Blower Door Testing
You will never have good indoor air quality (IAQ) in a leaky house, which makes blower door testing a crucial step in improving a home’s health. Blower door testing services allow us to evaluate a home’s air leakage so that we can stop air infiltration, leading to:
- Better indoor air quality
- Better moisture control and less risk of mold growth
- Less risk of pest infestation
- Fewer indoor drafts
- Less energy waste
- Lower heating and cooling costs
What Is a Blower Door Test?
A blower door is a diagnostic tool that’s used to measure how much air leakage there is in a home. In other words, it tests a home’s airtightness.
The blower door uses a powerful fan to lower the air pressure inside a home. Higher-pressure outside air is then sucked in through gaps, cracks, or openings in the building envelope, often referred to as air leaks. Air leakage can occur around any opening in a building’s envelope and is especially common around doors and windows, wire and plumbing penetrations, recessed lighting, basement rim joists, chimney chases—the list goes on.
Air Leakage Hurts Indoor Air Quality & Energy Efficiency
When there’s too much air leakage in a home, contaminated outside air can easily enter, bringing moisture (which causes mold growth), pollen, smoke, car exhaust, and other outdoor air pollutants in with it. These contaminants are then sucked into the home’s HVAC system and circulate throughout the living spaces. Breathing them in over time can make your family sick!
Air leakage also results in significant energy loss, which can make your home uncomfortable and drive up your heating and cooling bills.
A blower door testing company like Energy Home Basics can figure out how much air is entering and escaping the home, and where the leaks are located. Then, we can take the necessary steps to establish proper airtightness, making the home healthier, more comfortable, and more energy efficient. This may include:
- Attic insulation
- Basement insulation
- Crawl space encapsulation
- Floor insulation
- Wall insulation
- Air sealing
We recommend different insulation materials depending on the application. Spray foam insulation is often ideal for sealing air leaks while blown-in cellulose insulation can be used to fill wall and floor cavities. Depending on the results of your blower door test, we can help you choose the right insulation for your attic, crawl space, floors, walls, and more.
Blower Door Testing for Energy Audits, Code Compliance & More
Bruce Glanville, founder of Energy Home Basics, is a certified energy rater and the go-to home performance expert in the greater Knoxville area. Bruce has tested nearly 1,000 homes and works seamlessly with builders, contractors, and homeowners to create healthy, ultra-efficient homes and buildings.
Bruce can conduct blower door testing as a standalone service, or as part of a home or commercial energy audit. Whether you’re a builder who needs reliable, unbiased third-party testing to meet code compliance standards or a homeowner who wants to make their home healthier and more efficient, Bruce can help!
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