It's important to do all you can to save energy, not only for your pocketbook but also for the Earth. A detailed energy evaluation is one important step. Detailed energy evaluations typically require the help of a professional. Thorough energy evaluations will be very detailed and the technician conducting your evaluation will look at several factors, including energy usage, the soundness of the structure, the amount of insulation, and the HVAC system.Hiring a professional is a good choice because professionals have tools you don't. The main diagnostic tools used in an energy audit include a blower door and thermography.
A blower door is a large fan mounted in a flexible panel that is mounted in an outside door. It will draw air out of the house so that leaks in the house’s structure will be noticeable. Before the test, the windows, dampers, fireplace door and air intakes of wood stoves will be closed.
Thermography consists of taking infrared scans of your house with still cameras and videos. These images will reveal the effectiveness of your attic insulation. They will also show air leakage both in the walls of the house and in the roof. Typically these scans will be performed during the blower door test as the air leaks will show up as dark streaks.
A Duct Blaster is a system that pressurizes your duct system to analyze the integrity of your duct system, allowing detailed analysis of how much leakage or how efficient your duct system is delivering the air into the home
Your technician will also want to know your energy costs for the previous year, any problems you have been having (such as rooms that feel too cold), and your typical family routine. Some questions may include:
Are there people home during the day?
Where do you normally set your thermostat?
Are all the rooms being used?
When calling in a professional, make sure you hire a certified home energy auditor. There are two non-profit organizations that train energy auditors: the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), and the Building Performance Institute (BPI). Auditors certified by these groups will be well-trained and will look at the home as a whole system, rather than just looking at a few components.These audits currently are being supplemented by PSO, and when coupled by improvements made, up to $8250 from PSO is available towards those improvements!!To have an energy evaluation conducted in your home, contact Air Assurance today.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!