Blower Door Test in Ferndale, PA

Verify your home’s airtightness and meet energy-efficiency standards with a professional blower door test in Ferndale, PA. Our certified experts assist homeowners, builders, and contractors in improving comfort, sealing leaks, and meeting PA energy code requirements.

What Is A Blower Door Test?

A blower door test helps determine the air changes per hour to confirm that your home has sufficient fresh air replacement. Excessive air changes can cause problems since each exchange requires reheating or recooling, resulting in greater energy consumption and reduced efficiency. Frequent air changes can cause drafts and discomfort from leaks, increasing the risk of indoor mold and condensation. A blower door test in Ferndale, PA assists in finding and sealing air leaks early to improve home comfort, energy efficiency, and overall durability.

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How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

To conduct blower door test in Ferndale, PA, exterior doors and windows are closed properly, while interior doors remain open to help maintain even air movement. Technicians select one central exterior door and install an adjustable aluminum frame along with a fabric panel for testing. A calibrated fan is then attached to the frame and used to depressurize the home to 50 Pascals, which is about the same as a steady 20 mph wind pushing against the structure.

As the fan removes air, outside air naturally flows inside through leaks, joints, and other gaps. A nanometer precisely gauges the pressure applied by the fan in relation to the home’s internal air pressure. Measurements are expressed as air changes per hour (ACH), showing how effectively the home retains conditioned air in the PA environment.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

Construction in Ferndale, PA must comply with the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or updated versions recognized by local authorities. An acceptable blower door test result in most areas is 3 air changes per hour or less, demonstrating solid energy performance. Passing this requirement during a blower door test in Ferndale, PA keeps your home efficient and aligned with local building code standards.

Why Do I Need A Blower Door Test?

The State of PA and numerous local municipalities adhere to the IECC (International Energy Conservation Code), which mandates blower door test for all newly built or renovated residential homes. We work closely with home builders, contractors, and homeowners who need blower door test in Ferndale, PA to ensure compliance and successful project completion. You may be required to perform a duct leakage test if HVAC components are situated outside the home’s thermal envelope. Learn more about energy code compliance.

Homeowners benefit from blower door test in Ferndale, PA because depressurization exposes airflow through cracks, helping identify leaks and boost efficiency. In only a few hours, a blower door test can deliver a long-lasting impact on energy efficiency, comfort, and indoor performance throughout PA’ changing seasons.

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.
  • Install insulation of the appropriate R-value and inspect to confirm it’s correctly fitted in all envelope areas.
  • Seal all penetrations in exterior walls using caulk or spray foam.
  • Ensure doors and windows are properly installed, caulked, and weather-sealed.
  • Properly seal all connections between conditioned and unconditioned zones, including basements, crawl spaces, and attics.
  • Many local municipalities issue code compliance checklists — the Philadelphia example is available here.
  • With caulk, spray foam, and advanced thermal imaging, Local Energy Audits locates and seals leaks efficiently on-site./li>
  • In over 90% of tests, we obtain a passing score within two hours and issue all paperwork required for permit closure.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Ferndale, PA

Before conducting blower door test in Ferndale, PA, we make sure all heating, cooling, and ventilation fans are switched off. A brief walkthrough follows, during which we verify all exterior windows and doors — even those leading to unconditioned spaces — are closed tight to preserve 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 house is depressurized, outside air begins entering faster, exposing hidden leaks more effectively. A thermal imager allows precise detection of problem areas by mapping temperature contrasts in walls, ceilings, and surfaces facing unconditioned areas. Our technicians bring chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping supplies to handle visible air leakage issues directly with homeowners or contractors on-site. Once leaks are addressed, we perform another test to confirm the desired blower door score and verify compliance with local efficiency regulations in Ferndale, PA.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Ferndale, PA

Most professionally insulated homes undergoing blower door test in Ferndale, PA can resolve small issues on-site during the contractor’s visit. 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 Ferndale, PA

Count on our team for fast, professional, and certified blower door test in Ferndale, PA with dependable results. 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.