Blower Door Testing & HERS Ratings

Blower door testing is the gold standard for measuring a building's air tightness. It tells you exactly how much conditioned air is escaping your home — and where. For builders, it's how you prove your home meets Oklahoma's energy code requirements. For homeowners, it's how you find out why your energy bills are higher than they should be.

What Is a Blower Door Test?

A blower door test uses a calibrated fan mounted in an exterior doorway to depressurize the building. By measuring the airflow required to maintain a specific pressure difference, we calculate exactly how much air is leaking in and out of the building envelope.

The result is expressed in ACH50 (air changes per hour at 50 Pascals) — the industry standard metric for building air tightness. Oklahoma's residential energy code typically requires 5 ACH50 or less for new construction, though tighter is always better.

Why Builders Need This

Oklahoma's energy code requires blower door testing for new residential construction. Without a passing test result, you can't get your final certificate of occupancy. We help builders:

- Pass inspection the first time — Our testing is accurate and certified. No surprises at final inspection. - Identify problems early — We can test at rough-in stage (before drywall) so any air sealing issues can be fixed while the walls are still open. - Stay competitive — Buyers increasingly ask about HERS scores and energy performance. A good score is a selling point.

HERS Ratings

A Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rating is the industry-standard measurement of a home's energy efficiency. A standard new home scores 100 on the HERS Index. The lower the number, the more energy efficient the home.

Homes insulated with spray foam typically score between 50 and 70 on the HERS Index — dramatically better than code-minimum construction. This score can unlock:

- Electric company rebates — Many Oklahoma utilities offer cash rebates for homes with HERS ratings below certain thresholds - Energy-efficient mortgage qualification — Better terms for buyers purchasing certified energy-efficient homes - Marketing advantage — A documented HERS score gives builders a concrete selling point over competitors

How It Works

1. Schedule the test — We coordinate with your construction timeline. Pre-drywall testing is recommended. 2. We set up and test — Our certified technicians install the blower door, run the test, and identify any problem areas. 3. You get a detailed report — Air leakage rate, problem locations, pass/fail status, and recommendations if needed. 4. Certification filed — For new construction, we file the required documentation for your building permit.

For Homeowners

Not building a new home? Blower door testing is also valuable for existing homes. If your energy bills seem too high or your home has comfort issues (drafts, rooms that won't stay warm or cool), a blower door test can pinpoint exactly where the problems are — so you can fix them efficiently instead of guessing.