Blower Door Testing

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The new industry standard for assessing your home's energy efficiency has arrived. The blower door provides a consistent and accurate way for home energy professionals to measure the amount of air entering or escaping a home. During testing, the blower door slightly depressurizes the structure, amplifying the small air leaks that could be costing you big bucks. This allows leaks to be found and fixed.

Why do I need a blower door test?

If you build a new home after July 1, 2021, the Commonwealth of Virginia requires a blower door test before your locality issues an occupancy permit. The results must show air leakage during testing no greater than 5 air changes per hour (5x the volume of your home per hour). More importantly, blower door testing allows owners of new and existing homes to find and fix significant air leaks that allow hot air in during the summer or cold drafts in during the winter. WIth these improvements, your HVAC unit won't have to work as hard, extending its life and saving you money. Most importantly, blower door testing is good for your health. The primary source of air leakage in a new home comes from uncontrolled areas like your attic (around light fixtures), crawlspace (around air vents), and wall cavities (around outlets and switches). As your home ages, these areas that you can't see harbor dust, pests, mold, and other hazards. By sealing off leaks from these areas found during blower door testing, you ensure a higher degree of air quality for you and your family.

Who can conduct a blower door test?

We can! Little General Construction, Inc. is a licensed Virginia general contractor, with staff trained and certified to perform a blower door test on your home. Drew Kelliher is an Envelope Professional certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI). BPI Envelope Professionals are not only trained to conduct blower door testing, but to help you find and fix leaks. Contact us to schedule your blower door test today!