Duct Leakage Testing - SUPPLY SYSTEM

To perform a proper duct leakage test using an ORIFLOW duct leakage tester, perform the following
steps:

1. Use the orifice plate with the recommended leakage range for your job. Use our online
program to help determine which plate(s) you can use with our testers.
2. Make sure you have adequate electrical power for the fan. DO NOT OVERLOAD extension
cords. Make sure you use one with the proper gauge.  
3. Cover all outlets with plastic bags and seal with duct tape.
4. Allow all joints and seams that were sealed with duct sealer to cure for at least 24 hours or the
required cure time by the manufacturer, whichever is greater.
5. If possible, position the ORIFLOW duct leakage tester in a location where there will be a
straight path from the orifice tube outlet to the location where you will feed air into the system.
6. Drill a 3/8" diameter hole no closer than two or three feet away from the flexible duct to system
joint.
7. Place the pressure tubing into the previously drilled hole; extend 6 to 12 inches into the duct.
8. Seal the tubing penetration joint with putty or tape.
9. Zero both gauges. Locate adjusting screw on center front of gauge. Use a small slotted
screwdriver. Turning clockwise increases the pressure reading, counter-clockwise decreases
it.
10. Close the fan's inlet damper so the duct system does not get overpressurized by the tester.
11. Turn on the tester blower.
12. Adjust inlet damper until the reading on the gauge marked "Duct System" is at the system
pressure required for performing the leakage test.
13. Once the duct system pressure has been reached and stabilized, note the reading on the
gauge marked "Orifice Tube". This pressure drop reading will correspond to the amount of air
you're feeding into the duct system, which is the amount of air that is leaking out.
14. Refer to the calibration table that came with your test rig. Find the pressure reading and note
the corresponding leakage rate.

Troubleshooting:

If the "Orifice Tube" gauge exceeds the maximum range, the system is probably leaking too much air.
Investigate system for missed outlets or unsealed joints. You can also use a larger orifice or a gauge
with a larger range.

If you cannot obtain any pressure (or very little pressure) with the blower on and the inlet damper wide
open, it could be due to one of the following problems:

1. Using too small of an orifice plate

If pressure drop across orifice plate is more than 2 in.wg., use the next greater sized
orifice plate.  Use our online program to determine which orifice plate you should use
based on the maximum allowable leakage. You can also refer to graphs for each
tester/plate combination.

2. System has more leakage at test pressure than is allowed

When using the Cobra or Lynx tester, use the 4-inch plate to pressurize your system
and refer to the following table to determine if your system is leaking more than the
maximum capacity of the tester.
 Also check your flex-duct connections Wrap duct tape tightly around the joint and feel
for leaks. Rectangular duct joint corners can be typical leaky points.  If fire damper
and/or heater coils are part of the system you are testing, they also can be significant
leak contributors. A smoke machine may be used to help locate leaks; contact us for
more information.

3. Equipment not working properly

Make sure the equipment is working properly by doing the following steps:

 turn off blower.

 observe blower wheel rotation direction when it slows down (view from looking
through inlet safety screen); it should be rotating clockwise (if not, contact us).
 completely close inlet damper.
 disconnect the flex-duct from the tester.
 turn on blower.
 Slowly open inlet damper and verify that you can feel air coming out of the orifice
tube.
 the orifice tube gauge pressure drop reading should be maxed out.
 you can verify gauges are working properly by removing pressure tubing and
carefully apply pressure by gently blowing into tube end as if trying to inflate a
balloon.