Blower Door Test in Wilmington, DE

Make sure your home meets airtightness and efficiency goals with certified blower door test in Wilmington, DE. Our certified team helps homeowners, builders, and contractors locate air leaks, enhance indoor comfort, and meet all DE energy efficiency requirements.

What Is A Blower Door Test?

A blower door test is performed to identify the rate of air changes per hour, confirming your home receives a healthy exchange of fresh air. Too many air changes, however, can be detrimental because every time the air is replaced, it must be reheated or recooled, leading to higher energy use and lower efficiency. Too much ventilation can create drafts, discomfort, and unwanted effects like condensation, moisture accumulation, and mold inside your home. A blower door test in Wilmington, DE detects early-stage air leaks, enabling effective energy use and a more durable, comfortable living environment.

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How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

For accurate blower door test in Wilmington, DE, technicians close all exterior openings and keep interior doors open to balance airflow throughout the house. A single central exterior door is designated, where the blower door’s aluminum frame and fabric panel are set up. A calibrated fan is fitted into the frame and depressurizes the home to 50 Pascals, mimicking the pressure caused by a 20 mph wind.

When air is drawn out by the fan, outdoor air seeps in through unsealed joints and hidden cracks. By employing a nanometer, we measure the variance between the fan’s pressure and the internal home pressure. These figures are calculated into air changes per hour (ACH), reflecting how well the home prevents air loss and maintains efficiency in DE conditions.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

In Wilmington, DE, residential buildings must meet the benchmarks set by the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or any newer codes adopted locally. In most regions, homes must achieve 3 air changes per hour or less on a blower door test to meet energy efficiency standards. Achieving this goal during your blower door test in Wilmington, DE promotes energy savings and demonstrates adherence to local building rules.

Why Do I Need A Blower Door Test?

DE and local city codes follow the IECC (International Energy Conservation Code), which mandates blower door tests on residential buildings after construction or renovation. Our company assists home builders, contractors, and homeowners who rely on blower door test in Wilmington, DE to fulfill energy code compliance and finalize construction permits. A duct leakage test is often required whenever ducts or HVAC units are found outside the building’s thermal envelope. Learn more about energy code compliance.

Homeowners benefit from blower door test in Wilmington, DE because depressurization exposes airflow through cracks, helping identify leaks and boost efficiency. A blower door test may take just a few hours, yet its long-lasting impact can greatly improve your home’s comfort and energy use across DE’ hot summers and cool winters.

How To Pass A Blower Door Test:

  • Anticipate potential air leaks before testing begins.
  • Choose an appropriate air barrier, like Tyvek or Zip Sheathing, and ensure all seams are accurately and securely taped.
  • Use insulation of the correct R-value and confirm that it’s tightly installed throughout every section of 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 all openings between conditioned and unconditioned areas, including basements, attics, and crawl spaces.
  • Many local municipalities issue code compliance checklists — the Philadelphia example is available here.
  • Local Energy Audits uses thermal imaging tools, caulk, and spray foam to detect and seal leaks directly on-site./li>
  • Typically, over 90% of the time we record a passing score in two hours and handle all permit-related documentation.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Wilmington, DE

For blower door test in Wilmington, DE, preparation includes turning off all heating and air conditioning units, plus bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans. Next, a brief home walkthrough ensures every exterior door and window is closed — even those opening to unconditioned areas like garages or basements outside the thermal envelope. After sealing the home, the blower door fan is installed in a central exterior doorway and used to lower pressure to 50 Pascals to measure airflow and leakage effectively. After depressurization, air from outside rushes in through cracks and gaps, making leak detection much easier. A thermal imager helps highlight problem zones by detecting temperature variations in walls, ceilings, and areas connected to unconditioned spaces. We bring the tools and materials—chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping—to work with homeowners or contractors in fixing visible air leakage issues immediately. Once air leaks are sealed, we quickly retest to determine if the desired blower door score has been achieved, ensuring your home meets Wilmington, DE efficiency codes.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Wilmington, DE

For contractors overseeing blower door test in Wilmington, DE, most properly insulated homes can manage small on-site repairs during testing. With chalk and spray foam on hand, our crew can seal small leaks or gaps almost instantly. In over 90% of cases, we reach a passing blower door test score in two hours and issue the required documentation for quick permit closure.

Schedule Your blower door test in Wilmington, DE

Experience prompt, professional, and certified blower door test in Wilmington, DE from our knowledgeable team. Whether you’re enhancing indoor comfort or finalizing a construction permit, we conduct every test with accuracy, care, and full compliance with energy standards.