Air Leakage Testing (Blower Door)
Building pressurization testing to identify air leakage paths that also allow water intrusion in BC's wind-driven rain climate.
How Air Leakage Testing (Blower Door) Works
Air leakage testing (blower door testing) measures the airtightness of a building envelope and identifies air leakage paths that also serve as water entry points. A calibrated fan is mounted in an exterior door opening and used to depressurize the building (drawing air outward) or pressurize it (forcing air inward). Using a combination of smoke pencils, thermal imaging during depressurization, and flow hood measurements, we identify the location and magnitude of air leakage paths. In BC's climate, where wind-driven rain is common, air leakage paths are significant water entry points — water is literally pushed through these openings by wind pressure during rain events. Blower door testing is essential for comprehensive building envelope investigations.
Applications in BC
- Building envelope air leakage identification for BC homes
- Air barrier continuity verification in new construction
- Energy efficiency assessment and heat loss identification
- Wind-driven rain entry path investigation
- Depressurization testing combined with thermal imaging for leak hunting
Advantages
- Identifies both air and water entry paths
- Quantifies building airtightness for energy analysis
- Combined with thermal imaging for powerful diagnostics
- Standardized testing protocol (ASTM E779)
- Non-invasive — no building damage
Limitations
- Requires specialized equipment and certification
- Weather-dependent — high wind reduces accuracy
- Larger buildings require larger fan systems
- May not identify all water entry paths
Equipment Used
- • Minneapolis Blower Door Model 4 fan system
- • Retrotec DM32 gauge
- • The Energy Conservatory DG-1000 pressure gauge
- • Smoke pencils and trace smoke generators
- • FLIR thermal camera for concurrent scanning
Related Services
Professional Air Leakage Testing (Blower Door) in BC
LeakInspections.ca — a division of Anyleak.ca and Leak.ca. Call 604-239-9934.