How would you seal up a floor register on carpet? How about a toe kick under a counter, their usually just a cabinet sitting over a register boot cut in the floor
Floor registers on carpet is where foam plugs are helpful. You can make your own to whatever size you need. Rigid foam or upholstery foam works fine. Toe kicks are tough a lot of the time because they are rarely installed correctly. The installer should be using a box sealed to the floor that ducts all the way to the register. I've heard this referred to as a "turtleback". This prevents air from dumping directly under the cabinet so its supplied to the kitchen as designed. When I was testing behind installers, I would just tape the register and fail them until they did it right if they were trying to meet code or a certain standard. Sometimes you can put grille mask on the end of a broom handle or something like that and cover the supply if you can't reach it with your hand. I've done that a few times and its not easy. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. Its definitely tedious and time consuming. However, if they are putting a register on the cabinet without a turtleback, that means they are claiming the space under the cabinets as part of the duct system. If it leaks, it leaks. Measure it and call it what it is. -Sam
do you mean 4% total leakage? You would add the conditioned floor area in the "Area" section under settings. Then choose CFM/100sq.ft. as your output for Ch. B.
Absolutely. Its a lot easier to seal a failing duct system at rough-in when everything is open and accessible. Most jurisditions do allow a rough-in test, but that can vary depending on where you are. Its best to check with your local code office.
for a TOTAL duct leakage test, like we demonstrated here, yes. The results will be invalid if there is a supply or return left open. However, if you are doing a duct leakage to outdoors test where you are also using a blower door, then no. You can likely get away without taping a supply since the blower door and and duct tester are working together to neutralize that space.
Thank you for sharing this video with me. I am learning a lot.
Just a note.....the word "especially", has no "X" in it.
Not "especially", or "Eckspecially"
amazing demo thank you for this !
we're glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the video
How would you seal up a floor register on carpet? How about a toe kick under a counter, their usually just a cabinet sitting over a register boot cut in the floor
Floor registers on carpet is where foam plugs are helpful. You can make your own to whatever size you need. Rigid foam or upholstery foam works fine. Toe kicks are tough a lot of the time because they are rarely installed correctly. The installer should be using a box sealed to the floor that ducts all the way to the register. I've heard this referred to as a "turtleback". This prevents air from dumping directly under the cabinet so its supplied to the kitchen as designed. When I was testing behind installers, I would just tape the register and fail them until they did it right if they were trying to meet code or a certain standard. Sometimes you can put grille mask on the end of a broom handle or something like that and cover the supply if you can't reach it with your hand. I've done that a few times and its not easy. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. Its definitely tedious and time consuming. However, if they are putting a register on the cabinet without a turtleback, that means they are claiming the space under the cabinets as part of the duct system. If it leaks, it leaks. Measure it and call it what it is. -Sam
In Florida the ducts must be less than .04. How would I convert the DM32X readings to what they are requesting?
do you mean 4% total leakage? You would add the conditioned floor area in the "Area" section under settings. Then choose CFM/100sq.ft. as your output for Ch. B.
Is it wise to do this test pre drywall? Do the counties even allow a pre drywall test as the final test?
Absolutely. Its a lot easier to seal a failing duct system at rough-in when everything is open and accessible. Most jurisditions do allow a rough-in test, but that can vary depending on where you are. Its best to check with your local code office.
What happen if you don’t seal off all supply vents and return vents? Will the validity of the test invalid?
for a TOTAL duct leakage test, like we demonstrated here, yes. The results will be invalid if there is a supply or return left open. However, if you are doing a duct leakage to outdoors test where you are also using a blower door, then no. You can likely get away without taping a supply since the blower door and and duct tester are working together to neutralize that space.
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