Blower Door Test in Newtown Square, PA

Make sure your home meets airtightness and efficiency goals with certified blower door test in Newtown Square, 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 conducted to assess air changes per hour inside a home or structure, ensuring the right balance between air leakage and fresh airflow. Too many air exchanges make heating and cooling systems work harder, increasing energy consumption and lowering efficiency. Too much air movement from leaks can cause uncomfortable drafts, moisture accumulation, and mold or condensation issues indoors. A blower door test in Newtown Square, PA finds air leakage problems early, allowing better energy efficiency and enhanced indoor comfort for homeowners.

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How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

For blower door test in Newtown Square, PA, all outside doors and windows are closed properly, and inside doors are kept open to balance air pressure throughout the space. Technicians select one central exterior door and install an adjustable aluminum frame along with a fabric panel for testing. Once the frame is in place, a calibrated fan is used to bring the home’s pressure down to 50 Pascals — about the same as a 20 mph wind on the structure.

As the fan creates negative pressure, outside air infiltrates the home through gaps and small openings. Using an advanced nanometer, we evaluate the pressure difference between the fan system and the home’s interior environment. Measurements are expressed as air changes per hour (ACH), showing how effectively the home retains conditioned air in the PA environment.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

Construction in Newtown Square, PA must comply with the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or updated versions recognized by local authorities. Most areas recognize 3 air changes per hour or less as the target blower door test value to ensure energy efficiency. Meeting this level during your blower door test in Newtown Square, PA supports energy efficiency and verifies that your home meets local codes.

Why Do I Need A Blower Door Test?

In accordance with the IECC, the State of PA 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 Newtown Square, PA for energy code compliance and permit closure. 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 can greatly benefit from blower door test in Newtown Square, PA. The depressurization process makes air leaks noticeable, helping pinpoint trouble areas and improve energy efficiency. In only a few hours, a blower door test can deliver a long-lasting impact on energy efficiency, comfort, and indoor performance throughout PA’ changing seasons.

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 of the correct R-value and confirm that it’s tightly installed throughout every section 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.
  • Close gaps and penetrations between conditioned zones and unconditioned sections like attics, basements, and crawl spaces.
  • Local building departments often supply a detailed checklist to ensure compliance — you can download the Philadelphia example here for guidance.
  • Our team at Local Energy Audits employs thermal imaging, caulk, and spray foam to locate and repair leaks efficiently on-site./li>
  • We achieve a passing score within two hours in over 90% of cases and promptly issue the documents to finalize your permit.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Newtown Square, PA

To prepare a home for blower door test in Newtown Square, PA, we shut off the HVAC system and disable all exhaust fans. Next, we carefully walk through the property to make sure all exterior openings — including those to basements, garages, or areas outside the thermal envelope — are closed properly. 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 occurs, outdoor air enters the home more aggressively, revealing leaks more clearly. With the help of a thermal imager, we can uncover leaks and weak spots by spotting temperature differences across walls, ceilings, and surfaces near unconditioned spaces. Our technicians bring chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping supplies to handle visible air leakage issues directly with homeowners or contractors on-site. After sealing the identified leaks, we retest right away to confirm that the desired blower door score meets local energy performance standards in Newtown Square, PA.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Newtown Square, PA

For contractors conducting blower door test in Newtown Square, PA, well-insulated homes generally require only minimal on-site corrections during the test. By using materials such as chalk and spray foam, our team can fix small air leaks immediately on-site. In over 90% of cases, we reach a passing blower door test score in less than two hours and hand over the documents needed to close the building permit right away.

Schedule Your blower door test in Newtown Square, PA

Get fast, reliable, and certified blower door test in Newtown Square, PA from our experienced and trusted team. Whether you’re improving comfort as a homeowner or completing a project as a contractor, we guarantee every test is performed with accuracy and full energy code compliance.