How does the test unfold?
The advisor sets up his device and then starts the blower. His manometer indicates the air flow rate per minute required to maintain a constant pressure in the house. He repeats the exercise with different pressures and compares the information collected with estimated values based on the volume of the house. Once the data is collected, the advisor keeps the blower running and inspects the house from top to bottom to pinpoint air leaks, using his hand or a smoke pencil. Once leaks are identified, he evaluates their extent and includes them in his report. The blower door test can be carried out safely in any season – results will be just as dependable in winter or summer. If the test is done in the winter, however, the house’s interior temperature is likely to drop a bit, as cold air is blown into the house, and, if the home is heated with a combustion system, the heat is shut off throughout the test. Nonetheless, cold air flow is more easily detected by hand. The door does not have to
