Blower Door Test in Thornton, PA

Assess your home’s air sealing and energy standards with trusted blower door test in Thornton, PA. Our trained team assists homeowners, builders, and contractors by detecting hidden air leaks, boosting comfort, and meeting PA energy regulations.

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. 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 changes often cause drafts, discomfort, and humidity-related issues such as condensation and mold growth inside the home. A blower door test in Thornton, 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?

In blower door test in Thornton, PA, every exterior door and window is shut, while interior doors stay open to allow uniform airflow inside the building. One primary exterior doorway is used, where a flexible aluminum frame and fabric panel are mounted tightly. A calibrated fan is placed within the frame and operated to depressurize the structure to 50 Pascals — nearly the same as a 20 mph wind hitting the building.

When indoor air is extracted, outdoor air pushes in through every leak and small gap in the building. With the help of a nanometer, we determine the pressure difference between the fan’s airflow and the home’s internal conditions. 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?

In Thornton, PA, homes generally must comply with the requirements of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or newer editions enforced by local authorities. In many locations, a result of 3 air changes per hour or less is required to verify the home’s energy efficiency level. Reaching the target during your blower door test in Thornton, PA guarantees lower energy consumption and full 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. We routinely help home builders, contractors, and homeowners requiring blower door test in Thornton, PA for energy code compliance and permit closure. You might also need a duct leakage test if HVAC systems or ducts are positioned outside the property’s thermal envelope. Learn more about energy code compliance.

A blower door test in Thornton, PA helps homeowners discover inefficiencies. Depressurizing the home makes leaks more noticeable and highlights where energy can be conserved. Completing a blower door test takes just a few hours, yet its long-lasting impact enhances comfort and performance in every PAseason.

How To Pass A Blower Door Test:

Anticipate potential air leaks before testing begins.
Select a proper air barrier such as Tyvek or Zip Sheathing and ensure every seam is thoroughly taped for airtight sealing.
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.
Seal all joints and gaps that connect conditioned and unconditioned areas such as basements, attics, and crawl spaces.
Local permitting offices often offer official compliance checklists — review the Philadelphia sample here for reference.
Local Energy Audits technicians carry thermal imaging devices, caulk, and spray foam to pinpoint and seal air leaks immediately./li>
In the majority of cases—over 90%—we reach a passing score within two hours and provide all closing documentation.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Thornton, PA

To prepare for blower door test in Thornton, PA, we start by turning off the heating and cooling system, along with all bathroom fans and kitchen exhaust fans. Next, our team walks through the home to verify that every exterior door and window is sealed shut — including access points to unfinished basements, garages, or areas beyond 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. Once depressurization occurs, outdoor air enters the home more aggressively, revealing leaks more clearly. 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. Once sealing is finished, we conduct an instant retest to ensure the desired blower door score is reached, confirming compliance with Thornton, PA building codes.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Thornton, PA

During blower door test in Thornton, PA, contractors will find that well-insulated homes can manage minor issues directly on-site. With materials such as chalk and spray foam, most small leaks or gaps can be sealed immediately on-site. In more than 90% of cases, we achieve a passing blower door test score within two hours and provide complete documentation to close out the building permit the same day.

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Schedule Your blower door test in Thornton, PA

Get trusted, professional, and certified blower door test in Thornton, PA from our experienced technicians. Whether you’re improving your home’s comfort or closing a building permit, our tests are performed with care and meet all energy efficiency codes.

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