Blower Door Testing Archives - The Green Cocoon

Trace and Reduce Air Leaks to Save Money

Blower Door Testing, Building Science, Energy Efficiency, Insulation, News, Save Money

Whether you’re building a new home or making an older one more energy efficient, tracing and reducing air leaks can help you save you money. One way to trace and reduce air leaks is with a blower door test. We are thrilled that we were able to help one of our clients find the air leakage!

Blower Door Number Reduced

In order to trace and reduce air leaks, a blower door test was needed. Our pre-insulation blower door test number was 3,132 CFM (cubic feet per minute). After we insulated and air-sealed the space, the number was 2,009 CFM. We reduced it by 1,123 CFM or 35 percent! This is pretty exciting because the Building Performance Institute says that 1 square inch of air leakage is equal to about 10 CFM¹. So that’s 112 square inches, which is an almost a full-sized open window! With that amount of reduced CFM, our customer will see a drastic improvement in his heating bill this winter.

Purpose of Blower Door Test

The purpose of Blower Door Testing is to measure the air tightness of a home and check for air leakage. A blower door is a powerful fan that mounts into the frame of an exterior door. The fan pulls air out of the house, lowering the air pressure inside. The higher outside air pressure then flows in through all unsealed cracks and openings. Learn more about Why You Need Blower Door Testing

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Recently, we teamed up with York EcoHomes. A York EcoHome is a York (Maine) household that commits to receiving and considering Eco-Friendly actions that will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. They are also a program of York Ready for Climate Action, a great way for residents to help accomplish the Town of York’s goal of 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030.

Insulation Savings Programs

The Green Cocoon is the go-to insulation company for programs like York EcoHome and Efficiency Maine. Efficiency Maine is the administrator for programs to improve the efficiency of energy use and reduce greenhouse gases in Maine. Luckily, one of our customers lives in York, Maine, and was able to take advantage of the insulation savings programs.

Visit our website, thegreencocoon.com, to learn how we can save you money by insulating your home.

[1] Building Performance Institute, Inc. Technically Speaking: What the Blower Door Test Tells You. (Nov. 9, 2017). Bpihomeowner.org

Why You Need Blower Door Testing

Blower Door Testing, Building Science, Energy Efficiency, News, Save Money, Thermal Bridging

Blower door testing helps us understand where structures leak and is the first step toward building tighter, more energy-efficient homes.

What is a blower door test?

Blower Door Testing Diagnostic Tool - The Green Cocoon Insulation — Image courtesy of energy.gov/.

These are some reasons for establishing the proper building tightness:

Reducing energy consumption from excess air leakage
Avoiding moisture condensation problems
Avoiding uncomfortable drafts caused by cold or warm air leaking in from outside
Controlling outdoor contaminants, pests, and odors from entering your home.
Determining proper sizing and airflow requirements of heating and cooling equipment.
Determining whether mechanical ventilation is needed to provide acceptable fresh air and maintain indoor air quality in your home.

Determine the air infiltration rate

While the blower test is being conducted, our insulation specialist may use an infrared camera to look at the walls, ceilings, and floors. Moreover, this test finds specific locations where insulation is missing and air is leaking.

Preparing for a blower door test

Our experienced insulation specialist performs the blower door test. This includes a walk-through of your home, setting up the blower door, and conducting the test. The following steps will help prepare your home for a blower door test:

Plan to do a walk-through of your home with the specialist. Be prepared to point out areas that you know are drafty or difficult to condition comfortably.
Expect the specialist to request access to all areas of your home including closets, built-in cabinets, attics, crawl spaces, and any unused rooms.
The specialist will need to close all exterior doors and windows, open all interior doors, and close any fireplace dampers, doors, and woodstove air inlets.
If you heat with wood, be sure all fires are completely out – not even coals – before the specialist arrives. Remove any ashes from open fireplaces.
Expect the specialist to set controls on all atmospheric fossil fuel appliances (e.g., furnace, water heater, fireplaces, and stoves) to ensure that they do not fire during the test. The specialist should return them to the original position after the test.
Expect the test to take up to an hour or more, depending on the complexity of your home.

The Green Cocoon offers custom, cost-effective solutions to make your home or office building more comfortable. Additionally, this saves you money on your energy bills. Our troubleshooting and diagnostic skills separate us from the pack! For more information, contact us

Blower Door Testing