Blower Door Test in Harleysville, PA

Improve insulation performance and meet energy code requirements through thorough blower door test in Harleysville, 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 designed to measure air changes per hour inside homes, promoting a balance between airtightness and necessary ventilation. An excessive rate of air changes can be inefficient because each time the air is replaced, it must be reheated or recooled, raising energy costs. Excessive air circulation may cause drafts, discomfort from leaks, and indoor problems like condensation, mold, and moisture damage. A blower door test in Harleysville, PA locates leaks and inefficiencies quickly, allowing homeowners to enhance energy performance and create a cozier living space.

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How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

To perform blower door test in Harleysville, PA, all exterior doors and windows are tightly sealed, while interior doors remain open to promote balanced airflow throughout the home. One main exterior door is identified, and an adjustable aluminum frame with a fabric panel is securely attached. A calibrated fan is placed within the frame and operated to depressurize the structure to 50 Pascals — nearly the same as a 20 mph wind hitting the building.

As the fan exhausts indoor air, outside air starts seeping into the home through small leaks and gaps. A nanometer is used to detect and compare the pressure created by the fan with the air pressure inside the structure. The pressure data is turned into air changes per hour (ACH), a measure of how efficiently and tightly the home is sealed in PA.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

In Harleysville, PA, new construction typically follows the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or an updated edition implemented by local codes. To meet efficiency standards in most areas, homes should record 3 air changes per hour or less on a blower door test. Achieving compliance in your blower door test in Harleysville, PA helps improve energy efficiency and meet all local code mandates.

Why Do I Need A Blower Door Test?

Throughout PA, the IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) is followed, making blower door test compulsory for new and renovated homes. We specialize in helping home builders, contractors, and homeowners with blower door test in Harleysville, PA to achieve energy code compliance and finalize inspections. A duct leakage test is sometimes required if any HVAC components or duct lines are found beyond the building’s thermal envelope. Learn more about energy code compliance.

Homeowners who choose blower door test in Harleysville, PA can easily locate leaks. As the fan depressurizes the home, airflow through gaps becomes apparent, exposing areas needing improvement. 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 PA.

How To Pass A Blower Door Test:

  • Anticipate potential air leaks before testing begins.
  • Install a quality air barrier like Tyvek or Zip Sheathing and confirm that all joints and seams are completely taped.
  • Install correctly rated insulation with the proper R-value and confirm it’s well positioned in every part of 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.
  • Properly seal all connections between conditioned and unconditioned zones, including basements, crawl spaces, and attics.
  • Local building authorities commonly offer checklists to verify code compliance — review the Philadelphia example here.
  • With the help of thermal imaging tools, caulk, and spray foam, Local Energy Audits efficiently detects and seals leaks on-site./li>
  • We achieve a passing score within two hours in more than 90% of tests and issue the documents to close the building permit.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Harleysville, PA

To prepare for blower door test in Harleysville, PA, we start by turning off the heating and cooling system, along with all bathroom fans and kitchen 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. After sealing everything, we install the blower door frame and fan in a central exterior door and use it to depressurize the home to 50 Pascals for accurate airflow data. Once depressurization is achieved, the inflow of outside air intensifies, making air leaks easier to find and fix. Using a thermal imager, we easily locate air leaks by noting temperature differences on walls, ceilings, and other surfaces adjacent to unconditioned spaces. Our team provides on-site repair using chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping, working with homeowners or contractors to fix visible air leakage problems. After sealing the identified leaks, we retest right away to confirm that the desired blower door score meets local energy performance standards in Harleysville, PA.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Harleysville, PA

For contractors scheduling blower door test in Harleysville, PA, most professionally insulated homes can quickly fix minor issues on-site during the testing process. Using quick-application materials like chalk and spray foam, small leaks or openings are sealed right during testing. In more than 90% of cases, we achieve a passing blower door test score within two hours and deliver all documents needed to finalize the permit without any delay.

Schedule Your blower door test in Harleysville, PA

Receive professional, accurate, and certified blower door test in Harleysville, PA from our highly skilled technicians. Whether you’re improving a home’s efficiency or ensuring code compliance for a project, we perform every test with professionalism and attention to detail.