Blower Door Test in Bridgeville, DE

Test your home’s air barriers and meet energy regulations through dependable blower door test in Bridgeville, DE. Our qualified specialists help homeowners, builders, and contractors locate hidden leaks, improve comfort, and fulfill DE energy code standards.

What Is A Blower Door Test?

A blower door test quantifies how often indoor air is renewed through air changes per hour, helping maintain optimal ventilation. If air changes happen too often, it forces your system to reheat or recool the air repeatedly, wasting energy and lowering performance. Excessive air changes often cause drafts, discomfort, and humidity-related issues such as condensation and mold growth inside the home. A blower door test in Bridgeville, 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?

When blower door test in Bridgeville, DE is conducted, every exterior door and window is closed, and interior doors are left open to achieve uniform air movement inside. A central door to the outside is selected, and an adjustable aluminum frame with a fabric cover is installed there. A calibrated fan is installed onto the frame, creating a pressure difference of 50 Pascals, comparable to a continuous 20 mph wind blowing on the home.

As the fan exhausts indoor air, outside air starts seeping into the home through small leaks and gaps. A precise tool called a nanometer is used to compare the pressure generated by the fan with that inside the home. These readings are then converted into the total number of air changes per hour (ACH), revealing how airtight the home is and how well it performs in the DE climate.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

In Bridgeville, DE, residential buildings must meet the benchmarks set by the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or any newer codes adopted locally. In most areas, an acceptable blower door test result is 3 air changes per hour or less, confirming that the home achieves optimal energy efficiency. Satisfying this requirement in your blower door test in Bridgeville, DE helps optimize energy use and ensures you meet local building standards.

Why Do I Need A Blower Door Test?

The State of DE and local municipalities have implemented the IECC code, which mandates blower door test on new and remodeled residential homes. Our team regularly helps home builders, contractors, and homeowners seeking blower door test in Bridgeville, DE to satisfy energy code standards and close final inspections. 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.

Homeowners see real value in blower door test in Bridgeville, DE. As the fan draws air out, leaks become clear, making it easy to target repairs and improve efficiency. Taking only a few hours, a blower door test creates a long-lasting impact by improving comfort, performance, and efficiency in DEhomes.

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.
  • Ensure the insulation used meets the proper R-value and is well fitted throughout the structure’s building envelope.
  • Seal all penetrations in exterior walls using caulk or spray foam.
  • Ensure doors and windows are properly installed, caulked, and weather-sealed.
  • Make sure to seal all separations between conditioned and unconditioned areas, including crawl spaces, basements, and attics.
  • Local jurisdictions frequently publish compliance checklists — the Philadelphia version can be downloaded here.
  • At Local Energy Audits, we utilize thermal imaging equipment, caulk, and spray foam to identify and fix air leaks during testing./li>
  • Over 90% of our projects pass within two hours, with all required paperwork issued immediately to close the permit.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Bridgeville, DE

To ensure accuracy during blower door test in Bridgeville, DE, we begin by switching off the HVAC system and all exhaust fans in the home. Next, we conduct a quick walkthrough of the home, confirming that all exterior doors and windows are securely closed — including those to unfinished basements, garages, or any area outside 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. Once the home is depressurized, outside air starts infiltrating more forcefully, making it easier to spot air leaks. By employing a thermal imager, we detect heat loss by identifying temperature variations in walls, ceilings, and other surfaces leading to unconditioned zones. Using chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping, we assist homeowners and contractors in addressing visible air leakage areas on-site. After sealing the leaks, we can immediately run another test to verify that the desired blower door score meets the local efficiency standards for homes in Bridgeville, DE.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Bridgeville, DE

Contractors arranging blower door test in Bridgeville, DE will find that homes with professional insulation can typically resolve small issues right on-site during testing. Using materials like chalk and spray foam during the inspection, small leaks or gaps can be sealed right away. In over 90% of cases, we complete a passing blower door test score within two hours and provide the required paperwork to close out the building permit promptly.

Schedule Your blower door test in Bridgeville, DE

Get professional-grade, efficient, and certified blower door test in Bridgeville, DE handled by our experienced staff. 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.