A blower door test is one of the routine checkups performed by an energy auditor to analyze a home’s energy efficiency. The actual blower door equipment consists of a door with a built in fan. By inserting the blower door in the place of your front door, the auditor can blow air out of your home to create an imbalance in pressure. As the pressure in your home drops, air from outside with start to seep in through any cracks or leaky areas around windows, doors, outlets, chimneys, etc.

The auditor will then go through your house and identify these leaks (drafts) with colored smoke. By making the leaks visible, the auditor can seal them up, which will ultimately save you a lot of money on your energy bills because your air conditioner and furnace won’t have to work as hard to keep your home comfortable.

Some other tests energy auditors perform include infrared scans, ductwork tests and combustion tests. All of these measures are designed to give you a list of cost-effective energy efficiency improvements for your home. To find out what an energy auditor may suggest for your home, check out this free online energy analysis.