RSB Empire → Speaking & Consulting → Blower Door Testing

Blower Door Test
Palm Beach County

Looking for a blower door test near you? Randolph Scott Bell is a RESNET Certified HERS Rater (RTIN 4516301), Energy Star v3 Verifier and licensed for blower-door testing, based in Loxahatchee. Call, or send the short form below. We tell you what the test is for, what it measures and what it would involve at your home.

Call (561) 779-3213 Request a Test
What a Blower Door Test Measures

A blower door is a calibrated fan mounted in a sealed panel in an exterior doorway. It pulls the house to a known pressure, and a manometer records how much air the fan must move to hold it there. That airflow is your home's air leakage, measured through every gap in the envelope: around windows and doors, at attic hatches, through recessed lights and at the joints where building materials meet.

In a Florida home that matters because the air leaking out is air you have already cooled and dried. Leakage also pulls in humid outdoor air. A measured number turns "the house feels drafty" into something you can compare before and after air-sealing, or document for a rating or program submission.

⚠️
Advisory guidance, not a program guarantee. Whether a test is required for your project, and whether any rebate or incentive applies, depends on your jurisdiction and the program at the time. Confirm with your building department and ask us about current programs.
Red blower-door panel and calibrated fan sealed into a residential front entry during an energy audit, with the manometer on the floor
Blower-door testing in progress: a calibrated fan pulls the house to a known pressure so air leakage becomes a measurement, not a guess.
When a Homeowner Needs One
New construction
HERS or ENERGY STAR documentation
The test is one of the on-site diagnostics behind a HERS Index score. See the HERS rating page for the rating itself.
Existing home
Finding out where it leaks
A measured leakage number shows how leaky the envelope is, and the fan can help locate the leaks in the same visit.
After upgrades
Checking the work
Test before and after air-sealing, windows or insulation to see whether the change made a measurable difference.
Advisory
Code or program paperwork
Some energy-code and program submissions ask for a tested result. Requirements vary, so we point you to what applies.
Who Does the Testing

Randolph Scott Bell holds RESNET certification as a HERS Rater (RTIN 4516301), is an Energy Star v3 Verifier, a LEED Accredited Professional and is licensed for blower-door testing. He is also a Florida State-Certified General Contractor (CGC1528750), 17 years building in Palm Beach County, so the person reading your number can also tell you what it would take to fix. His rating career included 350+ certified energy ratings in St. Lucie County for a solar fund based in Fort Pierce.

For the wider picture, including insulation, impact windows and the upgrades a test tends to point toward, see energy-efficient home improvement and the home energy audit guide.

Request a Blower Door Test

Three fields and we call you back. Scoped per home; no price list here.

Prefer to talk now? Call (561) 779-3213

Related Reading
Rating
HERS Rating Florida →
The registered Index score that a blower-door test feeds into.
Construction
Energy-Efficient Home Improvement →
The upgrades a test typically points toward.

Blower Door Testing — FAQ

What is a blower door test?

A blower door test is a diagnostic that measures how leaky a home's building envelope is. A calibrated fan is sealed into an exterior doorway and pulls the house to a known pressure, and a manometer records how much air the fan has to move to hold it there. The result is a measurement of air leakage rather than an estimate.

Where can I get a blower door test near me in Palm Beach County?

Randolph Scott Bell is based in Loxahatchee and provides licensed blower-door testing for homes in Palm Beach County, including Jupiter. Call (561) 779-3213 or send the short form on this page with your address and what the test is for.

Who performs the test?

Randolph Scott Bell, a RESNET Certified HERS Rater (RTIN 4516301) and Energy Star v3 Verifier who is licensed for blower-door testing. He is also a LEED Accredited Professional and a Florida State-Certified General Contractor (CGC1528750).

Why would I need a blower door test?

Common reasons are documenting a HERS rating or ENERGY STAR certification on new construction or a renovation, finding where an existing home leaks conditioned air, checking the result of air-sealing or window work, or supporting an energy-code or program submission. Requirements vary by jurisdiction and program, so confirm with your building department.

Is a blower door test the same as a HERS rating?

No. The blower door test is one on-site diagnostic that feeds a HERS rating, alongside duct-pressure testing and a review of insulation, windows and equipment. You can ask about a stand-alone test or a full HERS rating; see our HERS rating page for the rating itself.

How long does a blower door test take, and what do I need to do?

The test itself is typically a short visit, although the time depends on the size of the home and how much setup it needs. You will be told how to prepare the house, for example closing windows and exterior doors and setting up mechanical equipment, when you book.

Can a blower door test find where my house is leaking?

The test quantifies total leakage. With the fan running, leak locations can be checked in the same visit, and infrared thermography can be added for an energy audit. The diagnostics are an advisory input; repairs such as air-sealing are a separate scope.

What does a blower door test cost?

It depends on the home and on whether you need a stand-alone test or a full HERS rating. There is no fixed price list on this page. Call (561) 779-3213 for a straight answer for your project.

Are there rebates or incentives tied to a blower door test?

Some programs require testing as part of their documentation, but programs change. We do not publish incentive details here; ask us about current programs and confirm eligibility with the program itself.

Does a blower door test also cover duct leakage?

Duct leakage is tested separately with a duct-pressure test. HERS ratings commonly include both, and you can ask about adding duct testing when you call.

Related

HERS Rating FloridaEnergy-Efficient Home ImprovementLEED Consultant FloridaOwner's Representative Construction Services
📞  Call (561) 779-3213 — Blower Door Testing