Blower Door Testing
Blower door testing measures whole-building envelope air leakage — the uncontrolled drafts that let conditioned air escape and outside air in. Title 24 requires it for most newly constructed low-rise homes and additions, with a measured leakage limit the building must meet. As independent CHEERS-certified raters, Pacific Airflow runs the test, locates the leaks if a building does not pass, and registers the CF3R certificate so your permit closes cleanly.
California Title 24 requires envelope leakage testing by an independent certified rater. Pacific Airflow guarantees 100% impartial testing and registry-ready results accepted by every municipal building department.
Whole-Building Envelope Air Leakage Testing
Modern homes are built tight, which improves comfort and lowers energy bills — but only if the envelope leakage is measured and controlled. Unmeasured leakage hides drafts, moisture problems, and the energy waste that defeats the project's efficiency goals. Title 24 requires a blower door test to prove the building meets its air leakage limit, expressed as ACH50 (air changes per hour at 50 pascals).
Pacific Airflow performs certified blower door testing throughout Northern California. We use calibrated fans and digital pressure gauges to measure the envelope, pinpoint the leaks if a building does not pass, and upload the CF3R certificate to the CHEERS registry so your inspector has clean paperwork at final.
Our blower door testing services include:
- Calibrated fan pressurization and depressurization testing
- Envelope leakage rate measurement (ACH50) against the Title 24 limit
- On-site leak localization for your crew to seal
- Coordination with QII inspections and duct leakage testing on the same visit
- Electronic CF3R certificate upload to the CHEERS registry
When to Schedule Blower Door Testing in Northern California
Title 24 calls for envelope leakage testing on many newly permitted projects. Here is when to schedule Pacific Airflow.
New Construction & Additions
Most newly constructed low-rise homes and many additions require a blower door test to prove the envelope meets its ACH50 limit. Scheduling after insulation and air sealing — but before final — leaves room to fix any leaks.
Projects Using QII Compliance Credit
Projects that rely on verified insulation performance often pair a QII inspection with a blower door test, since correct installation is what makes a tight envelope possible.
Permit Closeouts & Final Sign-Off
The registered CF3R certificate must be on file before final. We schedule the test around your insulation and air-sealing milestones and upload results fast so a missing form never delays occupancy.
How the Blower Door Test Works
A blower door test is a controlled, repeatable measurement — not a guess. We seal the building, mount a calibrated fan in an exterior door frame, and use digital gauges to hold the space at a steady 50 pascals of pressure. The airflow required to hold that pressure is the building's leakage, reported as ACH50.
If the building exceeds its limit, we do not stop at the number. With the fan still running we walk the interior and exterior to locate the leaks — at top plates, rim joists, window and door rough openings, and utility penetrations — so your crew can seal them and we can retest the same visit.
Measured, Not Assumed
Calibrated fan and digital manometer deliver a defensible ACH50 number your inspector accepts.
Leaks Located On Site
We find the actual leakage paths so your crew seals the right spots, then retest until it passes.
Get in Touch
Schedule your blower door test after air sealing and before final. Fast dispatch and leak localization across 11 Northern California counties.
(530) 864-5042Electronic compliance certificates uploaded directly to the CHEERS state HERS registry within 24 hours of passing.
Our Blower Door Testing Process
A precise sequence that measures the envelope, locates the leaks, and gets your permit signed off.
Permit & CF1R Review
We review your compliance documents to confirm the envelope leakage limit applies and identify the ACH50 target your building must meet.
Pressurization Test
We seal the building, mount the calibrated fan, and hold 50 pascals while recording the airflow that defines the envelope's measured leakage.
Leak Localization & Retest
If the building exceeds its limit, we locate the leaks so your crew can seal them, then retest on the same visit until the envelope passes.
Electronic Registry Upload
We sign and transmit the official CF3R certificate directly to the CHEERS state HERS registry for immediate building inspector verification.
Why Choose Us for Blower Door Testing
Builders and contractors across 11 Northern California counties rely on Pacific Airflow for independent envelope verification.
Certified Independent Rater
California law requires envelope testing by an independent certified rater. We provide 100% neutral verification — we test only, never install or repair — that inspectors accept without hesitation.
Same-Day & Flexible Booking
Air-sealing schedules are tight. We schedule the test the same day you call across Butte, Shasta, Placer, Sacramento, and surrounding regions.
Fast Electronic Registry Uploads
The CF3R certificate is uploaded directly into the CHEERS registry within 24 hours of passing, ensuring your building permit closes cleanly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blower Door Testing
Click any question to view ACH50, leak localization, and Title 24 registry requirements.
Schedule Blower Door Testing
Get fast, certified envelope air leakage verification and registry sign-off. We respond within hours with transparent pricing.