duct system is connected to the structure of the house.
Secondly, because Blower Door Subtraction involves subtraction of two separate Blower Door test results (using the same Blower Door), the accuracy of the test result is a function of the repeatability of the Blower Door measurements. The error due to repeatability further clouds the accuracy of your subtraction test. So now that we know there are shortcomings to Blower Door subtraction, is there anyway to improve our leakage estimate using the subtraction technique?
There is a technique to alleviate the underestimation problem associated with Blower Door subtraction. The subtraction duct leakage estimate can be modified by taking one additional pressure measurement. The pressure measurement needed is the pressure between the duct system and the house with the registers and grills sealed and the Blower Door depressurizing (or pressurizing) the house to the target pressure of 50 Pa. This measurement can be taken at the supply or return plenum, or at a supply register or return grill by punching a small hole through the masking tape and inserting a pressure tap or hose connected to a pressure gauge. Once this pressure is measured, an appropriate subtraction correction factor can be used to modify your original subtraction duct leakage estimate. A table of correction factors for Blower Door subtraction is shown below.
| House to Duct Pressure in Pascals (taped off) | Subtraction Correction Factor (SCF) |
| 50 | 1.00 |
| 49 | 1.09 |
| 48 | 1.14 |
| 47 | 1.19 |
| 46 | 1.24 |
| 45 | 1.29 |
| 44 | 1.34 |
| 43 | 1.39 |
| 42 | 1.44 |
| 41 | 1.49 |
| 40 | 1.54 |
| 38 | 1.65 |
| 36 | 1.78 |
| 34 | 1.91 |
| 32 | 2.06 |
| 30 | 2.23 |
| 28 | 2.42 |
| 26 | 2.64 |
| 24 | 2.89 |
| 22 | 3.18 |
Let’s look at an example to illustrate use of the subtraction correction factor (SCF). You have performed a subtraction test and found the following:
- CFM50 (ducts open) = 3,250 *
- CFM50 (ducts sealed) = 2,825 *
- Pressure between the ducts and the house (ducts sealed) = 40 Pa
- From the Table above, the SCF for 40 Pa is 1.54
- Initial Duct Leakage Estimate = 3,250 – 2,825 = 425 CFM50
- Modified Duct Leakage Estimate = 425 CFM50 x 1.54 = 655 CFM50
* If ducts run through attics or crawlspaces, be sure the attic or crawlspace is effectively outside when the blower door is operating – i.e. attic to outside pressure=0.
In this case, our modified duct leakage estimate is 54 percent larger that the original Blower Door subtraction estimate. This means we would have underestimated duct leakage to the outside by 54 percent without using the correction factor.
Now how about repeatability error. On a day with only slight wind, our experience is that the repeatability of manual Blower Door test is about +/- 3% of the unsealed whole house CFM50 value when using the same gauges for both tests. For the example above, a repeatability error of 3% means we have an error of approximately +/- 97 CFM50 (0.03 x ,3250 CFM50) in our leakage estimate. But we must also apply the correction factor calculated above to the 97 CFM50 which increases the error to +/- 149 CFM50 (97 CFM50 x 1.54). Thus our final subtraction leakage result is 655 CFM50 (+/- 149 CFM50). This means the actual leakage in the duct system is somewhere between 506 CFM50 and 804 CFM50. And in very windy weather, repeatability error will increase much larger than the 3% shown here.
Note: If you are using an APT system to conduct your Blower Door test, repeatability errors will typically be reduced below the 3% quoted above, and the APT system will provide you with a estimate of the measurement uncertainty.
Do all of these problems mean that I shouldn’t be using the subtraction method to estimate duct leakage? Not at all. If you need to quantify duct leakage and are comfortable with the relative imprecision of the subtraction technique, subtraction makes good sense. Of course you should always use the correction factors listed in the table above when using the subtraction method, to account for underestimation. If accuracy is important, much greater precision of duct leakage estimates can be achieved by using the Minneapolis Duct Blaster and directly testing the duct system.
And a final word of caution when using the subtraction method, if the measured duct to house pressure is less than about 20 Pa (meaning the duct system is very well connected to the house structure), we suggest that Blower Door subtraction (modified or not) can not be relied upon to provide meaningful duct leakage estimates. This commonly means that Blower Door subtraction can not be used in houses which use building cavities for a significant part of the duct system (e.g. basement houses which use panned under ceiling joists for return ducts). In these cases, the duct system must be tested directly with a Duct Blaster.
In applications where a duct leakage estimate is not needed at all, use of a blower door and a pressure pan is probably the ideal setup. In this case, duct leakage can be quickly checked by depressurizing the house to 50 Pa and taking a quick pressure pan reading at each register or grill. Inspection standards can also be set using this procedure. For example, the duct system might pass inspection if all registers and grills have a pressure pan reading of 1 Pa or less. This technique provides crews and inspectors with excellent measurement feed-back, but simply does not quantify the leakage in the system.
How do I calculate the leakage area?
Once the leakage rate for a building has been measured, it is useful to estimate the cumulative size (in square inches) of all leaks or holes in the building’s air barrier. The estimated leakage area provides us with a way to visualize the physical size of the measured holes in the building. This can be particularly important when explaining the results of a test to a building owner. Leakage area calculations are also used in infiltration models to estimate the building’s natural air change rate (i.e. the air change rate under natural weather conditions). TEC’s airtightness test analysis software calculates two separate leakage areas, based on differing assumptions about the physical shape of the hole. These leakage area calculations are compatible with the two most commonly used infiltration models. Energy analysis or rating software that require the user to input airtightness test results typically specify one of these two leakage areas. The Equivalent Leakage Area (EqLA) is defined by Canadian researchers at the Canadian National Research Council as the area of a sharp edged orifice (a sharp round hole cut in a thin plate) that would leak the same amount of air as the building does at a pressure of 10 Pascals. The EqLA is used in the AIM infiltration model. Effective Leakage Area (ELA) was developed by Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) and is used in their infiltration model. The Effective Leakage Area is defined as the area of a special nozzle-shaped hole (similar to the inlet of your blower door fan) that would leak the same amount of air as the building does at a pressure of 4 Pascals. Importantly, when using leakage area calculations to demonstrate physical changes in building airtightness, we recommend using the Canadian EqLA measurement. Typically, EqLA more closely approximates physical changes in building airtightness. For example, if you performed a blower door test, and then opened a window to create a 25 square inch hole and repeated the test, the estimated EqLA for the building will have increased by approximately 25 square inches from the initial test result. The EqLA is also easier to measure, especially in windy weather, because the measurement is taken at a higher building pressure than the ELA.
Will TECTITE and TECTITE Express work with the new Windows 8 operating environment?
Yes, TECTITE 4.0 (WiFi) and TECTITE Express will work correctly with the Windows 8 environment even though it was not designed for Windows 8. It will not work on the Surface tablet with Windows RT.
Why can’t I find TEC mobile apps in the Apple App Store?
This only applies to the iPad and iPhone. When searching for the TEC mobile app iTEC-700 or iTEC-RESNET on an iPad, you will need to change the device in the upper left from iPad Only to iPhone Only. Please see the photos below. As shown in the below example, TEC apps are not listed when the App Store is searching for iPad Only apps. As shown in the example below, when the search is changed to iPhone Only, TEC apps are listed. In the Apple App Store, all TEC mobile apps are listed as iPhone Only apps, however TEC mobile apps will work on an iPad or iPhone.
Which type of computer do I need to run TEC software?
Any Windows laptop or desktop PC, or full Windows tablet. It must run Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10. USB driver support to connect the DG-500, 700 or 1000 must be installed and is available in a Windows Driver update. The driver is also available from the TEC website.
When using TECTITE, a pop up message comes up saying: WARNING! Excessive building pressure fluctuation for current target pressure. What causes this and what are my options?
When using TECTITE, a pop up message comes up saying: WARNING! Excessive building pressure fluctuation for current target pressure. What causes this and what are my options?
While attempting to reach a target pressure line, the measured building pressure has been fluctuating beyond the Target Tolerance for more than 90 seconds. In order for TECTITE to start taking data at any target pressure line, it must first determine that the current measured building pressure is within a specified range from the target building pressure. This specified range is called the Target Tolerance. If the current measured building pressure is fluctuating beyond the Target Tolerance, then data collection for that target pressure will not begin.
Fluctuating building pressure readings are often caused by improper installation of the building pressure reference tubing, or by windy weather. To determine the cause of the problem:
- First check to be sure that the outside end of the building pressure tubing (e.g. the green tubing connected to the Channel A/P1 Reference tap) is not placed directly in the exhaust air flow of the Blower Door fan. You must be careful to run the end of the tubing well away (at least 5 feet to the side) from the exhaust of the fan. A good location for the end of the building pressure tubing is at the base of the building where it meets the ground.
- If the building pressure tubing is installed correctly, the fluctuating building pressures are possilby caused by wind. Try increasing your Target Tolerance to 3 or 4 from the default value of 2 (the Target Tolerance can be changed by clicking on the ADJUST AUTO TEST SETTINGS button in the warning screen). If this doesn’t work, increase the Target Tolerance to 5 or greater.
Note: As the Target Tolerance is increased from the default value of 2, gathered data may not be as close to the target pressure lines as would be the case when using the default value. This has negligible effect on the final test results. However, some test standards do require that the measured building pressures be within a specified range of the target pressure (e.g. the CGSB test standard requires that the measured building pressures be within +/- 2.5 Pa of the specified target pressure).
- In windy conditions, you may wish to use the SAMPLE button on the Test Graph to force a reading to be taken despite the fluctuating building pressure. Whenever the computer is seeking a target building pressure, clicking on the SAMPLE button causes the computer to proceed as if it had decided that the Target Tolerance has been met.
- Check the version of TECTITE that is installed on your computer by clicking on the Help pull down menu and choose About TECTITE. Version 4.0.38.0 has a known issue that will cause this error to occur when you have higher baseline readings. Uninstall this version and install the latest version from our website.
The iTEC RESNET App closes when I try to open or try to send email. Any solutions?
We have the following recommendations to try if you encounter a problem in the future. (Try these in the order listed below): 1. Try to quit the apps that are an issue. To do this by pressing the home button twice to see the bar of apps on the bottom of the screen. Find the apps that are not responding and long press onto the app until it shakes. When it starts to shake, touch the red negative sign in the corner of the app. This will not delete, but will close the app. Then open and retry to see if it works. 2. If not, than restart the ipad. Press the power switch until you get the slide lock to power off. Turn back on and retry. 3. If not, than reset the ipad. Press the power switch and the home button until the screen turns off. May take a few seconds to power off.
TECLOG3 vs TECTITE – What are the benefits of using one over the other for residential buildings?
TECLOG3 will gather more data and allow you to see a real-time graph. TECTITE is more automated and generates a more comprehensive report for testing homes.
I upgraded all of my computers to Windows 10. Now, when using TECLOG3, I cannot zoom in or out with the scroll wheel of my mouse. Is this a Windows 10 thing or something else?
Windows 10 introduced a feature that allows a user to scroll inactive windows when the mouse is hovering over them. It appears that the chart control in TECLOG3 does not respond properly to this feature if it is active, as the scroll event is trying to move the contents of the window. To disable the feature, go to Start Menu, Settings, Mouse & Keypad and turn off the “Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them” option. We will investigate further if we can override this behavior from within TECLOG3. We have also added this to our list of issues for future releases of TECLOG.
I did a regular calibration check of my digital gauge against a recently calibrated digital gauge, can I override the calibration date that shows in a TECTITE report with the calibration check date?
No. The reports will always show the date of the last time it was calibrated at TEC. To provide information about the frequent calibration checks of your gauge, you should include a copy of your calibration log with your TECTITE report.
I am making templates to use when testing the same model homes for a production builder. I enter the data about the house and save the template with not test data. I have completed three of them, but Tectite 4.0 won’t open the files I just made.
With some earlier versions of TECTITE 4.0 you can not save a file without actual test results. Even though you entered the house info, there is no baseline, flow at 50, etc. The best way to do what you want is to create a Configuration file. With all of the house info entered go to File then Save Configuration File. Save it with a name that makes sense to you. Then instead of Retrieving a Test File, you want to go to File then New Test with Custom Configuration. You can also download the latest version of TECTITE 4.0 which has corrected this issue.
Does The Energy Conservatory charge for its software?
No. The Energy Conservatory provides all of its software free of charge including TECTITE, TECTITE Express, TECBLAST, and TECLOG2. You can download any of our software products at any time. Some software downloads have a 30 day trial period. They are fully functioning software. Call The Energy Conservatory at 612-827-1117 and ask about making your software work for more than 30 days.
Can you have multiple DG-700’s using the WiFi Link connected to TECLOG3 via WiFi?
You can only connect to one WiFi network at a time. If you want to connect to multiple DG-700s you need to put the WiFi Links into router mode and connect all gauges to the router and then connect the router to your computer.
Will I receive a certificate to show I attended and earned CEU’s?
TEC does not provide certificates to attendees of its webinars. If you need some sort of record of your attendance please send an email to [email protected] and explain what you need.
Why can’t I join the webinar?
Participants can join the webinar up to 30 minutes early (at 12:30 p.m. Central time). If you try to join earlier than 12:30 p.m. Central time you may receive a message that the webinar is full, or you may be asked to provide a username and password. If this happens please try joining again after 12:30 p.m.
When will I receive my BPI CEU’s?
We will submit your webinar attendance to BPI within a couple of days of the webinar. BPI will give you the CEU’s you earned shortly after.
What time zone is your webinar in?
All TEC webinars are in the Central time zone.
What do I need to do to get my CEU’s from BPI?
All you need to do is provide your BPI number when you register for the webinar, and then attend the live webinar. We will submit your attendance record to BPI for CEU eligibility.
If you send me a Certificate of Completion for attending the webinar, can I submit that to RESNET for CEU’s?
RESNET will not grant you CEU’s for attending a TEC webinar because TEC is not a RESNET Training Provider.
I wasn’t able to attend the webinar. Can I still get CEU’s if I watch the webinar on YouTube?
Unfortunately, in order to grant you CEU’s, we have to have a record of your attendance. Since YouTube does not provide any sort of attendance record you cannot earn CEU’s by watching a video on YouTube.
I was logged in to the webinar but lost my connection somehow and when I tried to join again the webinar was already full. What can I do?
We apologize for any technical glitches you may experience. If this happens please send an email to [email protected]. We might not be able to get you back into the webinar, however we may other options for you.
I tried to join but got a notification that the webinar is full. I registered early and was approved, so why can’t I join?
Due to our webinars becoming increasingly popular we had to add an attendee limit to our webinars. When you register for our webinar, and are subsequently approved, you can join the webinar, so long as it’s not full already. We are not able to “hold” a spot for you. If you try to join and receive a message that the webinar is full, please check the time. If it’s more than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time, then please try joining again no more than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. If you try to join within that 30 minute window and receive a message that the webinar is full, please wait for a follow-up email. You should receive one within a day or two of the webinar. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
I received a notification saying I missed the webinar, but I was watching with a co-worker, and that person was logged in. Can I still get CEU’s?
In order to receive CEU’s you have to login to the webinar using the same email address you registered with, that way Adobe Connect can record you attendance. If you don’t login then we have no record of your attendance, and neither does Adobe Connect, so you’ll be listed as having missed the webinar. Even if you email us saying you watched the webinar with a colleague, who was logged in, we have no recorded proof of that, so unfortunately we are unable to submit you to BPI for CEU’s. If you are trying to login and can’t access the webinar, and it’s no more than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time, please send an email to [email protected].
I forgot to include my BPI number when I registered for the webinar. Is it too late to submit it for CEU’s?
No, it’s not too late. If you forgot to provide your BPI number when you registered for the webinar, simply email it to [email protected] within 2 days of the webinar.
I attended the webinar and provided you with my BPI number, but I didn’t get CEU’s. Why didn’t I get CEU’s?
Once we upload the CEU submission data to BPI’s website it is BPI who determines if you receive CEU’s. If you do not receive CEU’s after attending one of our webinars, and you have already confirmed with us that your BPI number was submitted for CEU’s, you will need to contact BPI directly.
How many CEU’s will I receive?
The ratio for live webinars is 1:1 (one CEU per one hour). So a one-hour long webinar will receive one BPI CEU. A two-hour long webinar will receive two BPI CEU’s. If it is an on-demand webinar the ratio is 2:1. So a one-hour long on-demand webinar will receive .5 BPI CEU’s. A two-hour long on-demand webinar will receive one BPI CEU.
Does The Energy Conservatory offer any training or certification on its equipment?
The Energy Conservatory does not provide training or certification. We have included extensive operations manuals with each product that will provide the user with enough information to operate the equipment properly and safely. We have also worked with a number of training organizations around the country that will provide training not just on equipment but on building science, performance contracting, RESNET, BPI and other programs. Please visit our Links page for a partial listing of training organizations and technical conferences that can help.
Do TEC offer RESNET CEU’s?
Unfortunately TEC is not able to offer RESNET CEU’s because we are not a RESNET Training Provider. However, we are working on a solution to this issue. In the meantime the only CEU’s we can offer are BPI.
But I was approved. Why can’t I join if I was approved? Did you allow too many people to register?
Yes, we do allow over registration. Statistically, about 50% to 60% of registrants actually attend the webinar. So we do allow an overage in registrations. We do this to be fair to everyone who wants to attend. To figure this out we looked at our attendee limit, average attendance rate and average registration number. From there we came up with a registration cap number that is about 60% more than our attendee limit. This is why we encourage you to join the webinar early (up to 30 minutes early) to secure your spot.
