ᐅ What can a blower door test reveal? Which house performance values are measured?
Created on: 16 Feb 2012 09:30
K
kako78
Hello everyone!
We have built a prefabricated house and are moving in this week. A few weeks ago, we noticed that the right side of the attic was damp. We reported this to the prefab company, and were told that “the issue had been fixed.” Afterwards, the blower door test was conducted. We received a report (n50=1.0) and confirmation that the test was successful. However, we later found out that the problem in the attic had not been resolved (only the wet insulation wool was replaced, but the cause was not fixed), and now we already have mold on the wooden beams.
My question is: shouldn’t this have been detected during the blower door test? Were we just shown a blower door test as a formality, or is it true that openings in the vapor barrier cannot be detected with this test? I had thought that this was exactly what a blower door test is for???
Thank you very much for any information regarding this topic!
Katrin
We have built a prefabricated house and are moving in this week. A few weeks ago, we noticed that the right side of the attic was damp. We reported this to the prefab company, and were told that “the issue had been fixed.” Afterwards, the blower door test was conducted. We received a report (n50=1.0) and confirmation that the test was successful. However, we later found out that the problem in the attic had not been resolved (only the wet insulation wool was replaced, but the cause was not fixed), and now we already have mold on the wooden beams.
My question is: shouldn’t this have been detected during the blower door test? Were we just shown a blower door test as a formality, or is it true that openings in the vapor barrier cannot be detected with this test? I had thought that this was exactly what a blower door test is for???
Thank you very much for any information regarding this topic!
Katrin
B
Bauexperte24 Feb 2012 13:13Hello,
That’s one way to put it; I would probably choose different words.
You mentioned in a previous reply that you hired an expert; that is a very sensible decision. The cause of the moisture can have many reasons, so it is important that all potential sources of the problem are checked thoroughly on site, point by point!
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it’s not too serious. It would be great if you could post the preliminary findings after the expert’s inspection.
Best regards
Häuslebauer40 schrieb:
The drywall work in the attic is finished, and the painter and tiler were working when I had a bad feeling last weekend, ...... which has already led to initial mold growth.
What a mess, really
That’s one way to put it; I would probably choose different words.
You mentioned in a previous reply that you hired an expert; that is a very sensible decision. The cause of the moisture can have many reasons, so it is important that all potential sources of the problem are checked thoroughly on site, point by point!
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it’s not too serious. It would be great if you could post the preliminary findings after the expert’s inspection.
Best regards
H
Häuslebauer4024 Feb 2012 13:22Bauexperte schrieb:
Hello,
You could put it that way, but I would likely use different terms.
You mentioned in an earlier reply that you hired an expert; that is a very sensible decision. The cause of moisture can have many reasons, so it is important to check all possible sources of error carefully on-site, point by point!
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it’s not too serious. It would be great if you could share the preliminary findings after the expert’s inspection.
Best regardsAs the saying goes, hope dies last, so I’m also hoping it won’t be that bad.
The worst-case scenario would probably be that the entire drywall needs to be removed and the insulation and vapor barrier replaced.
And then my family and I would have to stay in a hotel starting April 1st.
Regarding the expert, the builder would have arranged one as well, since they are also interested in identifying the cause. In the end, however, I decided to hire one myself, since this expert will oversee all further measures and the process until final approval.
H
Häuslebauer4024 Feb 2012 13:40Häuslebauer40 schrieb:
I assumed the same and was relatively calm about it so far. It should usually improve over time once most of the construction moisture has left the house, or am I wrong?Okay, I was wrong.
I just looked it up.
Häuslebauer40 schrieb:
... in the end, I decided to hire one myself, since they are supposed to oversee all further steps and the entire process until final inspection. Absolutely the right decision!Best regards
H
Häuslebauer4028 Feb 2012 21:06So, a brief update. The building expert was here for two hours today, inspected everything, and I’m happy to share some positive news.
The expert confirmed that the house consistently meets a high-quality standard, with professional workmanship according to recognized industry standards and the use of high-quality materials.
He identified a few minor defects, but nothing serious.
The existing moisture damage is due to residual dampness and weather conditions. The damp wallpaper obviously needs to be removed, then the affected areas will be specifically dried out, and after that, the painter can start again.
The same applies to the roof. The insulation is not damp or damaged to the extent that it needs to be replaced. With the arrival of stronger spring sunlight, the insulation should dry out quickly and its insulating capacity be fully restored.
The vapor barrier, which theoretically wouldn’t even be necessary due to the high-quality, vapor-permeable underlay membrane (sd value = 0.02), was also correctly installed. Given the good results of the differential pressure measurement, the expert does not currently find it reasonable or justified to look for leaks.
Accordingly, there should be no moisture problems next winter. We agreed to check the insulation together again next winter and then decide on the next steps.
Overall, the expert made a competent impression on me, and at this point, I see no reason to doubt his statements, although that does not stop me from staying vigilant and keeping an eye on my construction site.
In conclusion, it is definitely advantageous to have involved the expert.
This way, a homeowner with little technical knowledge, who might see things as much more dramatic than a professional, also receives positive feedback from an independent source.
That brings a bit more calm to the situation.
So, it can continue with full energy.
The expert confirmed that the house consistently meets a high-quality standard, with professional workmanship according to recognized industry standards and the use of high-quality materials.
He identified a few minor defects, but nothing serious.
The existing moisture damage is due to residual dampness and weather conditions. The damp wallpaper obviously needs to be removed, then the affected areas will be specifically dried out, and after that, the painter can start again.
The same applies to the roof. The insulation is not damp or damaged to the extent that it needs to be replaced. With the arrival of stronger spring sunlight, the insulation should dry out quickly and its insulating capacity be fully restored.
The vapor barrier, which theoretically wouldn’t even be necessary due to the high-quality, vapor-permeable underlay membrane (sd value = 0.02), was also correctly installed. Given the good results of the differential pressure measurement, the expert does not currently find it reasonable or justified to look for leaks.
Accordingly, there should be no moisture problems next winter. We agreed to check the insulation together again next winter and then decide on the next steps.
Overall, the expert made a competent impression on me, and at this point, I see no reason to doubt his statements, although that does not stop me from staying vigilant and keeping an eye on my construction site.
In conclusion, it is definitely advantageous to have involved the expert.
This way, a homeowner with little technical knowledge, who might see things as much more dramatic than a professional, also receives positive feedback from an independent source.
That brings a bit more calm to the situation.
So, it can continue with full energy.
B
Bauexperte29 Feb 2012 11:56Hello,
Yep
It is human nature to fear things we know little or nothing about—or have only rudimentary knowledge of; forums, where most users base their answers on only half-knowledge, usually make this uncomfortable feeling of helplessness worse. In this respect, we can only thank you here at the HBF for openly sharing the above statements! Thank you
Best regards
Häuslebauer40 schrieb:
In conclusion, it is definitely beneficial to involve an expert. This way, the inexperienced builder, who may see some issues as much more serious than a professional would, also receives positive feedback from an independent source. This helps to bring a bit more calm to the situation.
Yep
It is human nature to fear things we know little or nothing about—or have only rudimentary knowledge of; forums, where most users base their answers on only half-knowledge, usually make this uncomfortable feeling of helplessness worse. In this respect, we can only thank you here at the HBF for openly sharing the above statements! Thank you
Best regards
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