Blower Door Test in Cheswold, DE

Ensure your property meets energy codes and maintains efficiency through expert blower door test in Cheswold, DE. Our certified technicians provide homeowners, builders, and contractors with expert air leak detection, better comfort, and complete DE energy code compliance.

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. Having too many air changes can waste energy because each new cycle demands the air be reheated or recooled, cutting overall efficiency. Too many air changes can create drafts and discomfort due to leaks and may also lead to condensation, moisture buildup, and mold growth indoors. A blower door test in Cheswold, DE allows early detection of air leaks, helping homeowners and builders boost efficiency and maintain a comfortable, durable living environment.

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How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

For blower door test in Cheswold, DE, all outside doors and windows are closed properly, and inside doors are kept open to balance air pressure throughout the space. A single central exterior door is designated, where the blower door’s aluminum frame and fabric panel are set up. The mounted calibrated fan depressurizes the building to 50 Pascals, a condition similar to the effect of a 20 mph wind.

As the fan removes air, outside air naturally flows inside through leaks, joints, and other gaps. With the help of a nanometer, we determine the pressure difference between the fan’s airflow and the home’s internal conditions. The gathered results are converted into air changes per hour (ACH) to determine how well-sealed and efficient the home is in the DE climate.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

Construction in Cheswold, DE must comply with the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or updated versions recognized by local authorities. For most regions, achieving 3 air changes per hour or less on a blower door test ensures that the home is properly energy efficient. Passing this threshold during your blower door test in Cheswold, DE ensures both energy savings and full compliance with local regulations.

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. Our professionals frequently support home builders, contractors, and homeowners who need blower door test in Cheswold, DE to comply with energy codes and finalize projects. A duct leakage test can be required when ducts or HVAC components are installed outside the structure’s thermal envelope. Learn more about energy code compliance.

Using blower door test in Cheswold, DE, homeowners can detect unwanted airflow. The depressurization process reveals leaks, helping them seal gaps and increase comfort. 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.
  • Use a trusted air barrier like Tyvek or Zip Sheathing, ensuring all joints and seams are properly taped and sealed.
  • Use insulation that has the designated R-value and confirm it’s properly applied throughout the building envelope for maximum efficiency.
  • Seal all penetrations in exterior walls using caulk or spray foam.
  • Ensure doors and windows are properly installed, caulked, and weather-sealed.
  • Close any gaps connecting conditioned and unconditioned spaces, such as those leading to basements, attics, or crawl spaces.
  • Local jurisdictions frequently publish compliance checklists — the Philadelphia version can be downloaded here.
  • Local Energy Audits technicians carry thermal imaging devices, caulk, and spray foam to pinpoint and seal air leaks immediately./li>
  • More than 90% of the time, we deliver a passing score in under two hours and issue all documents needed for permit approval.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Cheswold, DE

To prepare a home for blower door test in Cheswold, DE, we shut off the HVAC system and disable all exhaust fans. We then perform a brief inspection throughout the home to make sure all exterior doors and windows are tightly shut — even those opening to garages, basements, or spaces outside the thermal envelope. Once the home is prepared, we mount the blower door fan and frame in a central exterior doorway and depressurize the building to 50 Pascals to measure air leakage precisely. When depressurization is complete, outside air flows in swiftly, allowing easy detection of leakage spots. Through the use of a thermal imager, we find problem zones by detecting uneven temperatures in walls, ceilings, and surfaces connected to unconditioned spaces. Our technicians bring chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping supplies to handle visible air leakage issues directly with homeowners or contractors on-site. We can retest right after sealing to check whether the desired blower door score has been met, ensuring full compliance with Cheswold, DE energy standards.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Cheswold, DE

For contractors overseeing blower door test in Cheswold, DE, most properly insulated homes can manage small on-site repairs during testing. By using materials such as chalk and spray foam, our team can fix small air leaks immediately on-site. In over 90% of cases, we reach a passing blower door test score in less than two hours and hand over the documents needed to close the building permit right away.

Schedule Your blower door test in Cheswold, DE

Choose our professional team for quick, accurate, and certified blower door test in Cheswold, DE. Whether you’re a homeowner seeking greater comfort or a contractor finalizing a permit, we ensure every test meets energy code requirements with precision and professionalism.