Blower Door Test in Gladwyne, PA

Ensure your property meets energy codes and maintains efficiency through expert blower door test in Gladwyne, PA. Our certified team partners with homeowners, builders, and contractors to uncover air leaks, enhance comfort, and ensure PA energy code adherence.

What Is A Blower Door Test?

A blower door test measures the air changes per hour within a home or building. Air exchange is a normal and healthy process that allows stale indoor air to be replaced with fresh air. When air changes occur too frequently, the heating or cooling system must work harder to stabilize temperatures, increasing energy use and lowering efficiency. Too many air changes can result in drafts and leaks that create discomfort and lead to moisture, mold, and condensation issues. A blower door test in Gladwyne, PA identifies air leakage issues before they become serious, ensuring efficiency, comfort, and long-term durability.

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How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

To carry out blower door test in Gladwyne, PA, exterior doors and windows are fully closed, and interior doors are left open for even air distribution in the home. One primary exterior doorway is used, where a flexible aluminum frame and fabric panel are mounted tightly. A calibrated fan is used to depressurize the home through the frame to 50 Pascals, representing the same pressure as a 20 mph wind.

When indoor air is extracted, outdoor air pushes in through every leak and small gap in the building. With the help of a nanometer, we determine the pressure difference between the fan’s airflow and the home’s internal conditions. The collected data converts to air changes per hour (ACH), demonstrating how tightly sealed and efficient the home remains in PA climates.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

In Gladwyne, PA, new construction typically follows the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or an updated edition implemented by local codes. Generally, a blower door test result of 3 air changes per hour or less is considered acceptable, ensuring proper energy performance. Achieving this goal during your blower door test in Gladwyne, PA promotes energy savings and demonstrates adherence to local building rules.

Why Do I Need A Blower Door Test?

Throughout PA, the IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) is followed, making blower door test compulsory for new and renovated homes. We often work with home builders, contractors, and homeowners requiring blower door test in Gladwyne, PA to meet local energy codes and obtain permit approval. A duct leakage test requirement applies if ducts or HVAC units are positioned outside the structure’s thermal envelope. Learn more about energy code compliance.

With blower door test in Gladwyne, PA, homeowners can detect where energy is being wasted. As the fan depressurizes the house, leaks are revealed, highlighting areas for sealing and savings. blower door test in Gladwyne, PA provides homeowners with clear insights into energy loss. When the fan creates pressure differences, leaks are exposed, allowing for easy detection and repair. Taking only a few hours, a blower door test creates a long-lasting impact by improving comfort, performance, and efficiency in PAhomes.

How To Pass A Blower Door Test:

  • Anticipate potential air leaks before testing begins.
  • Use materials like Tyvek or Zip Sheathing as your air barrier and ensure every seam is well taped for best results.
  • Use insulation featuring the proper R-value and verify complete, gap-free coverage across the building envelope.
  • Seal all penetrations in exterior walls using caulk or spray foam.
  • Ensure doors and windows are properly installed, caulked, and weather-sealed.
  • Seal every transition point between conditioned and unconditioned environments, including attics, crawl spaces, and basements.
  • Local jurisdictions frequently publish compliance checklists — the Philadelphia version can be downloaded here.
  • Local Energy Audits provides on-site leak detection and sealing using advanced thermal imaging tools, caulk, and spray foam./li>
  • More than 90% of our tests result in a passing score within two hours, along with immediate permit documentation.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Gladwyne, PA

Preparation for blower door test in Gladwyne, PA includes turning off the air conditioning, heating, and all exhaust fans to ensure accurate results. We then perform a detailed walkthrough to verify that all exterior windows and doors are tightly shut, including any that lead to spaces beyond the thermal envelope. With the home properly sealed, we mount the blower door frame and fan in a central exterior door, using it to depressurize to 50 Pascals for exact airflow readings. When the home reaches depressurization, outside air seeps in rapidly, helping identify leaks with greater accuracy. With a thermal imager, we identify cold or warm spots in walls, ceilings, and other surfaces that reveal air leakage into unconditioned spaces. Our team provides on-site repair using chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping, working with homeowners or contractors to fix visible air leakage problems. After completing sealing improvements, we retest immediately to ensure the desired blower door score is met and the home complies with efficiency standards in Gladwyne, PA.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Gladwyne, PA

For contractors arranging blower door test in Gladwyne, PA, most homes with professional insulation can handle small air leakage issues during the test itself. With materials such as chalk and spray foam on hand, minor leaks or gaps can usually be sealed immediately. In over 90% of cases, we are able to reach a passing blower door test score in under two hours and supply all necessary paperwork to finalize the building permit right away.

Schedule Your blower door test in Gladwyne, PA

Get trusted, professional, and certified blower door test in Gladwyne, PA from our experienced technicians. Whether you’re focused on comfort improvements or completing compliance checks, we ensure every test meets energy codes with precision and care.