Blower Door & Duct Testing

Duct blasting is a similar process of pressurizing and depressurizing, but specialized for the ductwork. This allows us to determine where exactly it is your ducts are leaking air and letting in air. This works for newly constructed and existing residential and commercial buildings. 

Grills and registers are temporarily sealed and the HVAC system is placed in pilot mode. A large fan is attached to the duct system at the air handler cabinet, or a return grill. We’ll also use a smoking pen or infrared camera to determine where any gaps that need reinforcement or sealant are located.

Air leakage is when air comes through cracks and gaps, or bypasses, in the home’s air envelope or air barrier. Air leakage can increase the home’s heating and cooling costs by over 30% and directly contribute to health, safety, and comfortability issues. 

The air envelope, or air barrier is unique to each home. In older homes you’ll find it in drywall, which is often riddled with holes, and has a gap at the bottom, behind the baseboards. In newer homes, the envelope is sheeting, which is much more sealed. Your HVAC system is included in the air barrier, so if you have poorly installed ductwork or duct work that needs repair, your air barrier will be leakier. Even electrical outlets can be a source of leakage! 

While it is necessary to have “air changes,” or indoor and outdoor air switching out, to maintain proper ventilation, these changes may also introduce contaminants into the home. This is especially dangerous to young children, people with respiratory issues (COPD, seasonal allergies, asthma, etc.), and the elderly. 

It may also increase the humidity of the building, trapping moisture in the air barrier. If not remedied quickly, this can lead to dangerous rot and mold in the buildings infrastructure. This decreases its durability, leading to expensive repairs down the road. 

So how do you determine where leaks are coming from? Our team of expert HVAC mechanical technicians are trained and experienced in blower door testing and duct blasting, the most efficient means of locating leaks throughout your home.

Blower door testing is a test used by HVAC professionals and contractors to determine areas within a building that are responsible for the leaks. It’s a process of depressurizing or, less commonly, pressurizing the building to 50 Pascals, which is equivalent to a 20 MPH wind on all surfaces of the built environment. 

Our team of friendly and skilled technicians will prepare the home by essentially keeping everything closed, but in its natural state. This includes closing all exterior doors, windows, any dampers, and doors to garages. Our team of experienced technicians will evaluate the home or building to ensure the home is safe enough to conduct the test. 

During the test, our knowledgeable technicians will use a smoking pen or infrared camera to determine where gaps are located, which will ultimately need sealing and reinforcement. 

The goal here is to find a blower door score, which is also used to determine if the home is up to your local and national code. A great blower door score indicates the home is tight, has few leaks, and will be as efficient as possible.