Air Leakage and Blower Door Testing2024-01-19T11:23:02-07:00

Blower Door Testing
(Air Leakage Testing)

Blower Door testing has been in use for many years, but with the adoption of the 2015 IECC Residential Energy Codes, it has become mandatory for many construction projects in Colorado. Most recently, the Denver Metro Area has adopted the new codes. At Scott Energy Services, a divsion of Scott Home Services, LLC, we have several air leakage specialists on our team ready to help you meet your building requirements.

A blower door test is the only way to determine the air tightness of a home. This is measured in Air Changes Per Hour (ACH), and meeting or exceeding 3 ACH is required for all new construction under 2015 IECC. Here is what the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code states:

R402.4 Air leakage (Mandatory). The building thermal envelope shall be constructed to limit air leakage in accordance with the requirements of Sections R402.4.1 through R402.4.4.

R402.4.1 Building thermal envelope. The building thermal envelope shall comply with Sections R402.4.1.1 and R402.4.1.2. The sealing methods between dissimilar materials shall allow for differential expansion and contraction.

R402.4.1.2 Testing. The building or dwelling unit shall be tested and verified as having an air leakage rate not exceeding five air changes per hour in Climate Zones 1 and 2, and three air changes per hour in Climate Zones 3 through 8. Testing shall be conducted in accordance with ASTM E 779 or ASTM E 1827 and reported at a pressure of 0.2 inch w.g. (50 Pascals). Where required by the code official, testing shall be conducted by an approved third party. A written report of the results of the test shall be signed by the party conducting the test and provided to the code official. Testing shall be performed at any time after creation of all penetrations of the building thermal envelope.

Find the whole code section here.

Reasons for air leakage testing:

  • The more air tight a house is, the less energy will be required to heat and cool the home in the long term.
  • Identify and repair hidden air leaks that would otherwise not have been found.
  • Test and identify which building techniques are more airtight than others.

At Scott Home Inspection, we do not just perform a blower door test on the home. With our extensive knowledge of home systems, we can help you find air leaks, and use our infrared cameras when needed. Don’t let other companies leave you guessing where your air leaks are and delaying your schedule! For a full list of our energy services, click here.

How a Blower Door Test Works:

Air leakage testing or building thermal envelope testing uses a blower door. Blower door test equipment consists of a fan, an adjustable doorway block, a manometer, and hoses. The fan is set up in a doorway and sealed around the opening. All the windows, doors, flues, and vents (where applicable) are closed or sealed off during the test. The fan is run for a short period of time up to a certain pressure rating. At that pressure, the manometer will measure the amount of air moving through the fan in cubic feet per minute. A simple calculation with this number and the square footage of the home will give you the Air Changes Per Hour (ACH). This is the number that is required under the energy code.

This simple test can take a short period of time, but it is very accurate. At this time, the fan can remain running while the tester can tour the house and look for large leaks.

Blower Door Test from Scott Energy Services:

  • New Builds or Remodels
  • Same Day Electronic Report Optimized for CO Officers
  • Multiple Professionals with Testing Equipment
  • Online Scheduling
Blower door testing Air Leakage test

Blower Door Test Pricing

Blower Door Testing

$285
  • Multi-Unit Discounts Available

Schedule a Blower Door Test Today!

Knowing your results ahead of time will make the rest of the project easy.
Have a larger project or have questions for us? Call us below!

CALL OR TEXT

Call or text us and our customer service team will be there to answer your questions and schedule your blower door test. We are available during normal business hours from 8AM – 6PM MST.

SCHEDULE ONLINE

Use our online scheduling tool to fully schedule your blower door test online. Under services select Energy Services for IECC Code Compliance. Then under add-ons, select blower door testing.

<– Watch Now!

A brief overview of common blower door issues hosted by our resident energy expert: Joe Ophoff

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