Amistee is now proud to offer blower door testing!

What is blower door testing?

Blower door testing is used to determine the air tightness of a building. It helps determine how much air is entering or escaping your home.

Why is blower door testing important?

Blower door testing is crucial for assessing a building's energy efficiency, identifying air leaks, and determining the effectiveness of insulation and weatherization efforts. It helps in locating areas of air infiltration and exfiltration, which can lead to energy loss, comfort issues, and increased heating and cooling costs.

How is the blower door test performed?

A blower door test is performed using a large fan that is mounted in an exterior doorway, typically the front door. The fan pulls air from your home, lowering the air pressure, allowing outside air to enter through any gaps, cracks or openings in your home. After the blower door test is complete you’ll have a general idea of where air infiltration is happening and can correct those areas.

Where do you typically notice air infiltration?

Air infiltration can happen in a variety of areas. We can see air infiltration in ductwork, attic spaces (rim joists in particular), windows, doors, light sockets, electrical sockets, and even baseboards.

Why should my home be “tight?”

According to energy.gov here are a few reasons to ensure proper building tightness:

• Reducing energy consumption from excess air leakage
• Avoiding moisture condensation problems
• Avoiding uncomfortable drafts caused by cold or warm air leaking in from outside.
• Controlling outdoor contaminants, pests, and odors from entering your home.
• Determining proper sizing and airflow requirements of heating and cooling equipment.
• Determining whether mechanical ventilation is needed to provide acceptable fresh air and maintain indoor air quality in your home.

Who can perform blower door testing?

Blower door testing is typically conducted by trained professionals, such as energy auditors, building performance contractors, or certified testers. They have the necessary expertise and equipment to accurately measure and assess a building's airtightness.

When is the best time to perform a blower door test?

Blower door testing can be performed at various stages: New construction: Testing during the construction phase helps identify air leakage points early on, allowing for corrections before the building is completed.

Existing buildings: Blower door testing can be done at any time to assess the current airtightness and identify areas that require sealing or insulation improvements.

How do I prepare for a blower door test?

Expect all exterior doors and windows to be closed. Any interior doors should be open. Please close fireplace dampers, doors and woodstove air inlets. If you have a wood fireplace please make sure all fires are completely out and remove any ashes.

We’ll also set controls to any fossil fuel appliances (furnace, water heater, etc.) to ensure they don’t fire during the test. The test should take up to an hour, depending on the size and type of your home.

How long does a blower door test take?

The duration of a blower door test can vary depending on the size and complexity of the building. Typically, it takes a few hours, including setup, testing, and data analysis.