Blower Door Test in Glenolden, PA

Confirm your home’s energy performance and identify leaks through accurate blower door test in Glenolden, 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 calculates the rate of air changes per hour in a property, verifying that proper ventilation keeps air fresh and clean. Frequent air replacement can harm energy performance, as each exchange requires reheating or recooling the air. Too much ventilation can create drafts, discomfort, and unwanted effects like condensation, moisture accumulation, and mold inside your home. A blower door test in Glenolden, PA helps discover hidden leaks early so homeowners can save energy, enhance comfort, and improve home resilience.

What Our Clients Say

How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

When conducting blower door test in Glenolden, PA, technicians close all exterior doors and windows and keep interior doors open for consistent air movement. A central door to the outside is selected, and an adjustable aluminum frame with a fabric cover is installed there. A calibrated fan mounted on the frame reduces the home’s pressure to 50 Pascals, simulating the force of a continuous 20 mph wind.

As air is drawn out by the fan, it causes outdoor air to infiltrate through existing leaks and gaps in the structure. A precise tool called a nanometer is used to compare the pressure generated by the fan with that inside the home. The data collected is translated into air changes per hour (ACH), showing the home’s airtightness and overall energy efficiency in PA conditions.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

Homes in Glenolden, PA are typically required to follow the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or the most recent version adopted locally. An efficient home in most regions will achieve 3 air changes per hour or less during a blower door test. Reaching the target during your blower door test in Glenolden, PA guarantees lower energy consumption and full code compliance.

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. Our team frequently assists home builders, contractors, and homeowners performing blower door test in Glenolden, PA to verify compliance and secure permit approval. In some cases, a duct leakage test is needed if ducts or HVAC systems lie outside the home’s thermal envelope. Learn more about energy code compliance.

Performing blower door test in Glenolden, PA allows homeowners to identify and fix leaks. The test makes air infiltration visible, uncovering opportunities to reduce energy loss. Typically completed within a few hours, a blower door test provides a long-lasting impact on comfort, energy efficiency, and overall home performance in PA’ varied climate.

How To Pass A Blower Door Test:

  • Anticipate potential air leaks before testing begins.
  • Apply an air barrier like Tyvek or Zip Sheathing, making sure all connecting seams are properly taped and sealed.
  • 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.
  • Ensure all penetrations between conditioned and unconditioned areas—like attics, basements, and crawl spaces—are tightly sealed.
  • Building departments typically release step-by-step compliance lists — download the Philadelphia sample here as an example.
  • Our team at Local Energy Audits employs thermal imaging, caulk, and spray foam to locate and repair leaks efficiently on-site./li>
  • In the majority of cases—over 90%—we reach a passing score within two hours and provide all closing documentation.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Glenolden, PA

When preparing for blower door test in Glenolden, PA, we first switch off the home’s heating, cooling, and exhaust systems. 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. With the home sealed, we select a main exterior door, install the blower door setup, and use the fan to depressurize to 50 Pascals, enabling accurate airflow measurement. When the home reaches depressurization, outside air seeps in rapidly, helping identify leaks with greater accuracy. By employing a thermal imager, we detect heat loss by identifying temperature variations in walls, ceilings, and other surfaces leading to unconditioned zones. We’re fully equipped with chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping to collaborate with homeowners or contractors in correcting visible air leakage issues immediately. After sealing, we perform a follow-up test to determine if the desired blower door score meets the efficiency standards required in Glenolden, PA.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Glenolden, PA

Contractors planning blower door test in Glenolden, PA can expect most professionally insulated homes to address small issues easily during the testing phase. Using easy-to-apply materials like chalk and spray foam, we can correct small leaks or gaps during the test itself. In over 90% of cases, we successfully reach a passing blower door test score within two hours and hand over all necessary paperwork for immediate permit closure.

Schedule Your blower door test in Glenolden, PA

Trust our experienced team for quick, accurate, and certified blower door test in Glenolden, PA. Whether you’re a homeowner improving comfort or a contractor completing inspection requirements, our tests meet energy codes with careful attention to detail.