For homeowners who want to lower their energy bills, home energy evaluations will tell them where their homes are losing energy, either through air leaks or insufficient insulation. Energy auditors and HVAC contractors often will conduct a blower door test, which is a reliable way to pinpoint these issues, especially when the auditor uses a calibrated blower door.
Two types of blower door tests exist, with the calibrated type using instruments to measure how much air infiltration is occurring, besides showing where the leaks occur. An uncalibrated blower door does not provide the latter information. Of the two, the calibrated test gives you a better idea of the magnitude of air infiltration.
The blower sits in an adjustable frame that the technicians place in an exterior door frame, after closing your windows, extinguishing any gas-burning appliances, opening all the interior doors, and closing or covering fireplaces. When the fan is turned on, it sucks all the air from inside your home, and outdoor air quickly rushes in to equalize the pressure. Auditors use either smoke pencils or thermographic scans that show precisely where the air is entering.
When thermographic equipment is used in home energy evaluations, you’ll also know where the insulation is inadequate. Between increasing the insulation and sealing the air leaks, your home will be much more energy efficient, which saves your energy dollars when heating and cooling your home. Other benefits include:
- Stopping moisture from entering your home through cracks or holes;
- Keeping your indoor air cleaner, lowering the pollen and dust that enters from outdoors. The test may also reveal ductwork leaks that can backdraft carbon monoxide into your home if you use any combustion fuels for heating.
- Stopping uncomfortable drafts, especially during windy weather in the winter.
If you’d like more information about home energy evaluations, please contact us at Pascal Heat, Air & Geothermal. We’ve provided quality HVAC services for northwest Arkansas for more than 40 years. Our company’s technicians proudly boast NATE certification, the highest distinction in the HVAC industry.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northwest Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy evaluations and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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