Blower Door Test: What It Is & How to Prepare for It

Many homeowners don’t give much thought to leaks or drafts around their homes until their electric bills start skyrocketing. The average American home has enough air leaks to add up to a hole that’s two feet square. To put it in perspective, this is like having a medium-sized window open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Fortunately, there are things you can do to combat this issue, and one of them is hiring a professional to conduct a blower door test.

What Is a Blower Door Test?

A blower door test involves sealing your home up completely, then turning on a powerful fan that pulls air out of your house, lowering the air pressure inside. The higher outside air pressure then flows through gaps and cracks around your house, which the auditor then identifies using a smoke pencil. 

This test is conducted to measure the air infiltration rate of a residential building, and takes place both before and after your home is sealed so that the results can be compared. Afterward, the auditor will provide solutions for fixing any possible leaks.

How to Prepare Your Home for a Blower Door Test

Before calling in the experts, there are a few things you should do first in order to prepare your home and make it easier for the auditor. If you heat with wood, make sure that all fires are completely out, including coals. You should also do a quick walk-through of your house and identify spots that you know have leaks so you can point them out to the auditor later on. Depending on the size and layout of your house, a blower door test will usually last only about an hour. 

Entergis Testing and Sealing conducts blower door tests throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and East Texas. To schedule a test, please feel free to give us a call at (225) 577-6799 or fill out our online contact form to speak to one of our experts today.