BLOWER DOOR TEST & DUCT LEAKAGE TEST, BATHROOM VENT FAN TESTINGfor Annapolis, Baltimore, Glen Burnie (Anne Arundel County), Columbia, Hunt Valley, Reisterstown, Frederick, Bowie, Bel Air, Washington DC, Virginia and the Surrounding Areas
Blower Door Testing in the Baltimore / Washington Metropolitan Area Provides a Simple Measurement of the Hourly ACH Rate of a Home.
Hydro-Serv is Certified in Infiltration & Duct Leakage - BPI ID# 5069513
Maintaining air quality is crucial, but so is receiving the heated or cooled air that just was displaced. Too much fresh air flow leads to high energy bills and uncomfortable indoor temperatures. We use a Blower Door Test to ensure the number of air changes per hour is acceptable.
What is a Blower Door Test?
A Blower Door Test (also known as Envelope Leakage) is performed by installing a frame onto a central door in the home and attaching a fan to the door. The fan depressurizes the home to a Pascal of 50. Once the home is depressurized we use an instrument called a nanometer to measure the difference in air pressure between the outside of the home and the inside of the home. We get results in ACH (air changes per hour). This is the amount of time air leaks out of a home and new air enters into the home in an hour. All homes leak and that’s normal but keeping air changes to an acceptable amount is essential since each air change creates a need to reheat or cool the new air.
Duct Leakage Testing
A Blower Door Test must be used in conjunction with a Duct Tester to measure duct leakage to the outside.
Natural driving forces include wind, the “stack effect” (air motion in buildings related to indoor-to-outdoor temperature difference and height) and atmospherically vented appliances. Mechanical driving forces include fans (such as exhaust and air handler fans), duct leakage, and others.
Preparing for a Blower Door Test
The following steps will help prepare your home for a blower door test:
Plan a Walk-through
Easy Access to Areas
All Doors and Windows are Operational
We will need to close all exterior doors and windows, open all interior doors, and close any fireplace dampers, doors, and woodstove air inlets.
Put out any Fires
If you heat with wood, be sure all fires are completely out - even coals - before we arrive. Remove any ashes from open fireplaces.
Turn Off Appliances
Set controls on all atmospheric fossil fuel appliances (e.g., furnace, water heater, fireplaces, and stoves) to ensure that they do not fire up during the test. We will return them to the original position after the test.
Set Aside at Least One Hour
HVAC Bath & Exhaust Fan Testing in Glen Burnie, MD
Proper HVAC bath and exhaust fan testing is an important part of verifying that ventilation systems are operating as intended and meeting applicable building and energy requirements in Glen Burnie, MD, Anne Arundel County, and the surrounding Maryland communities. For new construction, remodeling projects, and other properties where ventilation performance must be verified, accurate testing can help builders, contractors, homeowners, and inspectors identify whether bathroom exhaust fans and other mechanical ventilation systems are moving the required amount of air.
At Hydro-Serv, we provide professional blower door testing, duct leakage testing, and HVAC testing designed to evaluate building performance and ventilation-related air movement. Our team is based in Glen Burnie and is certified in infiltration and duct leakage through BPI, giving local builders and property owners an experienced resource for testing air leakage and HVAC-related ventilation performance.
Professional Bath Fan & Exhaust Fan Testing
Bathroom exhaust fans, ventilation fans, and mechanical exhaust systems play an important role in removing moisture, odors, and unwanted indoor air from a property. Testing helps determine whether these systems are actually performing as designed rather than simply confirming that a fan turns on.
Hydro-Serv can provide testing services that help evaluate HVAC ventilation performance, exhaust fan airflow, air leakage, and duct performance. Our testing approach can help identify potential problems with ventilation systems, duct connections, airflow, and building-envelope leakage that may affect energy efficiency and indoor comfort.
For projects in in Baltimore, Annapolis, Columbia, Hunt Valley, Reisterstown, Frederick, Bowie, Bel Air, and the surrounding areas of Maryland, professional HVAC testing can also provide useful documentation when ventilation or energy-performance testing is part of the construction and inspection process.
Why Choose Hydro-Serv?
With Hydro-Serv, you can rely on the following:
- NADCA-certified air system cleaning specialists
- Adequate training and preparation
- High-efficiency equipment
- Over 32 years of experience
- A locally owned-and-operated team
- Commercial and residential air duct cleaning solutions
- Hybrid cleaning systems for optimal results
Hydro-Serv proudly offers professional air duct cleaning, HVAC inspections, HVAC cleaning, filter maintenance, pressure washing, exterior cleaning, and more in Baltimore, Annapolis, Columbia, Hunt Valley, Reisterstown, Frederick, Bowie, Bel Air, and the surrounding areas of Maryland.