Blower Door Inspections
When did blower door inspections begin?
Newly constructed residential buildings or dwellings are required to have blower door inspections, effective July 1, 2017. The inspectors at RH &
Associates are experienced, knowledgeable and certified to perform any blower door inspection.
What is a blower door?
A blower door is a powerful variable speed fan that pulls air from inside of the house to decrease the home’s air pressure. The purpose of a blower door is to detect any air leaks that are present in the home’s structure. To perform the inspection, a blower door is temporarily mounted on one of the home’s exterior doors. By pulling the interior air outside of the house and allowing higher pressure exterior air to enter through any openings or cracks, the air infiltration rate can be quantified. Once the air infiltration rate is calculated, any air leak locations can be easily determined.
What is a blower door inspection?
A blower door inspection is designed to simulate air flow into and out of your structure and can help you determine if you have energy-draining air leaks throughout your home.
For example, if wind is blowing against a house’s structure at 20 MPH, the total air volume of the interior air would exchange with outside exterior are 7 times or less. The blower door simulates the 20 MPH wind, which is equivalent to 50 Pascal (Pa) pressure difference. Each house is tested to 50 PA pressure difference to allow for simple comparisons between structures, regardless of the square footage or layout.
What are the requirements to pass a blower door inspection?
A house must have 7 or fewer air exchanges per hour (7 ACH50) in order to pass the blower door inspection.
What are the benefits of blower door inspections?
Air leaks create drafty air, which can cause the home’s occupants to live in an uncomfortable environment. A blower door inspection can identify air leaks that need to be sealed to improve the building’s tightness. Once the air leaks are sealed, homeowners typically experience the following benefits:
- Reduced Energy Consumption
- Moisture Condensation Eliminated
- Improved Air Quality
- Fewer Air Pollutants
- and More!