Energineers

Blower Door Test

Buildings are a system composed of many sub-systems. Plumbing, electrical, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), entries, and windows all create penetrations in that system.

Plumbing (fresh water in; used water out)...
Fresh water lines enter through the foundation and course through the building leaving a trail of penetrations.
Sewage lines create even larger penetrations for both drainage and ventilation.
Electrical...
Power penetrations are smaller but more prevalent.
Finding and sealing these penetrations can greatly decrease draftiness.
HVAC...
HVAC is designed to make us more comfortable by conditioning our building space.
HVAC causes pressure changes in the building which draws in unconditioned air and pushes out conditioned air.
A well sealed HVAC controls the sources and paths of the air.
Using mechanical ventilation, when necessary, and managing the ducts can create the most efficient conditioning system.
Measuring the amount of conditioned air escaping the building is a key product of the Blower Door Test.
Entries...
Doors are the largest penetrations in the building. Well sealed doors dramatically reduce draft.
Door vents can also be used to manage airflow.
The Blower Door Test measures flow out of the building and can be used to measure flow between sections of the building.
Windows...
Windows are over-rated as a solution to energy efficiency.
Poorly sealed windows can be a significant source of air leakage that is easily remedied without replacement.
Conditioned versus unconditioned space...
The building envelope includes conditioned as well as unconditioned space.
The Blower Door Test is used to determine where the greatest air exchanges take place.
Ideally, air in unconditioned space stays there and any ventilation needed is brought in from a clean safe source.

What Does a Blower Door Test Look Like?

A flexible panel is placed in an exterior door with large fan and pressure sensitive meters.

Blower Door

Hoses are connected outdoors and to various parts of the building to read pressure changes and airflow. A series of readings are gathered under varied conditions to perform an anlysis of the building.

Manometers

What Do We Do?

Based on out findings we recommend possible solutions to improving your building environment.

Blower Door

Solutions may range from simple quality verification of your contractor's work to recommendations about adding mechanical ventilation to makeup for loss of bad air brought in through leakage.

HRV

How Does It Help?

The Blower Door Test is the most comprehensive analysis of the building envelope. This test provides the best understanding of how your building is performing.

Multifamily

Understanding your building is key to understanding those factors that have the greatest impact on your energy use.

Meter

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