Blower Door Test in Unionville, PA

Verify your home’s airtightness and meet energy-efficiency standards with a professional blower door test in Unionville, PA. Our certified technicians support homeowners, builders, and contractors in finding hidden leaks, improving comfort, and ensuring compliance with PA energy codes.

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. Frequent air replacement can harm energy performance, as each exchange requires reheating or recooling the air. When there are too many air leaks, drafts and discomfort can occur, along with moisture problems such as mold and condensation. A blower door test in Unionville, PA helps pinpoint problem areas early, improving insulation performance, comfort, and home lifespan.

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How Is A Blower Door Test Conducted?

To carry out blower door test in Unionville, PA, exterior doors and windows are fully closed, and interior doors are left open for even air distribution in the home. One primary exterior doorway is used, where a flexible aluminum frame and fabric panel are mounted tightly. 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.

As the fan operates, it forces outside air to penetrate the home through gaps, leaks, and openings. Using a nanometer device, we assess how the pressure from the fan differs from the home’s natural air pressure. 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?

Residential buildings in Unionville, PA must adhere to the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or newer versions adopted by city or county regulations. To meet efficiency standards in most areas, homes should record 3 air changes per hour or less on a blower door test. Satisfying this requirement in your blower door test in Unionville, PA helps optimize energy use and ensures you meet local building standards.

Why Do I Need A Blower Door Test?

Throughout PA, the IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) is followed, making blower door test compulsory for new and renovated homes. We proudly serve home builders, contractors, and homeowners who need blower door test in Unionville, PA to pass inspections and fulfill energy code obligations. A duct leakage test can be required when ducts or HVAC components are installed outside the structure’s thermal envelope. Learn more about energy code compliance.

Homeowners see real value in blower door test in Unionville, PA. As the fan draws air out, leaks become clear, making it easy to target repairs and improve efficiency. Although it’s a short process, a blower door test produces a long-lasting impact by improving comfort and lowering energy costs throughout PA’ climate extremes.

How To Pass A Blower Door Test:

  • Anticipate potential air leaks before testing begins.
  • Use an air barrier system such as Tyvek or Zip Sheathing and verify that each seam is properly sealed with tape.
  • Place insulation with the accurate R-value and check for proper installation and full coverage in 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.
  • Local permitting offices often offer official compliance checklists — review the Philadelphia sample here for reference.
  • Our team at Local Energy Audits employs thermal imaging, caulk, and spray foam to locate and repair leaks efficiently on-site./li>
  • More than 90% of our tests result in a passing score within two hours, along with immediate permit documentation.

Preparing for a Blower Door Test in Unionville, PA

To prepare a home for blower door test in Unionville, PA, we shut off the HVAC system and disable all exhaust fans. 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. 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 depressurization, air from outside rushes in through cracks and gaps, making leak detection much easier. Through the use of a thermal imager, we find problem zones by detecting uneven temperatures in walls, ceilings, and surfaces 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 the leaks, we can immediately run another test to verify that the desired blower door score meets the local efficiency standards for homes in Unionville, PA.

Blower Door Test for Contractors in Unionville, PA

When contractors schedule blower door test in Unionville, PA, professionally insulated homes often only need minor adjustments that can be handled during the test. 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 Unionville, PA

Rely on our expert team for accurate, efficient, and certified blower door test in Unionville, PA. Whether you’re a homeowner improving energy performance or a contractor completing certification, we make sure each test fulfills all energy code requirements.