|
Home Energy Audits -
This comprehensive analysis includes a Blower Door Test (tests your house for leakage), Infrared Camera Scan (checking select internal walls and ceilings for insulation/infiltration problems)
|
What is a Blower Door.
The Blower Door is a diagnostic tool designed to measure the airtightness of buildings and to help locate air leakage sites. The Blower Door consists of a powerful, calibrated fan that is temporarily sealed into an exterior doorway. The fan blows air into or out of the building to create a slight pressure different between inside and outside. The pressure created simulates 20 mph. winds on all four sides of the building. This pressure difference forces air through all holes and penetrations in the exterior envelope. By simultaneously measuring the airflow through the fan and its effect on the air pressure in the building, this test measures the airtightness of the entire building envelope. The tighter the building (e.g. fewer holes), the less air you need from the fan to create a change in building pressure.
Blower Door tests can be used for a variety of purposes including:
• Locating direct and indirect air leaks.
• Documenting the construction airtightness of buildings.
• Estimating natural infiltration rates in houses.
• Measuring and documenting the effectiveness of air sealing activities.
• Measuring duct leakage in forced air distribution systems.
• Determining the need for ventilation equipment.
In addition to assessing the overall airtightness level of the building envelope, the Blower Door can be used to estimate the amount of leakage between the heated space of the building and the attached structural components such as attached garages, attics and crawlspaces. It can also be used to estimate the amount of outside air leakage in forced air duct systems. And because the Blower Door forces air through all holes and penetrations that are connected to the outside, those problem spots are easier to find using chemical smoke, an infrared camera or simply feeling with your hand. These air leakage paths are found and then documented by the auditor to provide recommendations and solutions for air sealing work.
|
|
Air Leakage Testing
Air leakage is a major source of energy loss in most homes. Air leakage testing is conducted during a HERS Rating to calculate and pinpoint sources of air leakage in the building enevelope. Air leakage testing is conducted using a blower door which places a small negative air pressure on the building and calculates the amount of air escaping from the building envelope.
| |
|
Duct leakage testing
Another significant point of energy loss in homes is through leaky duct systems. Ducts carry conditioned air from your heating and cooling system throughout your home. If your ducts leak excessively, you may experience an uncormfortable home and high energy bills. Using a Duct Blaster, duct leakage is tested in a similar manner to building air leakage by depressurizing the duct system and measuring the airflow through the system.
| |
|
Thermal Imaging
Thermal imaging is another important tool to diagnosis energy losses in your home. Conducting a thermal imaging examination of your home can be used to identify areas of air infiltration and insulation defects by measure subtle temperature differences in the building envelope.
| |
|
|
