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Building pressure affects: Guest comfort Energy costs HVAC equipment life

DIY Pressure Balance Test Flame test steps: Slightly open a door or window in the area you want to test. Strike a lighter in the crack. If the flame is drawn inside, you have negative building pressure. If the flame is drawn outside, you have positive building pressure. A slight positive pressure is ideal. – About .01” to .02” water column measured with a digital manometer.

Symptoms of Pressure Imbalance Unwanted odors or smoke in dining area from the kitchen Kitchen hoods underperform Back drafting water heaters Exterior doors difficult to open moisture, corrosion or melted plastic on top of water heater Exterior doors don’t close completely Room temperature difficult to maintain Condensation dripping from the ceiling diffusers

Real Costs of Building Pressure Imbalance Poor Indoor environment quality (IEQ) = fewer patrons, fewer covers and less revenue >10% Utility cost waste Up to 33% Reduction in HVAC equipment life, as system works overtime to compensate for pressure imbalance

How to Optimize Your Building’s Pressure Balance Economizers on Rooftop Units (RTUs) Optimize “free cooling” and indoor air quality from outdoor air intake. Differential Pressure Sensors Measure relative pressure of building interior vs. exterior. Demand-control ventilation (DCV) Measure CO2 levels to optimize outdoor air intake.