House Tightness / Leakage Area
Estimate poultry house leakage area and relative tightness from a static pressure test using house dimensions, test fan capacity, and measured static pressure.
Enter inputs on the left and click Calculate to view engineering results.
Results
ExcellentWarnings
Methods & Assumptions
The Importance of Poultry House Tightness
A tight poultry house is the foundation of cold-weather environmental control. When a house is leaky (cracks under curtains, worn seals on tunnel doors, or ceiling gaps), cold outside air enters through these unintended openings instead of the planned wall inlets.
Cold air entering through cracks does not mix properly. It drops directly to the floor, chilling chicks and wetting the litter. Additionally, it forces heaters to burn significantly more propane to maintain the target temperature. Regular static pressure tightness tests help growers identify and seal leaks before they turn into wet litter and high heating bills.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What static pressure means a house is tight?
A traditional field rule is that 0.10 inches is reasonably tight and 0.20 inches or more is very tight, but leakage area per 1,000 sq ft is a better way to compare houses of different sizes.
Why does leakage matter?
Leakage lets cold air enter through cracks instead of planned inlets. That air can fall to the floor, chill birds, wet litter, increase ammonia, and increase heating cost.
Optimize your house performance and flock profitability.
Save engineering calculations by house, compare previous flocks, and monitor daily water, feed, and mortality.