Combustion Analyzers
A combustion analyzer isn't optional equipment—it's a non-negotiable safety prerequisite. Before an auditor depressurizes your home with a blower door (which can reverse chimney draft), they must verify that fuel-burning appliances (furnaces, water heaters, boilers) aren't producing dangerous carbon monoxide (CO) or at risk of backdrafting flue gases into living spaces.
Combustion analyzers will detect O2, CO and CO2 levels to help determine if your appliance is operating efficiently and safely.
Beyond blower doors and combustion analyzers, auditors deploy specialized tools for specific investigations:
A manometer (precision pressure gauge) measures pressure differentials between ducts and living spaces to quantify duct leakage without full system pressurization;
Manometer Text description of the Manometer image.
The image depicts a person's hand holding a blue digital manometer with a display showing a reading of "20.7." The manometer features several buttons in yellow, including a plus sign, a unit toggle, and min/max settings. The tool is a precision pressure gauge used to measure pressure differentials between ducts and living spaces to quantify duct leakage without full system pressurization.
Credit: Tosh Lubek. Adobe Stock. Accessed July 21, 2026.The Duct Blaster—a calibrated fan that seals directly to the air handler—provides definitive airtightness measurements for the entire duct system, revealing whether 20%, 40%, or even 60% of conditioned air escapes into attics or crawlspaces before reaching rooms.
Duct Blaster Text description of the Duct Blaster image.
The image depicts a man kneeling on a tiled floor in a hallway, working with a duct blaster connected to a ventilation system. In one hand, he holds a digital measuring tool, focused on the screen, while with the other hand, he adjusts the device's wires. The setup includes a flexible, shiny duct attached to an oval-shaped fan. The duct is connected to a wall vent, which is framed by a rectangular opening.
For safety-critical gas systems, a combustible gas detector scans appliance connections, valves, and piping for methane or propane leaks—addressing both explosion/fire hazards and wasted fuel that silently escapes 24/7.
Combustible Gas Detector Text description of the Combustible Gas Detector image.
The image depicts a close-up view of a gas cylinder inside a storage compartment and a person pointing a gas detector towards the connection where a flexible hose leaves the gas cylinder. The gas detector is gray with a green indicator light and an “ON/OFF” button.
Credit: Anetlanda. Adobe Stock. Accessed July 21, 2026.- To make invisible air movement tangible during inspections, a smoke pencil (or incense stick) releases a steady stream of vapor that bends, swirls, or accelerates when crossing leak paths—turning abstract pressure differences into visible evidence students can photograph and annotate.
- Finally, a digital camera or cell phone documents appliance nameplates (for efficiency ratings), installation flaws, insulation gaps, and pre/post repair conditions—creating a permanent visual record essential for reports, contractor bids, and verifying retrofit success.
Together, these tools transform subjective observations ("this room feels drafty") into quantifiable, actionable data.