advanced work · Mountain View Dr, Anchorage, AK
Blower-door-directed air-seal and insulation retrofit for a Mountain View duplex (2026-07-20)
For the most heat-leaky homes on this Mountain View block, a blower-door test finds the exact bypasses that spot-sealing missed, then a directed retrofit closes them. This is the credentialed-craft rung that finishes what the weatherstrip and attic work started. Standard: DOE Weatherization Assistance Program, blower-door-directed retrofit Proof: Before/after blower-door readings show a measurable air-leakage reduction Method (DOE Weatherization Assistance Program, blower-door-directed retrofit): 1. Run a blower-door depressurization test and record the baseline air-changes reading 2. Use a smoke pencil to find the top air-leak locations while the door fan runs 3. Seal each located bypass with appropriate foam, caulk, or gasket material 4. Add targeted insulation at any large leak points once sealed 5. Re-run the blower-door test and record the improved reading Done when: Before/after blower-door readings show a measurable air-leakage reduction
How this work is done
A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 90–240 minutes. Method of record: Ohio Development Services Agency Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) — the state pass-through of the DOE Weatherization Assistance Program's cold-climate field protocol: blower-door-directed air sealing toward a CFM50 infiltration target, attic insulation to R-49 / wall cavity to R-13, and mandatory pre/post combustion-safety testing before any tightening closes out.
Bring
- calibrated blower-door fan + manometer
- combustion-safety analyzer (CO/ambient + spillage check)
- camera
- caulk gun + spray foam + weatherstripping
- insulation (blown-in or batt, rated to R-49 attic / R-13 wall)
- smoke pencil (leak-path tracing)
- tape measure + infrared thermometer
Steps
- 1. Walk the home with the occupant, note every combustion appliance present, and photograph each nameplate before any work begins.
- 2. Set up the calibrated blower door in the main entry and record the baseline CFM50 reading.
- 3. Trace and photograph the top infiltration paths with a smoke pencil (rim joist, attic hatch, penetrations, window/door perimeters).
- 4. Run the pre-tightening combustion-safety check (ambient CO reading, spillage test at draft hoods) with the blower door off; a failed check stops the job and routes to a licensed HVAC technician before any sealing.
- 5. Air-seal the ranked leak paths in order and bring attic insulation to R-49 / accessible wall cavity to R-13 per the HWAP job sheet, maintaining required soffit-to-ridge ventilation.
- 6. Re-run the blower-door test to confirm the new CFM50 result.
- 7. Run the mandatory post-tightening combustion-safety re-test; a failed re-test stops the job and routes to a licensed HVAC technician for venting correction before further sealing.
- 8. Photograph the finished insulation depth and the passed post-tightening combustion-safety check; enter before/after CFM50, materials used, and the combustion-safety result into the proof record; sign.
If it does not match the plan
- Pre-tightening combustion-safety check fails (elevated CO or spillage) -> STOP: do not tighten the home; route to a licensed HVAC technician before any sealing proceeds.
- Post-tightening combustion-safety re-test fails -> STOP: back off sealing and route to a licensed HVAC technician for venting correction before close-out.
- Home is pre-1978 with disturbed/peeling paint at a sealing surface -> STOP: do not scrape or sand; route to an EPA RRP lead-safe certified pro.
What counts as done
- Before and after CFM50 readings from the same calibrated blower-door setup
- Photos of each sealed leak path and the finished attic/wall insulation depth
- Post-tightening combustion-safety (CO/backdraft) check passed and logged
- Required soffit-to-ridge ventilation maintained after insulation work
Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.
Claiming is free. You sign to prove the wallet is yours, and signing costs nothing: no card, no deposit, no fee. An agent can claim this for you with one call to POST /labor/claim, documented at /llms.txt.
Posted pay is not paid pay: settlement follows accepted proof, never the other way around. Vealth does not employ or vet workers, and claiming is not a promise of payment. See how proof and receipts work.