One of the biggest reasons for an uncomfortable, drafty, and energy-inefficient home is air leaks. Most of the time, these leaks are very small and nearly impossible to spot without specialized equipment. A blower door test is a diagnostic tool that spotlights them, helping our energy auditors find the biggest sources of energy loss in a home.
Lakewood Home Energy is a family-owned and operated energy auditor in Central Maine that offers these tests. Whether you’re trying to make your existing home more comfortable or you need to meet code requirements for new construction, our advanced blower door tests are an essential asset for improving energy efficiency.
How a Blower Door Test Works
A blower door test measures the overall air tightness of a home. It creates a pressure difference between the indoors and the outdoors by blowing air out of the home, which draws outside air in through any cracks and gaps in the building envelope. The leakier the home, the harder the blower door fan has to work. By measuring this information, an energy auditor can accurately calculate a home or building’s air leakage and air tightness.
Here’s what the process entails:
- We position a temporary, framed door with a fan into one of your exterior doors.
- We close any vents, windows, fireplace dampers, or exterior doors in the home.
- We leave the interior doors open to promote unobstructed airflow throughout the residence.
- We turn on the fan and blow air out of the home. This depressurizes the home and causes air to enter through any air gaps.
- The fan has to work harder to hold a steady pressure when there are more leaks. If more air is needed, it indicates leaks.
- Our energy auditors use smoke pencils and infrared cameras to find where air enters the home during depressurization.
- We then calculate total air leakage, show you an air tightness score, and show you where most leaks are coming from.
Many homeowners have blower door tests done as part of a larger energy audit or assessment. During these assessments, our team analyzes the performance of your entire home and identifies ways that you can improve efficiency and comfort. They’re the first step you should take when making performance upgrades, and we’ve completed countless throughout Rangeley, Carrabassett Valley, and Skowhegan.
Learn About Energy AuditsWhat Problems Does It Help You Address?
A blower door’s primary purpose is to help you understand the air tightness of your home and pinpoint leaks. These leaks could be accounting for an extensive amount of energy loss. A leaky home has problems with:
High heating and cooling bills
Increased wear and tear on HVAC systems
Cold drafts in the winter
Excess summer humidity
Persistent discomfort
Air leaks can be found in a variety of places around the home, including light fixtures and electrical boxes, or via significant gaps in structural components, such as in the attic or basement.
With the test’s findings, our team will help you understand what the next steps are to prevent air intrusion. This is typically air sealing, which is most effectively done with weatherstripping, caulking and canned foam insulation.
Insulation and Air SealingDuct Leakage Testing
ENERGY STAR estimates that 20-30% of the air that moves through a home’s duct system is lost due to leaks. This wastes money and reduces the comfort in your home. Lakewood Home Energy provides comprehensive duct leakage testing using diagnostics very similar to a blower door test. We’ll pressurize the ductwork system and detect any leaks that could be causing your heated and cooled air to escape.
Energy Code Compliance for New Construction in Central Maine
Maine energy codes require all new residential construction and large additions to complete a blower door test. This ensures that the structure meets certain energy efficiency standards. Lakewood Home Energy partners with contractors, builders, and owner-builders to help them pass their blower door test and obtain a certificate of occupancy. If, for any reason, the test fails, we are happy to provide our air sealing services.