If you're considering a home energy audit in Middle Tennessee, one of the first questions you probably have is: "How much time will this take?"
It's a fair question. You're busy, and you need to plan your day around having a professional in your home. The short answer is that a standard home energy audit, including a blower door test, typically takes 2-3 hours from start to finish.
But let's break down what actually happens during that time—and why it takes as long as it does.
A comprehensive home energy audit isn't just about running a single test and leaving. Here's what we're actually doing during your appointment:
We start by walking through your home with you, discussing any comfort issues you've noticed—cold rooms, high utility bills, drafts, uneven temperatures, or HVAC systems that run constantly. This conversation helps us understand what's happening from your perspective before we start testing.
We'll also inspect your attic, crawlspace (if accessible), HVAC system, water heater, windows, doors, and insulation. We're looking for visible problems like gaps in insulation, air leaks around penetrations, ductwork issues, and other red flags.
The blower door test is the centerpiece of most energy audits. We install a powerful calibrated fan in an exterior doorway that depressurizes your home to 50 Pascals—roughly equivalent to a 20 mph wind blowing against every surface of your house at once.
This pressure difference makes air leaks much easier to find. While the blower door is running, we use thermal imaging cameras and smoke pencils to identify exactly where air is escaping. Common problem areas include attic hatches, recessed lighting, electrical outlets, plumbing penetrations, and gaps around windows and doors.
The test itself gives us a precise measurement of your home's total air leakage, measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM50). This number tells us how your home compares to energy code requirements and industry standards.
Depending on your specific situation, we might also check:
We document everything with photos, thermal images, and detailed notes.
Here's where the real value comes in. Before we leave, we sit down with you and provide a detailed report of our findings. You'll see:
We explain everything in plain language—no confusing jargon—and answer all your questions. You'll leave with a clear roadmap of what your home needs, ranked by priority and impact.
You might be wondering why a home energy audit can't be done in 30 minutes like a typical home inspection. The answer is that we're doing something fundamentally different.
A standard home inspection looks for defects and safety issues. An energy audit measures actual performance and quantifies energy loss. That requires specialized equipment, controlled testing conditions, and detailed analysis.
The blower door test alone requires careful setup to ensure accurate results. We need to close all windows and doors, open interior doors, and sometimes make temporary adjustments to your HVAC system. Then we run the test at multiple pressure levels to get reliable data.
The thermal imaging work can't be rushed either. We're systematically scanning every exterior wall, ceiling, and floor to find temperature differences that indicate air leakage or missing insulation. These problems aren't always obvious—sometimes we find major issues in places homeowners would never think to look.
If you have specific time constraints, let us know when you schedule. In some cases—like a quick pre-sale inspection or a focused follow-up test after air sealing work—we can complete a streamlined assessment in less time.
However, for a comprehensive energy audit that gives you the full picture of your home's performance, plan on being available for the full 2-3 hours. The good news is that you don't need to hover over us the entire time. Many homeowners use the middle portion of the audit to catch up on other things around the house while we're running tests and gathering data.
Absolutely. Think about it this way: you're investing 2-3 hours now to get a detailed blueprint for reducing your energy bills for years to come. Most homeowners in Middle Tennessee who follow through on our recommendations see 15-30% reductions in heating and cooling costs.
Those savings add up quickly. If you're spending $200 per month on heating and cooling, a 20% reduction saves you $480 per year—every year. Over a decade, that's nearly $5,000 in your pocket instead of going to your utility company.
Beyond the financial benefits, you'll also have a more comfortable home with fewer drafts, more consistent temperatures, and better indoor air quality.
To make the most of your 2-3 hour energy audit appointment:
A home energy audit is one of the smartest investments you can make in your home's performance and your family's comfort. Yes, it takes a few hours—but those hours provide clarity, data, and a concrete action plan that guessing and DIY troubleshooting simply can't match.
Middle Tennessee Blower Door provides RESNET-certified energy audits and blower door testing throughout Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Clarksville. We take the time to do it right, explain everything clearly, and give you recommendations you can actually use.
Ready to find out what your home really needs? Contact us today to schedule your comprehensive energy audit.