If the door fan test leakage exceeds design parameters, how are leaks located?

If the door fan test leakage exceeds design parameters, how are leaks located?

• A. Use a source of smoke and create a difference in enclosure pressure to the outside
• B. Visual inspection only
• C. Use a stethoscope
• D. Tighten doors and vents

Answer: (A)

When a door fan test shows leakage beyond what was designed, you locate leaks by introducing smoke into the enclosure while maintaining the pressure difference. The smoke acts as a visible tracer, carried by the escaping or infiltrating air, so you can see exactly where air is leaking through gaps, around seals, or at penetrations. This visual method detects even small leaks that might be hidden behind trim or behind structural elements, giving a clear map of leakage paths. Visual inspection alone can miss hidden leaks, and using a stethoscope is less effective for pinpointing leakage in a large enclosure. Tightening doors and vents is a repair step, not a locating technique, and comes after identifying leak points.

When a door fan test shows leakage beyond what was designed, you locate leaks by introducing smoke into the enclosure while maintaining the pressure difference. The smoke acts as a visible tracer, carried by the escaping or infiltrating air, so you can see exactly where air is leaking through gaps, around seals, or at penetrations. This visual method detects even small leaks that might be hidden behind trim or behind structural elements, giving a clear map of leakage paths. Visual inspection alone can miss hidden leaks, and using a stethoscope is less effective for pinpointing leakage in a large enclosure. Tightening doors and vents is a repair step, not a locating technique, and comes after identifying leak points.