Blower Door Test in Narberth, PA

Ensure your property meets energy codes and maintains efficiency through expert blower door test in Narberth, PA. Our licensed professionals help homeowners, builders, and contractors identify air leaks, enhance comfort, and achieve PA energy compliance.

What Is A Blower Door Test?

A blower door test is performed to record air changes per hour in buildings, confirming that fresh air regularly replaces stale indoor air. When the air changes too often, energy efficiency drops since the system must continuously reheat or recool the air inside. 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 Narberth, PA helps homeowners and builders find and fix leaks promptly, boosting energy efficiency and indoor comfort for years to come.

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How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

To carry out blower door test in Narberth, PA, exterior doors and windows are fully closed, and interior doors are left open for even air distribution in the home. A central door to the outside is selected, and an adjustable aluminum frame with a fabric cover is installed there. A calibrated fan is connected to the frame, lowering the home’s internal pressure to 50 Pascals, roughly matching a 20 mph wind force.

As the fan exhausts indoor air, outside air starts seeping into the home through small leaks and gaps. With a nanometer, we record and compare the pressure produced by the fan to the pressure inside the house. These measurements are used to calculate air changes per hour (ACH), which reflects the home’s airtightness and performance under PA weather.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

In Narberth, PA, energy efficiency standards for homes are based on the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or more recent updates approved by the jurisdiction. Generally, a blower door test result of 3 air changes per hour or less is considered acceptable, ensuring proper energy performance. Achieving this standard in your blower door test in Narberth, PA lowers utility bills and guarantees adherence to local code requirements.

Why Do I Need A Blower Door Test?

PA state regulations and many municipalities abide by the IECC, enforcing blower door tests for newly constructed or renovated homes. We specialize in helping home builders, contractors, and homeowners with blower door test in Narberth, PA to achieve energy code compliance and finalize inspections. A duct leakage test requirement applies if ducts or HVAC units are positioned outside the structure’s thermal envelope. Learn more about energy code compliance.

With blower door test in Narberth, PA, homeowners can pinpoint hidden air leaks. The depressurization process makes them obvious, enabling better sealing and lower energy costs. This simple test, completed in a few hours, creates a long-lasting impact on your home’s efficiency and comfort during PA’ hot and cold months.

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.
  • Use insulation featuring the proper R-value and verify complete, gap-free coverage across 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.
  • Make sure to seal all separations between conditioned and unconditioned areas, including crawl spaces, basements, and attics.
  • Many local building offices offer a step-by-step checklist to confirm compliance — view the Philadelphia sample here.
  • Local Energy Audits arrives fully equipped with thermal imaging, caulk, and spray foam to detect and seal leaks in one visit./li>
  • Over 90% of the time, we achieve a passing score in under two hours and provide all required documentation to finalize the building permit.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Narberth, PA

When preparing for blower door test in Narberth, PA, we first switch off the home’s heating, cooling, and exhaust systems. 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. 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 pressure is lowered, outdoor air moves in with greater force, highlighting problem areas and leaks. A thermal imager helps highlight problem zones by detecting temperature variations in walls, ceilings, and areas connected to unconditioned spaces. Using chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping, we assist homeowners and contractors in addressing visible air leakage areas on-site. After sealing, we can immediately retest to confirm whether the desired blower door score has been reached, ensuring your home complies with local energy efficiency standards in Narberth, PA.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Narberth, PA

For contractors overseeing blower door test in Narberth, PA, most properly insulated homes can manage small on-site repairs during testing. 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 Narberth, PA

Get dependable, efficient, and certified blower door test in Narberth, PA performed by our qualified and experienced experts. Whether you’re optimizing home comfort or finalizing construction approval, every test we perform adheres to energy code requirements with precision.