Airtightness Test & Diagnostic (Blower Door)

Understanding Blower Door Tests
A blower door test is a key diagnostic tool in residential energy audits, performed by NRCan-certified energy advisors at EnerSolution Inc. The test measures your home’s air leakage, identifies airflow gaps, and ensures your building envelope is properly sealed for optimal energy efficiency.

A trained energy professional temporarily installs a blower door—a frame and fan system—into an exterior doorway. The fan depressurizes your home, allowing outside air to flow through unsealed gaps, cracks, and penetrations. Using advanced tools such as infrared thermography and smoke pencils, our experts pinpoint areas of air leakage and insulation deficiencies.

How It Works

• Calibrated Blower Doors: Accurately measure the home’s airtightness and quantify air leakage before and after air-sealing.

• Air Sealing & Diagnostics: Combined with blower door assisted air sealing, we reduce drafts, improve indoor comfort, and lower heating and cooling costs.

• Data Analysis: Airflow readings are recorded digitally to evaluate the air infiltration rate, ensuring measurable energy improvements.

Preparing for Your Test
To ensure accurate results:

• Walk through your home with our energy advisor, highlighting drafty areas.

• Provide access to all rooms, attics, crawlspaces, and built-in cabinets.

• Close exterior doors and windows; open interior doors; close fireplace dampers.

• Ensure wood-burning appliances are completely out and controls on fossil fuel appliances are set safely.

• Testing typically takes 1–2 hours depending on home size and complexity.

Why Airtightness Testing Matters
A blower door test is essential for:

• Reducing energy consumption and utility costs

• Improving indoor air quality and overall comfort

• Supporting eligibility for home energy rebates and incentive programs

• Ensuring compliance with building codes and energy efficiency standards

Blower Doors: What Are They and How Do They Work?