How long it takes to do a blower door test depends on house size and purpose, but typically takes 30 minutes to 2 hours for a standard single family home when performed by a trained energy auditor. Setup takes about 10 to 15 minutes, including mounting the adjustable frame and fan in an exterior doorway, connecting the digital manometer, closing all exterior windows and doors, opening interior doors, and preparing the house by covering vents and turning off combustion appliances. The actual testing takes 5 to 15 minutes to run the fan at multiple pressure points, usually from 20 to 60 Pascals, and record CFM50, which is cubic feet per minute at 50 Pascals, and calculate air changes per hour ACH50. If the auditor also does diagnostic work to locate leaks using infrared camera, smoke pencil, or thermal imaging while house is depressurized, that adds 30 to 60 minutes as they walk through the house checking attic penetrations, electrical outlets, windows, and basement rim joists. For large commercial buildings, testing can take half a day. For weatherization programs, blower door testing is done before and after improvements to measure reduction in air leakage.
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