Everything You Need to Know About Blower Door TestingĀ 

Maintaining a safe, comfortable, and energy efficient home involves a fair amount of upkeep. One way to ensure that a homeā€™s heating and cooling systems are working efficiently is by conducting a blower door test, which checks for air leakage. Significant air leakage means that the climate-controlled air from inside the home can easily escape, making HVAC systems work harder and utility bills climb.  

What Is a Blower Door Test? 

Blower door tests are used to measure the amount of air leakage present in a home or other building. A blower door test involves closing all external openings of a building, such as doors, windows, vents, and flues, and then using a powerful fan to either pressurize or depressurize the interior space. By measuring the airflow required to maintain a constant pressure difference between the inside and outside of the building, technicians can determine the amount of air leakage. 

The Process Explained 

A professional energy audit will often include a blower door test. The process of setting it up is fairly simple with the right equipment.  

  1. An airtight, temporary fan is attached to the home in a doorframe, depressurizing the living space. 
  2. All exterior doors and windows are closed (interior doors remain open during the test).  
  3. Pilot lights are extinguished, and flues in stoves and fireplaces are closed.  
  4. The auditor engages the fan.  
  5. An air pressure gauge measures how much air is being pulled into the home through cracks and gaps.   
  6. Infrared cameras are then used to locate each and every leak.  

The blower door test helps identify areas where air is leaking into or out of the building envelope, which can contribute to energy inefficiency, discomfort due to drafts, and poor indoor air quality. By pinpointing these leaks, building owners and operators can take steps to improve energy efficiency, enhance occupant comfort, and reduce heating and cooling costs. 

The Importance of Detecting Air Leaks 

Detecting air leaks in a home is crucial for several reasons: 

  • Energy Efficiency: Air leaks allow conditioned air to escape, resulting in wasted energy and higher utility bills. By sealing these leaks, homeowners can reduce the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling, leading to cost savings and a more sustainable living environment. 
  • Comfort: Air leaks can cause drafts, uneven temperatures, and discomfort in different areas of a home. Sealing these leaks helps maintain consistent indoor temperatures, improving comfort levels for occupants. 
  • Indoor Air Quality: Air leaks can allow pollutants, allergens, and outdoor contaminants to enter a home, affecting indoor air quality. By sealing leaks, you can prevent the infiltration of harmful substances, promoting a healthier living environment. 
  • Moisture Control: Air leaks can also allow moisture to enter your home, leading to issues such as mold, mildew, and water damage. Sealing leaks helps to maintain proper moisture levels indoors, reducing the risk of structural damage and health problems associated with excess moisture. 

Conducting regular inspections and implementing effective air sealing measures can significantly enhance the performance and livability of a home. 

A home energy meter

How Blower Door Testing Helps 

Blower door testing is commonly performed during energy audits, construction inspections, and retrofit projects to assess a building’s airtightness and identify opportunities for improvements in insulation, weather sealing, and ventilation systems. 

Interpreting Blower Door Test Results 

The professional who sets up a home energy audit and blower door test will be able to interpret the results and explain them to a homeowner. However, there are some baseline metrics that may be useful for homeowners to keep in mind when reviewing their results.  

Understanding the Metrics 

After the blower door test, the house will receive an Air Changes per Hour (ACH) reading, which tells the auditor and homeowner how many times all the air in the house would be completely replaced in the span of an hour if the blower fan was left on. Homes with relatively good air sealing should receive a maximum of a 4 ACH reading. An ACH reading that is between 6 and 9 indicates somewhat significant leakage that could benefit from improvements.  

Blower door test results may also include a cubic feet per minute (CFM) measurement, which tells the auditor how much air blew through the fan during the test. In general, a CFM measurement below 1250 is satisfactory while a CF measurement between 1300 and 3000 indicates air leaks.  

Solutions for Identified Inefficiencies 

The solutions for inefficiencies that a blower door testing may identify depend on where the air leaks exist. If air is leaking from beneath doors or from windows, additional weatherstripping or caulking can have a major impact in improving efficiency. In the case of a leaky chimney flue, professional chimney repairs may be necessary.  

Drafts may also come in through attics or crawlspaces where professional insulation installation or replacement may be the best solution. The energy auditor that performs the blower door test can help homeowners identify the best options for improving the comfort and efficiency of a house with significant air leaks.

A home professional installing new insulation

Professional Insulation and Air Sealing Services from Wisconsin Home Improvement 

Gain a clear picture of your home performance, with an energy audit from the Wisconsin home performance professionals at Wisconsin Home Improvement Co. LLC. The advantage of booking an energy audit with Wisconsin Home Improvement is that not only can our professionals find leaks that are impacting the comfort of your home, but we also have the skills and expertise to help fix them. 

If your home qualifies as a Focus On Energy (FOE) project, Wisconsin Home Improvement will conduct both a before and after blower door test. This comparison will clearly illustrate the enhancements made to your home’s efficiency as a result of the project and is an excellent way for homeowners to see firsthand the difference the project has made in improving their home’s efficiency. You’ll be able to compare the initial inefficiencies with the optimized efficiency achieved post-project. 

Reach out today to schedule your energy audit and blower door test. Call, email, or contact us through our website. 

Get in Touch!

Are you ready to schedule a home energy audit with Wisconsin Home Improvement? Well, the time has never been better to take charge of your energy consumption. Here are all the ways you can contact us and everything you need to know to put you on the road to home energy performance improvement that lasts.

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Get in Touch!

Are you ready to schedule a home energy audit with Wisconsin Home Improvement? Well, the time has never been better to take charge of your energy consumption. Here are all the ways you can contact us and everything you need to know to put you on the road to home energy performance improvement that lasts.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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