The Blower Door Test

Farnum Insulators are weatherization pros, who know that improving insulation saves money by reducing energy costs. In this video, Chad Farnum, follows home energy auditor Sonia as she performs a blower door test and looks for gaps in insulation. After a brief inspection of the house and insulation in the attic and basement and any crawl spaces that might be collecting excessive moisture.

A blower door test measures unintentional air leaks which can lead to high energy costs.

A fan creates a pressure difference between the inside and outside of your home which is the equivalent of 25 MPH wind blowing against your house from all directions. She then walks through the house feeling with her hand, a smoke stick, or an infrared camera where air might be leaking. In this home, she finds gaps around light fixtures allowing warm air to escape into the attic. With her infrared camera, Sonia can see gaps in the insulation, which are common around old windows..

After the energy audit, Sonja provides a list of weatherization priorities and recommendations for the homeowner. By understanding how your home is losing heat they can offer recommendations like custom-fit window inserts or improvements to attic insulation. Farnum submits any pertinent information to Efficiency Vermont to help you take advantage of any rebate programs.