Blower Door Test in Pike Creek Valley, DE

Detect hidden air leaks and improve efficiency with professional blower door test in Pike Creek Valley, DE. Our certified technicians support homeowners, builders, and contractors in finding hidden leaks, improving comfort, and ensuring compliance with DE energy codes.

What Is A Blower Door Test?

A blower door test is performed to record air changes per hour in buildings, confirming that fresh air regularly replaces stale indoor air. Too many air changes can negatively impact efficiency, as every replacement of indoor air demands additional heating or cooling energy. Excessive air leakage can cause drafts, reduce comfort, and contribute to issues like condensation, moisture, and mold inside the home. A blower door test in Pike Creek Valley, DE helps spot air leaks before they worsen, improving efficiency, comfort, and long-term structural quality.

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How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

For accurate blower door test in Pike Creek Valley, DE, technicians close all exterior openings and keep interior doors open to balance airflow throughout the house. One chosen exterior door is equipped with an adjustable aluminum frame and fabric panel for test installation. Next, a calibrated fan is mounted on the frame to reduce indoor pressure to 50 Pascals — similar to the force of a 20 mph wind on the building.

As air is drawn out by the fan, it causes outdoor air to infiltrate through existing leaks and gaps in the structure. With the help of a nanometer, we determine the pressure difference between the fan’s airflow and the home’s internal conditions. These readings produce the air changes per hour (ACH) value, indicating both the home’s airtightness and efficiency within the DE climate.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

In Pike Creek Valley, DE, compliance with the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or subsequent locally adopted versions is typically mandatory for residential properties. Most areas recognize 3 air changes per hour or less as the target blower door test value to ensure energy efficiency. By meeting this standard in your blower door test in Pike Creek Valley, DE, you can enjoy lower utility bills and peace of mind with code compliance.

Why Do I Need A Blower Door Test?

Following the IECC guidelines, DE and many local jurisdictions require blower door test on newly built or renovated residential dwellings. We regularly provide blower door test in Pike Creek Valley, DE for home builders, contractors, and homeowners working to meet local code requirements and close permits. You might also need a duct leakage test if HVAC systems or ducts are positioned outside the property’s thermal envelope. Learn more about energy code compliance.

Homeowners can greatly benefit from blower door test in Pike Creek Valley, DE. The depressurization process makes air leaks noticeable, helping pinpoint trouble areas and improve energy efficiency. Though a blower door test lasts just a few hours, it offers a long-lasting impact on your home’s comfort, durability, and performance year-round in DE.

How To Pass A Blower Door Test:

  • Anticipate potential air leaks before testing begins.
  • Apply an effective air barrier such as Tyvek or Zip Sheathing, ensuring every seam is tightly sealed with proper tape.
  • Apply the correct R-value insulation and verify that it’s properly fitted to seal the whole 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.
  • Many local municipalities issue code compliance checklists — the Philadelphia example is available 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 the time, our team delivers a passing score in less than two hours and completes the necessary permit paperwork.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Pike Creek Valley, DE

As part of preparing for blower door test in Pike Creek Valley, DE, we power down the HVAC system along with kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans. We continue with a walkthrough inspection to confirm every exterior door and window is firmly closed — especially those to unconditioned spaces outside the thermal envelope. After all openings are closed, we choose a central exterior door, install the blower door frame and fan, and depressurize the house to 50 Pascals to gauge airflow. After depressurization, air from outside rushes in through cracks and gaps, making leak detection much easier. With the help of a thermal imager, we can uncover leaks and weak spots by spotting temperature differences across walls, ceilings, and surfaces near unconditioned spaces. We carry chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping so our team can work alongside homeowners or contractors to seal visible air leakage spots right away. After sealing, we can immediately retest to confirm whether the desired blower door score has been reached, ensuring your home complies with local energy efficiency standards in Pike Creek Valley, DE.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Pike Creek Valley, DE

Contractors scheduling blower door test in Pike Creek Valley, DE often see that homes with proper insulation can correct minor air leaks while testing is underway. Using materials like chalk and spray foam, small leaks or gaps can typically be sealed right away during the test. In over 90% of cases, we successfully achieve a passing blower door test score within just two hours and promptly deliver all required documentation to close out the building permit without any delay.

Schedule Your blower door test in Pike Creek Valley, DE

Receive professional, accurate, and certified blower door test in Pike Creek Valley, DE from our highly skilled technicians. Whether you’re improving comfort as a homeowner or completing a project as a contractor, we guarantee every test is performed with accuracy and full energy code compliance.