Blower Door Test in New Castle, DE

Verify your home’s airtightness and meet energy-efficiency standards with a professional blower door test in New Castle, DE. Our experts help homeowners, builders, and contractors pinpoint air leaks, improve efficiency, and comply with DE building energy standards.

What Is A Blower Door Test?

A blower door test helps calculate air changes per hour in your property. This natural air exchange process refreshes the indoor environment with new 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. Excessive air leakage can cause drafts, reduce comfort, and contribute to issues like condensation, moisture, and mold inside the home. A blower door test in New Castle, DE enables early identification of air leaks, helping improve comfort, durability, and energy savings.

888 213-3975

What Our Clients Say

How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

In blower door test in New Castle, DE, every exterior door and window is shut, while interior doors stay open to allow uniform airflow inside the building. Technicians install a fabric panel and adjustable aluminum frame into one central exterior door opening. Next, a calibrated fan is mounted on the frame to reduce indoor pressure to 50 Pascals — similar to the force of a 20 mph wind on the building.

When indoor air is extracted, outdoor air pushes in through every leak and small gap in the building. Using a highly accurate nanometer, we compare the fan-induced pressure to the natural air pressure inside the home. The data collected is translated into air changes per hour (ACH), showing the home’s airtightness and overall energy efficiency in DE conditions.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

Properties in New Castle, DE must meet the efficiency guidelines of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or the latest version adopted locally. In most cases, passing the blower door test means reaching 3 air changes per hour or less, proving efficient home sealing. Reaching the target during your blower door test in New Castle, DE guarantees lower energy consumption and full code compliance.

Why Do I Need A Blower Door Test?

In accordance with the IECC, the State of DE and various local authorities require blower door test for new or remodeled residential properties. We routinely help home builders, contractors, and homeowners requiring blower door test in New Castle, DE for energy code compliance and permit closure. A duct leakage test could be required when air ducts or HVAC units extend outside the structure’s thermal envelope. Learn more about energy code compliance.

A blower door test in New Castle, DE helps homeowners discover inefficiencies. Depressurizing the home makes leaks more noticeable and highlights where energy can be conserved. Although it’s a short process, a blower door test produces a long-lasting impact by improving comfort and lowering energy costs throughout DE’ climate extremes.

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.
Ensure the insulation used meets the proper R-value and is well fitted throughout the structure’s building envelope.
Seal all penetrations in exterior walls using caulk or spray foam.
Ensure doors and windows are properly installed, caulked, and weather-sealed.
Eliminate air leaks by sealing all openings between conditioned areas and unconditioned spaces, including basements and attics.
Local building departments often supply a detailed checklist to ensure compliance — you can download the Philadelphia example here for guidance.
With the help of thermal imaging tools, caulk, and spray foam, Local Energy Audits efficiently detects and seals leaks on-site./li>
Typically, over 90% of the time we record a passing score in two hours and handle all permit-related documentation.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in New Castle, DE

Preparation for blower door test in New Castle, DE includes turning off the air conditioning, heating, and all exhaust fans to ensure accurate results. 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. Once the home is prepared, we mount the blower door fan and frame in a central exterior doorway and depressurize the building to 50 Pascals to measure air leakage precisely. When depressurization is complete, outside air flows in swiftly, allowing easy detection of leakage spots. A thermal imager allows precise detection of problem areas by mapping temperature contrasts in walls, ceilings, and surfaces facing unconditioned areas. We carry all necessary materials, including chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping, to collaborate with homeowners or contractors on visible air leakage repairs during testing. Once leaks are addressed, we perform another test to confirm the desired blower door score and verify compliance with local efficiency regulations in New Castle, DE.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in New Castle, DE

During blower door test in New Castle, DE, contractors will find that well-insulated homes can manage minor issues directly on-site. Using simple yet effective materials like chalk and spray foam, we can seal most small leaks or gaps right during testing. In over 90% of cases, we achieve a passing blower door test score within two hours and issue the full documentation needed to complete the building permit process on the same day.

888 213-3975

Schedule Your blower door test in New Castle, DE

Rely on our expert team for accurate, efficient, and certified blower door test in New Castle, DE. Whether you’re optimizing home comfort or finalizing construction approval, every test we perform adheres to energy code requirements with precision.

📞 Call 888-213-3975 ✉️ Contact Us