Uncontrolled air movement can lead to:

• Uneven indoor temperatures

• Increased heating and cooling costs

• Reduced effectiveness of insulation

• Greater exposure to outdoor air that has pollen, dust and pollutants

Even well-insulated homes can perform poorly if air leakage is not controlled.

Draughts often occur where the building envelope is not properly sealed. Common locations include:

• Around windows and doors

• At wall, ceiling and floor junctions

• Services penetrations (plumbing, electrical, exhaust fans)

• Downlights and ceiling penetrations

• Subfloor or roof space connections

In many cases these leakage paths are not visible but can significantly affect comfort and energy use.

Airtightness testing (blower door testing) measures how  much air is leaking through the building envelope and helps observe where air leakage is occurring.

By creating a controlled pressure difference between inside and outside, air is forced through gaps and cracks in the building envelope, making leakage pathways easier to detect.

During testing tools such as:

• Smoke visualisation

• Air movement detectors

• Thermal imaging (when conditions allow)

may be used to locate these areas.

Results are indicative and specific to the conditions at the time of testing.

You may benefit from airtightness testing if:

• Your home feels consistently draughty

• Some rooms are significantly colder than others

• Heating or cooling systems struggle to maintain comfort

• You want to verify the performance of a new build

Testing identifies where air leakage is occurring and provides a measured result.

Any sealing or rectification work should be completed by a qualified professional. The test result can help inform where those efforts may be most effective.