Find Out Where Air Is Leaking
Blower Door Test Services in Seattle
If your home in Seattle feels drafty in winter or struggles to stay cool in summer, air leaks are often the reason. A blower door test measures how much air escapes through gaps in your walls, windows, doors, and ceiling, giving you a clear picture of where conditioned air is going and what needs to be sealed. Homes across Seattle lose hundreds of dollars each year to air leaks that go unnoticed until a test pinpoints their location.
During the test, WA EVERGREEN INSULATION LLC seals your exterior doors and windows, then mounts a calibrated fan in one doorway. The fan depressurizes your home, pulling air through every crack and gap. A digital gauge records the airflow rate, and a technician moves through the home with a smoke pencil or infrared camera to identify where air is entering. The results show exactly how leaky your home is and where sealing efforts will make the most difference.
Schedule a blower door test in Seattle to see which areas of your home need attention before sealing or adding insulation.
What Happens During the Test and What You Learn
The technician arrives with a blower door unit, which includes a frame, an adjustable panel, and a variable-speed fan. After closing all windows and exterior doors, the fan is installed in your front or back doorway and powered on. The fan pulls air out of the home, lowering the indoor pressure so that outside air rushes in through any opening it can find. A manometer measures the pressure difference and calculates the rate of air loss in cubic feet per minute.
Once the test is running, you will see smoke trails near baseboards, recessed lights, electrical outlets, attic hatches, and plumbing penetrations where air is entering. The technician documents each leak and compares your home's air changes per hour to recommended standards. Homes built before modern energy codes often show air leakage rates two to three times higher than what is considered acceptable today.
The test takes about an hour and does not require any demolition or invasive work. You receive a written report listing problem areas in order of severity, along with recommendations for sealing materials and methods. The test does not include repairs, but it tells you exactly where to focus your efforts so you are not guessing which cracks matter most.
Most Homeowners Have a Few Questions Before Testing
Blower door tests are straightforward, but it helps to know what to prepare for and what the results will tell you.
What does a blower door test measure?
It measures the total amount of air leaking out of your home under controlled pressure. The result is expressed as air changes per hour, which tells you how many times per hour all the air in your home is replaced by outside air.
How should I prepare my home before the test?
Turn off any combustion appliances like gas water heaters or furnaces, and make sure all exterior doors and windows are accessible. The technician will handle the rest, including closing interior doors and setting up the fan.
Why does the test depressurize the house?
Depressurizing the home amplifies air leaks so they are easier to locate and measure. The fan creates a consistent pressure difference that mimics the effect of wind and temperature differences, making hidden gaps visible with smoke or infrared imaging.
What happens if my home has a high air leakage rate?
You receive a prioritized list of areas to seal, starting with the largest leaks. Sealing these gaps before adding insulation improves comfort and lowers heating and cooling costs more effectively than insulation alone.
How often should a blower door test be done?
Most homeowners test once before sealing work and again after to confirm the improvements. If you are renovating or noticing higher energy bills, a test gives you a baseline to work from.
WA EVERGREEN INSULATION LLC performs blower door tests throughout Seattle using calibrated equipment and infrared cameras to find leaks that would otherwise stay hidden. Contact us to schedule a test and get a detailed report on where your home is losing conditioned air.
