Homeowners who take advantage of home energy audits learn about the overall energy efficiency of their homes and where to make improvements that cut energy costs year-round. Audits are performed by licensed HVAC contractors or energy auditors who identify all the factors that contribute to an inefficient and potentially unhealthy home.
What’s Involved in an Energy Audit
The HVAC professionals may start the audit by reviewing your energy bills over the past year and asking questions about how you use energy.
The central component of the audit is a blower door test that involves a large fan. The tech places the blower door in an exterior door frame. Once your home is ready, the professional will turn on the fan and watch how fast the air pressure falls using gauges on the blower door. If it falls quickly, it tells the auditors that your home has few air leaks. If it loses pressure slowly, it indicates you have air coming indoors from gaps, hole, or cracks to compensate for the air pressure your home is losing.
The auditors will use infrared cameras to pinpoint where the leaks are based on the thermal differences between the incoming air and your home’s surfaces. The cameras also tell the team where insulation may be lacking in the walls, foundation and attic of your home.
Additional Services
Home energy audits often include a ductwork inspection to evaluate possible leakage. Even the tightest home can have high energy bills if the conditioned air blows through leaking ducts, since the conditioned air is lost to places where it’s not needed.
Depending on the extent of your home energy audit, the professionals may evaluate your home for safe wiring and pinpoint any water leaks or plumbing problems.
If you’d like to learn more about home energy audits and their benefits, contact Roth Heating & Cooling. We’ve provided top-notch HVAC services for Portland area homeowners since 1976.
