Blower Door Testing for New Construction Homes

As most contractors already know, New Jersey State now REQUIRES energy testing for new construction and remodeling of residential homes. We use the latest equipment to quickly target the best opportunities for improvement, with an eye towards the practicality and feasibility of our recommendations. We understand construction and timelines and will never recommend unnecessary services or actions.

We have been working in the trades for years and not only do we provide the building air leakage test and documentation that builders need before inspection, but if the house does not pass the initial test, we can also provide the diagnostics in order to isolate where any major air leakage areas are so they can be efficiently corrected. Additionally, we can do combustion safety test, duct-blaster test, or any other testing that may be requested by you or city officials.

Existing Homes

The blower door is an essential tool that identifies many things that can be affecting your end results and the homeowner’s overall satisfaction with your work and their home.

  • Air leakage rate—Is the building air tight or very leaky?
  • Air Sealing—Will air sealing be a cost effective approach in lowering energy costs by keeping conditioned air in the home?
  • Ventilation—Is the building tight enough to require whole house ventilation?
  • Quality assurance—If air sealing measurements were performed on the building, what was the reduction of air leakage? The blower door is often used as a test-in and test-out procedure for both diagnosing problems and ensuring effective installation.
  • Sizing HVAC Systems—Contractors performing load calculations can input the data from the blower door to provide a more accurate sizing of the forced air furnace, air conditioner, or geothermal heat pump system.

While blower door tests aren’t required on existing homes, contractors that use them quickly realize they are well worth it. Call 1 (877) 796-8728 for a quote for free consultation or fill out form on the bottom of this page.

When can energy testing be done?

Energy testing can be done anytime before final inspection. However, the best time is between drywall and trim installation so repairs can be made if needed.

The best ways to ensure that your home passes the energy testing:

  1. Make sure electricians, plumbers and HVAC installers seal all penetrations in bottom plates, top plates and exterior sheathing Seal the bottom plate where it meats the sheathing and sub-floor
  2. Seal the top plate where it meets the rim and sheathing
  3. Seal the rim to the sub-floor
  4. Bring drywall mud tight to the fixtures and switch boxes. Use air tight drywall practices.
  5. Make sure every exhaust fan has a back-draft damper at the termination
  6. Seal windows and doors with expanding foam

Call 1 (877) 796-8728 to determine what energy testing needs to be done, and the best ways to help your project pass the test.