Blue Valley Heating & Cooling performing a blower door test for a home in Boulder. Blower door tests are a way to quantify the amount of leakage throughout a building envelope and the effectiveness of air sealing measures.
“Tightening” a home can reduce energy consumption, avoid uncomfortable drafts, and ensure that a home has a proper supply of fresh air.
The test itself consists of a variable-speed fan, a frame and screen that fits inside a doorway, an airflow manometer, and pressure gauges to measure the differences between indoor and outdoor pressures.
During the test, the house is under pressure and leaks are easy to find by going through the home room by room. The location of each leak is carefully recorded for repairs later. Some common leak areas are recessed can lights, attic hatches, rim joists, windows and doors, and ductwork.