A blower door test will check the air tightness of your home. There is a set protocol when conducting a blower door test. First, anything that will affect airflow is turned off (HVAC system and fans). Then the blower door is installed in a door leading to the exterior of the home. This door blows air out of the home to a set pressure. As the air is pumped out of the house new air is pulled into the home from any air leaks in the home. Lastly, the air flow through the blower door is measured. The numbers gathered from the blower door is then entered into an equation to provide you with the amount of air leakage in your home.
There are a few things you can do to make sure that the day of blower door testing runs smoothly and doesn’t take up more time than needed.
- All windows need to be installed with proper seals and weather stripping.
- Water needs to be on and plumbing traps need to be filled.
- HVAC and ductwork needs to be installed and sealed.
- Dryer vents, bathroom fans and any other penetrations need to be sealed.
If you are using a homebuilder, they will make sure that your home is ready for blower door testing. If you are not using a builder or just have further questions about what you can do to be ready for testing day, please feel free to give us a call at Polk County Insulation.