Locating Leaks – Checklist for Stone House Owners

At the time of leak detection, the building’s structural frame has been completed without finishes or drywall. The floor slab has been poured. HVAC penetrations in the roof have been installed and sealed. The appropriate time for leak detection is generally after all work by the structural contractor has been completed.

When locating leaks, all penetrations must be installed and sealed (ventilation ducts, range hood, fireplace and sauna stove flues, water and sewer lines, central vacuum cleaner exhaust pipe, and floor penetration pipes such as protective casings for electrical supply or geothermal heating pipes, etc.).

The following installations must be completed before locating the leak points:

Exterior doors and windows

Exterior doors and windows installed (the main door does not need to be installed)
The joints between window and door frames and the exterior wall are sealed with urethane, tape, weatherstripping, or a suitable sealant.
Door thresholds sealed

Base

Pipe penetrations sealed to the floor with urethane or a suitable sealant.
The joint between the floor slab and the wall has been sealed. (A recommended but not mandatory practice is to cut a groove into the surface of the concrete and then apply a suitable sealant to the joint between the wall and the floor slab.)

Roof

The roof air barrier (air barrier paper, vapor barrier film, or urethane panels) is sealed along all seams to ensure a tight seal and is connected airtight to the exterior wall air barrier.
The roof joists have been installed. The measurement is performed under high vacuum, which may damage the air barrier of an unfinished roof.
Pipe penetrations are sealed with collars and vapor barrier tape to the roof air barrier. The fireplace flue is sealed to the roof air barrier.

Walls

The air barrier in the walls has been sealed throughout.
Penetrations through the exterior wall (fresh air duct for the HVAC unit, exhaust pipe for the central vacuum cleaner, electrical conduits, etc.) are sealed with urethane or a suitable sealant.

Other

Standard AC power is available in the building.
In the case of semi-detached houses, the penetrations between the units must also be sealed.
For buildings with two or more floors: There must be a ladder between the floors, as the inspector must be able to access all floors from inside the building.
If the garage is attached to the house and shares the same ventilation system as the house, its exterior door must be installed. If the garage has its own ventilation system, the door between the house and the garage must be in place.

Before the measurement:

Close the windows and doors carefully
Do not heat the fireplace for about 24 hours before taking the measurement
Turn on the heater about 24 hours before the measurement if the house is cold. The goal is to create a temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor air so that leaks can be located using a thermal camera.
To locate leaks, move construction materials, furniture, or other loose items about one meter away from exterior walls
Make sure there is sufficient general lighting in the building so that measurements can be taken properly on site

During the measurement:

Please allow 3–4 hours for the measurement. You can spend most of that time doing other work.
It’s a good idea to have a carpenter on site who can make the necessary repairs.