Home Efficiency Blower Door Testing in Central New York
Blower door testing is the most precise diagnostic tool available for measuring building air leakage. Patriot Home Solutions uses calibrated blower door equipment to pinpoint exactly where your home or building is losing heat so you can fix the right things, not just guess.
blower door testing
Find Out Exactly Where Your Home is Losing Money
Most homeowners know their house is drafty, but they don’t know where the air is actually entering. Without knowing that, every improvement is a guess. Blower door testing replaces the guesswork with precise, measured data of where your building is losing heat or conditioned air and exactly how much. It may be time to schedule a blower door test if:
Your heating or cooling bills are high, but you don’t know where the energy is going
You feel drafts or cold spots that you’ve never been able to trace to a source
You’re planning energy improvements and want to prioritize actual impact
You need documented air-leakage data for a NYSERDA rebate or tax credit
how it works
Every Blower Door Test Follows Three Clear Steps
01
Site Prep & Setup
We arrive at your home or building, walk you through the scope of the test, and prepare the structure for depressurization. Our site prep and setup involves closing all exterior openings (windows, doors, fireplace dampers, exhaust vents) while keeping interior doors open for uniform pressure distribution. Then, we mount a calibrated fan assembly in your main entry door and connect the pressure gauges and measurement equipment. In total, setup usually only takes about 20–30 minutes.
02
Full Diagnostic Test
The fan depressurizes to a standardized 50 Pascals. We then record the airflow measurement (your ACH50 rating) and walk through your home to locate and document air-leakage points.
Common sources include attic hatch perimeters, electrical outlets on exterior walls, plumbing penetrations, basement rim joists, window and door frames, and HVAC chases.
03
Report & Next Steps
After the test, you’ll receive a written report that documents your ACH50 baseline, and a list of our recommendations ranked by impact and payback period.
We’ll even let you know which improvements qualify for NYSERDA rebates, EmPower NY funding, or any other incentives available. There’s no pressure to act on anything immediately.
Contact Us for Your No-Obligation Energy Audit
New York State grants, EmPower NY, and available rebates
Up to $20,000 in Rebates Available for New York Homeowners
You might be leaving thousands of dollars on the table each year. Federal and New York state rebates can cover a significant portion of your window, door, and energy upgrades. But these programs won’t last forever! New York State grants, EmPower NY, and available rebates can be found by clicking the button below.
ABOUT US
Guaranteeing Your Great Experience
Patriot Home Solutions is a Central New York home improvement company built on the principle that homeowners deserve honest advice, skilled work, and a team that stands behind what they do. We’re not a national franchise; we’re your neighbors.
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Serving Central New York Since 2019
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Why Central New York Homeowners Choose Patriot Home Solutions
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What is the ACH50, and what does it mean for my home?
ACH50 stands for Air Changes per Hour at 50 Pascals of pressure. It measures how many times per hour the entire air volume of your home is replaced with outside air when the building is depressurized to 50 Pascals. A higher number means a leakier building. Typical Central New York homes built before 1990 often test between 10 and 20 ACH50. ENERGY STAR certification requires ≤7 ACH50 in our climate zone. New construction typically targets 3–5 ACH50. Every point you reduce your ACH50 translates directly to heating and cooling savings.
How long does a blower door test take?
For most single-family homes, the complete test, including setup, depressurization, leak detection walkthrough, and teardown, takes one to two hours. Larger homes and commercial buildings may take longer. You can remain in your home during the test. We’ll review our findings with you before we leave and follow up with a written report within a few business days.
Do I need blower door testing before getting energy efficiency rebates?
For most NYSERDA and utility rebate programs, including Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and EmPower NY, a documented baseline energy audit that includes blower door testing is required before work begins and again after completion to verify improvements. The pre- and post-improvement ACH50 measurements are submitted as part of the rebate application. We provide all required documentation as part of our standard testing service.
Can blower door testing be done on commercial buildings?
Absolutely. Blower door testing is applicable and highly valuable for commercial buildings, particularly smaller office buildings, retail spaces, and multi-unit residential properties. For larger commercial buildings, we use multi-point pressurization techniques with multiple fan units. Commercial blower door testing is often required for participation in the NYSERDA FlexTech program and for LEED or ASHRAE 90.1 compliance documentation.
What happens after the test, and how do I fix what you find?
After the test, you’ll receive a written report of the findings. Many common fixes, like attic hatch weatherstripping, rim joist insulation, outlet gaskets, and plumbing penetration sealing, are straightforward and low-cost. Patriot can perform the air sealing and insulation work directly, or you can use the report to prioritize DIY improvements or get competitive bids. We also perform post-improvement blower door testing to verify and document the results for rebate and tax credit filings.
Have a question?
(315) 401-0440