Blower Door Test in Fountainville, PA

Assess your home’s air sealing and energy standards with trusted blower door test in Fountainville, PA. Our certified technicians support homeowners, builders, and contractors in finding hidden leaks, improving comfort, and ensuring compliance with PA energy codes.

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. When a home experiences excessive air changes, the HVAC system must reheat or recool more frequently, increasing energy use and reducing efficiency. Excessive air circulation may cause drafts, discomfort from leaks, and indoor problems like condensation, mold, and moisture damage. A blower door test in Fountainville, PA helps uncover these issues early, enabling homeowners and builders to detect air leaks, enhance energy efficiency, and ensure a more comfortable, long-lasting home.

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How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

In preparation for blower door test in Fountainville, PA, all exterior entry points are sealed, and interior doors are left open to allow consistent air circulation. An adjustable aluminum frame and sturdy fabric panel are installed in one central exterior door to prepare for testing. A calibrated fan is connected to the frame, lowering the home’s internal pressure to 50 Pascals, roughly matching a 20 mph wind force.

When indoor air is extracted, outdoor air pushes in through every leak and small gap in the building. A sensitive nanometer is used to monitor and compare the pressure difference between the blower fan and the home’s interior air. These values are expressed as air changes per hour (ACH), a key measure of the home’s airtightness and its energy performance under PA conditions.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

Homes built in Fountainville, PA are expected to comply with the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or any newer local versions in effect. In most jurisdictions, 3 air changes per hour or less is the benchmark for acceptable blower door test results and energy efficiency. Meeting this requirement during your blower door test in Fountainville, PA helps reduce energy costs while keeping your home compliant with local building codes.

Why Do I Need A Blower Door Test?

The State of PA, together with many cities and counties, enforces the IECC (International Energy Conservation Code), which calls for blower door test on new or renovated residential properties. We regularly provide blower door test in Fountainville, PA for home builders, contractors, and homeowners working to meet local code requirements and close permits. 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.

Homeowners who choose blower door test in Fountainville, PA can easily locate leaks. As the fan depressurizes the home, airflow through gaps becomes apparent, exposing areas needing improvement. A short blower door test can result in a long-lasting impact on your home’s energy efficiency, comfort, and year-round performance in PA.

How To Pass A Blower Door Test:

  • Anticipate potential air leaks before testing begins.
  • Use a reliable air barrier like Tyvek or Zip Sheathing and make sure all seams are securely taped.
  • Use properly rated insulation with the right R-value and ensure consistent coverage throughout 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.
  • Ensure all penetrations between conditioned and unconditioned areas—like attics, basements, and crawl spaces—are tightly sealed.
  • Many local building offices offer a step-by-step checklist to confirm compliance — view the Philadelphia sample 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 our tests result in a passing score within two hours, along with immediate permit documentation.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Fountainville, PA

Preparation for blower door test in Fountainville, PA includes turning off the air conditioning, heating, and all exhaust fans to ensure accurate results. Next, we check the home thoroughly to ensure all exterior openings — even those leading to garages or unfinished basements — are securely closed and within the thermal envelope. Once everything is sealed, we choose a centrally located exterior door and set up the blower door frame and fan. The fan then depressurizes the home to 50 Pascals, allowing us to measure airflow and leakage precisely. Once depressurization is achieved, the inflow of outside air intensifies, making air leaks easier to find and fix. A thermal imager helps us identify air leakage points by revealing temperature shifts in walls, ceilings, and surfaces adjoining unconditioned areas. With chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping materials on hand, we partner with homeowners and contractors to repair visible air leakage issues on the spot. After sealing the identified leaks, we retest right away to confirm that the desired blower door score meets local energy performance standards in Fountainville, PA.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Fountainville, PA

Contractors planning blower door test in Fountainville, PA can expect most professionally insulated homes to address small issues easily during the testing phase. 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 Fountainville, PA

Get trusted, professional, and certified blower door test in Fountainville, PA from our experienced 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.