Blower Door Test FAQ

Published on November 01, 2019

Maybe you’ve recognized potential issues in your home, or maybe you just want to decrease your energy bills. Whatever the reason, though, a blower door test seems to be the most effective starting point. But what is a blower door test? And how can it help you?

As part of a whole home energy audit, a blower door test is a main component in determining the overall energy efficiency of a home. A blower door test gives you the most important information pertaining to your home’s degree of air-tightness, and is the most efficacious approach to starting your home on the path to energy efficiency.

Here are our most frequently asked questions regarding blower door tests:

What is a Blower Door Test?

A blower door test is the measurement of the air that drains out of your home, also referred to as the measurement of the air-tightness level of your home. The blower door consists of a frame, a red door covering, a fan, a window, and a pressure gauge.

First, your Registered Energy Advisor will set up the blower door in the main door frame of your home. After they’ve ensured all windows and exterior doors have been closed, they will turn the fan on. The fan will depressurize the home (majority of the time) by drawing inside air out, forcing exterior air back in through cracks or leaks. Once the test is running, your Energy Advisor will collect important pieces of data. During the test, you’ll also be able to feel the movement in the air where the cracks or leaks are located, most commonly felt around leaky windows/doors, an uninsulated attic hatch, or electrical panels.

The first piece of data provided to you will be your home’s number of air changes per hour (ACH). Essentially, this is the rate that your indoor air is exchanged with outdoor air. The rate will be given to you in ACH50, also known as the number of air changes per hour at 50 pascals (pascals is the pressure reading). For example, if your home has an ACH of 3 at 50 pascals, the total volume of air in your home will be replaced 3 times per hour at this pressure. The lower the reading, the more airtight your home is.

Who Performs a Blower Door Test?

Your Registered Energy Advisor will perform your blower door test. Registered Energy Advisors are certified through Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), and authorized through a Licensed Service Organization such as Barrier Sciences Group. An Energy Advisor has successfully completed a number of qualifying exams and is fully knowledgeable on all aspects of home energy efficiency and operations of a house. In fact, many of our Registered Energy Advisors are also home inspectors!

Choosing a licensed professional is important because they will be able to determine if your home could qualify for any government rebates. Only a Licensed Service Organization and Registered Energy Advisor can submit your paperwork to the rebate provider, so it’s important to make sure you choose a professional company such as Barrier Sciences Group.

How Can a Blower Door Test Help Home Builders?

Blower door tests are extremely beneficial to home builders! It’s an integral step in making sure the home is completely sealed before the drywall is installed. If there are any leaks, they can easily be located and repaired to ensure an airtight envelope every time.

By having a blower door test, also referred to as a pre-drywall blower door test, completed on a new build you’ll avoid costly callbacks, increase the overall energy efficiency of the home, and maximize the quality of your work. A pre-drywall blower door test will ensure any leaks or cracks are sealed before the drywall is installed. This makes sure the home is airtight and as efficient as possible, which will keep your homeowners happy and comfortable throughout every season of the year.

How Can a Blower Door Test Help Homeowners?

A blower door test can help homeowners determine the source of any perceived issues in their home. It’s the most effective starting point in determining the best course of action to help a home become more energy efficient, comfortable and affordable.

By having an energy audit and a blower door test completed on your home, you could also be eligible for rebates. The first (and last) qualification step in the Home Efficiency Rebate is an energy audit! An energy audit and a blower door test is an important first step in determining which renovations would help your home. And it’s an effective tool after your renovations are complete so you can see how much more energy efficient your home is after the work is done!

Blower Door Tests and the Home Efficiency Rebate

As mentioned, an energy audit and a blower door test is the first and last qualification step for the Home Efficiency Rebate. The Home Efficiency Rebate is set up that way so the energy audit can help determine which renovations are most effective and beneficial for your home. The last step in the Home Efficiency Rebate is a final energy audit and a final blower door test. The final test is so you can see how much your home has improved from the renovations!

Your home energy audit will also provide you with an EnerGuide label, which outlines your EnerGuide rating. An EnerGuide rating is a rating of how much energy your home consumes, and it also compares your home to a typical newly built house. Further, you’ll be provided with a list of recommended upgrades for your home, and how much your home could improve if the recommended upgrades are completed.

A blower door test is the most important first step in any renovation or evaluation of the energy efficiency of your home. If you’d like to schedule a blower door test or a complete home energy audit on your home contact BSG. You can simply call the office at 1-866-333-3920, or speak to one of our office staff members on the live chat feature on the BSG website.