Monroe Infrared Technology offers blower door testing alone or in conjunction with a whole building energy audit. Blower door testing, in combination with an infrared inspection, provides you with a comprehensive energy analysis of your home or building. |
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| For more information regarding the importance of blower door testing in the weatherizaton process, view these informative PDF documents from EnergyStar: |
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Blower Door tests can be used for a variety of purposes including: |
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Locating direct and indirect air leaks. |
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Documenting the construction airtightness of buildings. |
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Estimating natural infiltration rates in houses. |
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Measuring and documenting the effectiveness of air sealing activities. |
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Measuring duct leakage in forced air distribution systems. |
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Determining the need for ventilation equipment. |
How does a blower door test work? |
Blower doors are variable-speed fans equipped with a frame and shroud that allow them to fit inside a variety of doorframes. The instrumentation includes pressure gauges that enable the operator to determine the flow of air through the fan as well as the pressure the fan creates on a dwelling. Since leakier houses require more airflow to create a given pressure difference, blower doors can measure the relative leakiness of a house. |
| I'm going to add insulation and air-sealing to home/building to save money. Should I have a blower door test done first? |
Blower doors can reveal the location of many air leaks, providing you with a clear target for air sealing. When a job is partially or fully complete, blower doors also provide technicians quickly with feedback on the effectiveness of their work. In addition, blower doors can help diagnose which parts of a house do not need to be sealed, allowing weatherization crews to focus on the real problems. |
Are there other way in which a blower door can be to my advantage? |
The blower door can be used to estimate the amount of leakage between the heated space of the building and other attached structural components such as attached garages, attics and crawlspaces, in addition to assessing the overall airtightness level of the building envelope. It can also be used to estimate the amount of outside air leakage in forced air duct systems. The blower door forces air through all holes and penetrations that are connected to the outside,making those problem spots easier to find using chemical smoke, an infrared camera or simply feeling with your hand. These air leakage pathways are found and then documented by the inspector to provide recommendations and solutions for air sealing work in a detailed report.
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