Blower door testing
Blower Door Test Preparation for Florida New Homes
How a new house should be left on test day, so the reading measures the shell the way the Florida energy code sets out.
Getting a new house ready for its test
Big Bend Services, Inc. tests new homes across the Florida Panhandle under the code's test conditions, and the builder, superintendent or owner sets the house up before we arrive.
Book the test once every opening through the shell is made. Call (850) 819-6031 with any question about the conditions, Monday to Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The same set-up applies on the day of a retest.
Test-day conditions
How the house is left for the test
Each condition is there so the test measures leaks in the shell and nothing else. Where one does not apply, such as a house with no fireplace, skip it.
Windows and exterior doors closed, not sealed
Closed, so an open sash is not counted as a leak. Not taped or covered, because air that slips past a closed window or door is part of what the shell leaks.
Fireplace and stove doors closed
An open fireplace or stove door is a straight path up the flue.
Exhaust, intake and flue dampers closed
Dampers on fans, fresh air intakes and flues are shut, and left as they are in normal use.
Interior doors open
Where interior doors are hung, they stand open so every room is at the same pressure and the house is measured as one space. A doorway with no door yet is already open.
Heating and cooling off
A running air handler moves air around the house and pushes against the pressure the test fan is holding. Turn it off at the thermostat before the fan goes in.
Registers fully open
Supply and return registers are open where they are installed, so the ducts connect to the rooms the way they do in use. Take off any tape, plastic or covers put on them to keep out drywall dust.
The attic and an attached garage on test day
With a vented attic, the attic is outside the test and the ceiling below it is part of the shell. The attic hatch or pull-down stair is closed like any other opening in that ceiling, with a pull-down stair folded up fully and its panel sitting flat in the frame.
When the attic is sealed and insulated at the roof deck, it is opened to the house for the test and measured with it.
An attached garage that is not heated or cooled is outside the test. The wall and door between the garage and the living area are part of the boundary, so that door stays closed while the fan runs.
The day before
Loose ends to check the day before
Openings waiting for a line
An opening cut for a pipe, wire or line set that has not been run yet is still open through the shell. Run the line or close the opening.
Vents outside
Exhaust and dryer vents have their outside caps or hoods on.
Windows latched
Every window is shut and latched, including the ones upstairs and in closets.
Fans and appliances off
Bath fans, the range hood and the dryer are not running.
Access panels
Panels for tub valves, a water heater closet or an attic knee wall are in place and closed.
Floor openings
On a raised floor, openings cut in the subfloor for pipes and ducts are closed around the pipe or boot.
A clear doorway
One exterior doorway is clear of materials for the fan and its frame.
Temporary openings
A window left out for deliveries, or a gap left for a temporary power cord, is closed up.
Crawl space access
On a raised floor over a vented crawl space, the crawl space hatch is closed like the attic hatch.
If the house will not be ready
If an opening is still to be made, or the conditions cannot be set on the day, call before the test date and a new date is set.
Where we work
Counties we test in
Blower door testing is available in each of these counties.
What to expect
From booking to result
- 1
Send the build details
Address, permit number and when the house will be ready.
- 2
Test booked
We give you a date for the test.
- 3
Test run
A fan in an exterior doorway holds the house at the test pressure while the air leakage is measured.
- 4
If it is over
The leaks are corrected, and the house is tested again under the same conditions.
Should the drain traps have water in them?
Can the crew keep working in the house during the test?
Do the bath fans and range hood need to be installed?
Do paint and flooring need to be finished for the test?
Should the fresh air or ventilation system be off?
Get a quote
Request a Blower Door Test
Send the address and the date the house will be ready, and the office will follow up.
