Blower Door Testing Conway MA - Quick Facts
Local energy code in Conway
- Conway is a Stretch Code community - the statewide baseline for new construction and major renovations. IECC Climate Zone 5A.
- Massachusetts has three energy-code levels - base (2021 IECC), Stretch, and Specialized (Opt-In) - and Conway is on the Stretch Code.
Blower door requirement in Conway
- New homes in Conway must test at 3.0 ACH50 or tighter under the Massachusetts Stretch Code.
- Air-leakage testing is mandatory, measured with a calibrated blower-door fan to the RESNET / ASTM protocol - there is no inspection-only substitute for the result.
- Companion duct leakage limit: 4 CFM25 per 100 sq ft of conditioned floor area when ducts run outside conditioned space.
- Same-day preliminary results; final report in 24-48 hours, filed with the Conway building department.
Mass Save rebates for Conway (2026)
- A tight result unlocks Mass Save all-electric incentives ($7,500 to $25,000 per new single-family home); an all-electric renovation testing at 3.0 ACH50 or better reaches the Level 2 tier, up to $30,000.
- Incentives require a Mass Save-approved, RESNET-certified HERS rater.
RESNET-certified · 15,000+ ratings completed · 5.0 stars across 135 Google reviews · (617) 501-6788
Blower Door Testing Conway MA
Certified blower door testing in Conway - we measure your home's air-tightness in ACH50, pinpoint leaks, and document a passing result for your building permit.
Air-tightness at a glance
Blower Door Testing Conway MA
A blower door test is the code-required way to prove how airtight a home in Conway really is. A calibrated fan depressurizes the house to 50 Pascals so we can measure exactly how much air leaks through the envelope, reported as air changes per hour (ACH50). New construction must reach 3.0 ACH50 or lower, while remodels are allowed up to 5.0 ACH50.
| Project type | Max ACH50 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New construction | 3.0 or lower | Mandatory blower-door test under R402.4.1.2 |
| Remodel / alteration | 5.0 | Realistic target for existing assemblies |
| Addition < 1,000 sq ft | Exempt* | May be exempt from testing (R502.3.1) |
| Passive House / Specialized | 0.6 | Whole-building test, Phius/PHI protocol |
*Confirm with your local building department. Requirements per the 2025 MA Stretch Energy Code Technical Guidance.
How Blower Door Testing Works in Conway
The fan mounts in an exterior doorway and holds the home at a fixed 50-Pascal pressure difference - about what a 20 mph wind would exert. The airflow required to maintain that pressure, in CFM, converts to ACH50 using the home's conditioned volume.
The code converts the result to Q50 (CFM at 50 Pa) with Q50 = (Volume × ACH50) ÷ 60. A 2,700 sq ft home at 2 ACH50 works out to roughly 810 CFM50.
Keeping Heat In During Conway Cold Spells
During a New England cold snap the stack effect goes to work: warm indoor air rises and slips out near the top of the house, and that pulls cold outdoor air in through gaps down low. The colder it gets, the harder this effect pushes - so a leaky home loses the most heat exactly when it can least afford to.
Sealing and verifying the envelope with a blower door test blunts that stack effect. You keep more of the heat you have already produced, cold-floor drafts fade, and the furnace or heat pump can actually hold temperature through the coldest stretches instead of running flat out and falling behind.
Lower heating load
Less infiltration means a smaller winter heat-loss load and equipment that can keep up.
Retain paid-for heat
Warm air stays in the living space instead of escaping out the top of the house.
Steadier comfort
Fewer cold-floor drafts and a temperature that holds between heating cycles.
Where Conway Homes Leak Air
During depressurization the leaks are exaggerated, making them easy to find. In Franklin County's older housing stock the usual suspects are rim joists, top plates, attic hatches, recessed lights, and penetrations for plumbing and wiring. Coastal and exposed sites feel wind-driven infiltration most, so a tight, verified envelope pays back quickly here.
Best Fit for Projects Like
- Gut renovations and deep-energy retrofits
- Drafty existing homes seeking targeted air sealing
- Multi-family and townhouse units
- Pre-drywall diagnostic testing for builders
- Mass Save incentive and rebate projects
Blower Door Testing Conway MA Facts
Cold snaps magnify leakage
Infiltration heat loss scales with the indoor-outdoor temperature difference, so a leaky envelope bleeds the most heat exactly when you need it most - during a deep freeze.
Right-sizing equipment
A verified-tight envelope lets a designer right-size the furnace, boiler, or heat pump instead of oversizing for leakage - lowering both equipment cost and running cost.
Ties into ventilation
Because a tight home needs mechanical fresh air, the verified blower-door rate feeds the R403.6 ventilation sizing under ASHRAE 62.2 - air sealing and ventilation are designed together.
Savings from air sealing
Reducing leakage from about 10 ACH50 to 5 ACH50 can cut heating and cooling energy use by roughly 15 to 25 percent in a typical home.
Trusted for Blower Door Testing Conway MA
When I was going to pull my building permit I was confused about documentation to meet the Massachusetts stretch energy code, but Home Energy was extremely helpful in explaining the HERS rating process and helping me apply for Mass Save rebates.
I am building a 5-unit conversion in East Boston and used this HERS rating company. Some of the most reasonable, knowledgeable HERS raters I have dealt with in the greater Boston area.
Dominic did an excellent job guiding me through the HERS rating process, and it's clear he genuinely had my best interests in mind.
Our Massachusetts Service Locations
Serving clients from our Massachusetts locations in Everett, Somerville, and Framingham.
Everett Location
371 Main St
Everett, MA 02149
Somerville Location
519 Broadway
Somerville, MA 02145
Framingham Location
68 South St
Framingham, MA 01702
FAQ About Blower Door Testing Conway MA
What documentation do I receive?
You receive the measured ACH50 result on a RESNET/HERS-style report suitable for the building department, plus notes on any sealing performed.
Is a blower door test required by code?
Yes. Air-leakage testing is mandatory under R402.4.1.2 for new residential construction, verified with a blower door at 50 Pascals.
How tight is a Passive House?
Passive House projects on the Specialized Code path target around 0.6 ACH50 - roughly ten times tighter than base code - verified with a whole-building blower-door test.
Do additions need a blower door test?
Many do, but additions under 1,000 square feet can be exempt from air-leakage testing under R502.3.1. We can confirm what your specific project requires.
Will a tighter home lower my heating load?
Yes. Infiltration is one of the largest parts of a winter heat-loss calculation. Reducing leakage directly shrinks the heating load, which can mean right-sized equipment, lower bills, and a home that holds temperature better in cold weather.
Where do most leaks occur?
Common culprits are rim joists, top plates, attic hatches, recessed lights, plumbing and wiring penetrations, and gaps around windows and doors.
Get Started With Blower Door Testing Conway MA
Book a certified blower door test and get a permit-ready air-tightness report. Call 617-501-6788.
HERS Ratings in Conway, Massachusetts
Home Energy Efficiency Consultants provides Conway with certified HERS ratings, blower door and duct leakage testing, and Massachusetts energy-code compliance for new construction, additions, and major renovations — with same-day preliminary reports.
We rate homes across the Commonwealth from our four offices. Reach the one nearest your Conway project — Somerville, Framingham, Marlborough, or Everett — or call (617) 501-6788 to schedule a Conway rating.
More Massachusetts Towns We Serve
Certified HERS ratings, blower door testing and energy code compliance across all 351 Massachusetts cities and towns.
