Contact Us NowBlower Door testing quantifies airflow through leaks in your home, detects energy loss, and pinpoints air intrusion
Our analysts use this important diagnostic tool to grade the performance of an existing home about to undergo energy efficiency improvements as well as ensure a tight energy efficient envelope in new construction. We advise new home builders to conduct a blower door test after the home is insulated, but before the drywall is hung. Newly enforced building codes have stringent requirements on air infiltration. This test will be able to quantify the results of your home before it is too late—or too costly—to repair the problems.
Even homes that have been built fairly recently have major issues regarding their inability to be cooled or heated appropriately. The owners report hot or cold spots, in addition to excessive energy bills. Our first step in diagnosing the issues with these homes is the blower door test. For a more detailed and thorough audit, a homeowner may also incorporate duct blaster testing along with an infrared inspection.
What Is A Blower Door?
A basic blower door consists of a frame and flexible panel that fit in a doorway, a variable-speed fan, a pressure gauge to measure the pressure differences inside and outside the home, and an airflow manometer and hoses for measuring airflow.
A blower door is a powerful, variable-speed fan that mounts into the frame of an exterior door. The fan pulls air out of the house, lowering the air pressure inside. The higher outside air pressure then flows in through all unsealed cracks and openings. The auditors may use a smoke pencil to detect air leaks. These tests determine the air infiltration rate of a building.
What Is A Blower Door Test?
A blower door test is a proven diagnostic test to check how air-tight a structure is. It is designed to measure the amount of air infiltration from air leaks in walls, attics, and mechanical penetrations. A blower door test does not evaluate how well a structure is insulated, but it does quantify the amount of air leakage, and allows our technicians to identify where the air leakage is coming from. Poorly sealed houses have higher utility bills, reduced overall comfort levels, potential mold issues caused by moisture, and reduced indoor air quality.
Your Door Test Includes:
- Initial visual inspection of your home
- Preparation of your home for the actual testing
- Setup of blower door
- Conducting multiple testing cycles for the most accurate measurements
- Running the blower door during additional inspection to identify areas of air infiltration
- Breakdown of equipment and disposal of any blower door related test materials [vent tape]
- Provision of testing results and list of air infiltration points
How Much Blower Door Test Cost?
The cost of a blower door test is based on two main criteria.
- The conditioned square footage of your home
- The number of installed HVAC units
The insights you will gain into the performance of your home, and the steps you can take to improve the energy efficiency and indoor air quality of your home are priceless. Our blower door tests have been used as the guide for our clients to make improvements that save thousands of dollars per year on their cooling and heating bills, and improved the indoor air quality of their home.
Contact us today for a quote on your blower door test.
