Heating and air conditioning bills account for a large percentage of your utilities very month, and these systems can contribute greatly to greenhouse gases that pollute the air. Many homeowners would love to “go green” and cut back on spending, but they’re not always sure where to start. That’s where an energy audit becomes important. When you call on professionals to perform an energy audit in your home, they’ll perform the following tests to find out which areas of the home could use some improvements.
- Inspecting HVAC Equipment: Technicians will thoroughly search your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment for worn down or loose parts, dirty components, and leaks.
- Blower Door Testing: Blower door testing involves placing a device called an infiltrometer in the doorway to change the pressure in the home so that technicians can detect any leaks or areas of inefficiency throughout the home.
- Evaluating Insulation for Effectiveness: Professionals will make sure you have an efficient amount and type of insulation throughout the home, and that you’re not missing any crucial insulation around the ducts or in the attic.
- Assessing the Ductwork: The ducts should be checked for any leaks or cracks that could cause your HVAC equipment to run inefficiently.
Issues that May Be Uncovered in Your Home
Not only will technicians find areas that make your HVAC equipment run inefficiently; you may also find out about potential health and safety effects.
- Inadequate Insulation: Poor insulation can allow heat to easily escape from your home in the winter or infiltrate your home in the warm season.
- Cold or Warm Spots: Cool or warm spots in the home force you to crank up your HVAC system unnecessarily, so you may find that you need to seal door or window leaks.
- Improper Ventilation for Gas Appliances: If gases don’t vent properly from your home, you risk a fire hazard or carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Leaky or Inefficient Duct Design: Leaky ducts can hinder efficiency, reduce the indoor air quality, and heat or cool the home unevenly.
- Poor Indoor Air Quality: A technician will also look for other factors that may affect the air quality such as high humidity and poor air ventilation.
Call G&S Heating, Cooling & Electrical, Inc. to schedule an energy audit in Mukilteo and start taking the right steps towards a more efficient home.
