Blower Door Test in Kennett Square, PA

Ensure your home is sealed properly and energy-efficient with quality blower door test in Kennett Square, PA. Our certified specialists support homeowners, builders, and contractors by locating hidden air leaks, improving efficiency, and achieving PA energy code compliance.

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. 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. When air changes occur too often, they can result in drafts, air leakage discomfort, and moisture-related problems such as condensation and mold. A blower door test in Kennett Square, PA allows early detection of air leaks, helping homeowners and builders boost efficiency and maintain a comfortable, durable living environment.

What Our Clients Say

How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

While performing blower door test in Kennett Square, PA, technicians make sure exterior doors and windows are shut tight and interior doors are open for uniform pressure. A main exterior door is selected for setup, with an adjustable aluminum frame and fitted fabric panel placed in position. A calibrated fan is fitted into the frame and depressurizes the home to 50 Pascals, mimicking the pressure caused by a 20 mph wind.

As the fan expels air, the resulting pressure draws outdoor air in through hidden leaks and unsealed joints. By employing a nanometer, we measure the variance between the fan’s pressure and the internal home pressure. The gathered results are converted into air changes per hour (ACH) to determine how well-sealed and efficient the home is in the PA climate.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

Construction in Kennett Square, 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. Meeting this requirement during your blower door test in Kennett Square, 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 and its local governments follow the IECC standards, which require blower door test on newly built or remodeled residential dwellings. Our team frequently assists home builders, contractors, and homeowners performing blower door test in Kennett Square, PA to verify compliance and secure permit approval. 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 who choose blower door test in Kennett Square, PA can easily locate leaks. As the fan depressurizes the home, airflow through gaps becomes apparent, exposing areas needing improvement. A blower door test, typically lasting only a few hours, offers a long-lasting impact on your home’s performance, efficiency, and comfort across PA’ seasons.

How To Pass A Blower Door Test:

  • Anticipate potential air leaks before testing begins.
  • Use high-quality air barrier materials like Tyvek or Zip Sheathing and confirm all seams are perfectly taped.
  • Ensure insulation with the specified R-value is properly installed and fitted throughout the entire building envelope.
  • Seal all penetrations in exterior walls using caulk or spray foam.
  • Ensure doors and windows are properly installed, caulked, and weather-sealed.
  • Close any gaps connecting conditioned and unconditioned spaces, such as those leading to basements, attics, or crawl spaces.
  • Many cities provide compliance checklists through their building departments — see the Philadelphia version here.
  • Local Energy Audits uses thermal imaging tools, caulk, and spray foam to detect and seal leaks directly on-site./li>
  • More than 90% of the time, our team delivers a passing score in less than two hours and completes the necessary permit paperwork.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Kennett Square, PA

As part of preparing for blower door test in Kennett Square, PA, we power down the HVAC system along with kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans. We proceed with a quick home walkthrough, checking that every exterior door and window is tightly shut — including ones that lead to unfinished or unconditioned spaces outside the thermal envelope. After sealing the home, we install the blower door frame and fan in a central exterior doorway. The fan depressurizes the home to 50 Pascals to provide accurate airflow and leakage readings. After depressurization, air infiltration from outdoors increases, allowing faster and more accurate leak detection. Through the use of a thermal imager, we find problem zones by detecting uneven temperatures in walls, ceilings, and surfaces connected to unconditioned spaces. We’re fully equipped with chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping to collaborate with homeowners or contractors in correcting visible air leakage issues immediately. After the sealing process, we can promptly retest to confirm if the desired blower door score has been reached, meeting Kennett Square, PA energy code requirements.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Kennett Square, PA

For contractors overseeing blower door test in Kennett Square, PA, most properly insulated homes can manage small on-site repairs during testing. With readily available sealing materials like chalk and spray foam, we can repair minor leaks or gaps on the spot. In more than 90% of cases, our team secures a passing blower door test score within two hours and provides full documentation to complete the permit without any delay.

Schedule Your blower door test in Kennett Square, PA

Trust our experienced team for quick, accurate, and certified blower door test in Kennett Square, PA. Whether you’re a homeowner seeking greater comfort or a contractor finalizing a permit, we ensure every test meets energy code requirements with precision and professionalism.