Blower Door Test in Thorndale, PA

Detect hidden air leaks and improve efficiency with professional blower door test in Thorndale, 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 air changes occur too frequently, the heating or cooling system must work harder to stabilize temperatures, increasing energy use and lowering efficiency. Excessive air changes often cause drafts, discomfort, and humidity-related issues such as condensation and mold growth inside the home. A blower door test in Thorndale, PA detects air leaks early on, helping builders and homeowners boost efficiency and strengthen overall home comfort.

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How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

In blower door test in Thorndale, PA, every exterior door and window is shut, while interior doors stay open to allow uniform airflow inside the building. Technicians select one central exterior door and install an adjustable aluminum frame along with a fabric panel for testing. After setup, a calibrated fan is attached to the frame to lower the air pressure inside the house to 50 Pascals, equivalent to a 20 mph wind.

As the fan creates negative pressure, outside air infiltrates the home through gaps and small openings. By employing a nanometer, we measure the variance between the fan’s pressure and the internal home pressure. These values are expressed as air changes per hour (ACH), a key measure of the home’s airtightness and its energy performance under PA conditions.

What Is A Passing Blower Door Test Score?

Homes in Thorndale, PA are typically required to follow the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or the most recent version adopted locally. Generally, a blower door test result of 3 air changes per hour or less is considered acceptable, ensuring proper energy performance. When your blower door test in Thorndale, PAmeets this requirement, you benefit from reduced energy bills and code compliance.

Why Do I Need A Blower Door Test?

PA, along with many city governments, enforces the IECC, which requires blower door test for residential projects after construction or renovation. Our professionals frequently support home builders, contractors, and homeowners who need blower door test in Thorndale, PA to comply with energy codes and finalize projects. In some cases, a duct leakage test is needed if ducts or HVAC systems lie outside the home’s thermal envelope. Learn more about energy code compliance.

Homeowners gain major advantages from blower door test in Thorndale, PA. As the fan depressurizes the home, incoming air through leaks becomes easier to detect, revealing problem spots and potential energy-saving improvements. A blower door test is quick to perform but offers a long-lasting impact on comfort, energy savings, and home efficiency across all PAclimates.

How To Pass A Blower Door Test:

  • Anticipate potential air leaks before testing begins.
  • Install an effective air barrier, for example Tyvek or Zip Sheathing, and make certain all seams are sealed with durable tape.
  • Use properly rated insulation with the right R-value and ensure consistent coverage throughout 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.
  • Seal off any access points or gaps between conditioned and unconditioned spaces like attics, crawl spaces, and basements.
  • Many local municipalities issue code compliance checklists — the Philadelphia example is available here.
  • Local Energy Audits uses professional-grade thermal imaging, caulk, and spray foam to locate and close leaks during the visit./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 Thorndale, PA

We begin blower door test in Thorndale, PA by switching off the HVAC system and shutting down all exhaust fans throughout the home. 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 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 the home is depressurized, incoming outdoor air becomes more intense, making leak points easy to locate. 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 carry chalk, spray foam, and weatherstripping so our team can work alongside homeowners or contractors to seal visible air leakage spots right away. 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 Thorndale, PA.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Thorndale, PA

Contractors arranging blower door test in Thorndale, PA will find that homes with professional insulation can typically resolve small issues right on-site 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 Thorndale, PA

Get professional-grade, efficient, and certified blower door test in Thorndale, PA handled by our experienced staff. Whether you’re enhancing comfort at home or wrapping up a construction project, we perform every test with accuracy and full compliance with energy codes.