If you’ve scheduled a blower door test or duct leakage test, you’re already taking an important step toward improving your home’s comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. These tests help identify air leaks, pressure imbalances, and inefficiencies that could be costing you money on utility bills or reducing your HVAC system’s performance.
Preparing your home properly ensures accurate results and helps the process go smoothly. Here’s what you can expect and how to get ready. Let’s take a closer look.
Why Preparation Matters
Blower door and duct tests measure how airtight your home and duct system are. To get a true reading, the environment needs to be consistent and free from anything that could affect pressure, airflow, or temperature. A little preparation ahead of time helps technicians work efficiently and ultimately gives you a clearer picture of your home’s performance.
Before the Test: How to Prepare Your Home
Secure All Pets
Pets should be placed in a safe, closed room or outside during testing. Blower doors create strong airflow that may startle animals, and open doors during setup can allow pets to escape.
Close All Exterior Doors and Windows
Make sure all exterior openings (including sliding doors, storm doors, and basement walkouts) are fully closed before the test begins. This helps the technician pressurize or depressurize the home correctly.
Open All Interior Doors
To measure airflow throughout the entire home, interior doors should remain open unless directed otherwise by the technician. This allows air to move freely from room to room.
Turn Off Combustion Appliances
Gas stoves, fireplaces, furnaces, and water heaters that burn fuel should be shut off prior to testing. This prevents backdrafting and ensures safe operation while the home’s pressure is being adjusted.
Extinguish Any Open Flames
All candles, pilot lights (if easily accessible), and wood-burning fires must be fully extinguished. The strong airflow created during testing can disrupt open flames and pose a safety hazard.
Clear Access to Key Areas
Technicians need access to your HVAC system, air handler, attic access points, crawl spaces, registers, and return vents. Clearing clutter helps speed up the process and ensures accurate testing.
What Happens During a Blower Door Test
A blower door test uses a powerful fan installed in an exterior doorway to pressurize or depressurize your home. As the fan runs, the technician uses tools to measure how much air is leaking through gaps in the building envelope–doors, windows, attic hatches, electrical penetrations, and more.
You may feel drafts during the test, especially around windows and baseboards. This is normal and helps pinpoint areas where your home may benefit from air sealing or insulation improvements.
What Happens During a Duct Leakage Test
For a duct test, the technician seals off all supply and return registers and pressurizes the duct system using specialized equipment. This reveals how much conditioned air is escaping into attics, crawl spaces, or walls instead of reaching your living areas.
The results help you understand how efficiently your HVAC system is operating and whether sealing or repairs are needed.
After the Test: Reviewing Results and Next Steps
Once your tests are complete, you’ll receive a detailed report showing leakage levels, problem areas, and recommendations for improving your home’s efficiency. Common next steps may include air sealing, duct sealing, insulation upgrades, or scheduling a follow-up test after repairs.
Trust Ensure Home Solutions for Expert Testing
At Ensure Home Solutions, we use advanced tools to provide accurate duct testing and customized recommendations for repair or sealing. Whether you’re concerned about your energy bills or want to improve the air quality in your home, we’re here to help you breathe easier and live more comfortably.
Contact us today to schedule your duct test and take the first step toward a healthier, more efficient home.
