Seattle Blower Door Testing
At Smart PNW we offer blower door tests and duct leakage tests that are both energy-saving and in compliance with Washington State’s required Air Leakage Testing (R402.4.1.2)
Smart PNW is a completely independent, third party available to you for air and duct leakage inspections for new and existing houses. We work with home builders and homeowners for services and inspections in all of Washington.
See our faq below for more info.
Pricing
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Silver Package
Detailed Report
Attic & Crawl Inspection
Blower Door Test
Thermal Camera Imaging -
Gold Package
Detailed Report
Attic & Crawl Inspection
Blower Door Test
Thermal Camera Imaging
Zonal Pressure Testing
Duct Leakage Testing -
Platinum Package
Detailed Report
Attic & Crawl Inspection
Blower Door Test
Thermal Camera Imaging
Zonal Pressure Testing
Duct Leakage Testing
HERS Rating
Every home is different
Our rates will be determined during our free consultation. Your overall test will be determined by reviewing blueprints, measuring your home’s square footage and volume. We will then be able to provide you with a test certificate that includes R values, fuel source, and an efficiency rating for Domestic Hot Water, Cooling, Heating, and the home’s air leakage test results. Code requires that we place your WSEC Residential Energy Compliance Certificate be posted on or near the electrical panel.
This is a flat rate for homes less then 3500 sq ft, for bigger homes please call for pricing.
What does this mean?
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Blower Door Test
Testing run on a house to determine how much air loss or air infiltration a house is experiencing.
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Thermal Camera Imaging
When added to a blower door test, thermal imaging helps visually verify where air intrusion/leakage is occurring in a home.
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Zonal Pressure Testing
Zonal pressure testing helps figure out how connected certain zones or rooms in the house are to the house as opposed to the outdoors.
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Duct Leakage Testing
Testing run on HVAC ducting to determine how much air loss is occurring in them.
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HERS Rating
The HERS index is a straightforward approach to measuring a home's energy efficiency. A lower number means better energy performance, like a mpg rating for a home.
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R402.4.1.2 requires that this test be done on every new home (including additions) that are over 500 square feet, as well as all multi-family homes. As of July 1, 2016 the standard is less than 5 ACH at -50 pascals (this stands for air exchanges per hour). Every project does need to meet this standard by the state of Washington. This standard is only for new construction homes, for remodels its a different ACH.
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Every building and dwelling unit must be tested and verified with an air leakage rate of 5 air changes per hour (or less). In places where it is required by the code official, all testing must be conducted by an approved third party. A final written report is then signed by those conducting the test and provided to the code official.
As of July 1, 2016 the standard is less than 5 ACH at -50 pascals (this stands for air exchanges per hour) for new construction. Every project does need to meet this standard by the state of Washington. This standard is only for new construction homes, for remodels its a different ACH.
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A blower door test is mandatory for code compliance in new construction and additions over 450 sqft; it’s the last step before your final inspection. If you don’t pass your blower door test, you don’t pass your inspection.
An energy audit, designed for home owners, includes a blower door test, a thermal camera, and a smoke stick. An energy audit will find all the air leaks and drafts in your home so you can save money on your energy bill and make your home truly energy efficient. Worried about smoke from the wildfires getting into your home? We can help.
Whether you’re a builder or a home owner, we are here to make your blower door test as smooth as possible. Our technicians are trained to not just determine a pass/fail grade, but also diagnose where the problem areas are and offer solutions to remedy them. We will work with you every step of the way, from initial testing to final repairs, so you can pass your final inspection or simply save money on energy.
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No need to worry — if your blower door test fails, our technicians won’t just slap a fail sticker on your house and leave. Our technicians take the time to diagnose the problem areas and work with you to repair the issues. Needing repairs is nothing to be intimidated by; we are able to do any repairs necessary, including adding weather gaskets to your electrical foundation, applying foam air barriers under baseboards, caulking missed penetrations, sealing any holes from your attic or crawl space, and ensuring the weather stripping on your doors and windows is functioning properly and in good working condition and not damaged.