An energy-efficient home stays as cool as possible in the summer and as warm in the winter, without having to max out your HVAC equipment. Therefore, making your home more energy efficient improves your comfort and increases your savings on energy bills by lowering energy consumption. The first step to improving home energy efficiency is performing tests to reveal your home’s current thermal performance.
These tests can uncover your barriers to energy efficiency savings.
Blower Door Test
This home energy efficiency testing method involves mounting a large fan temporarily on your home’s door. The fan depressurizes your home to determine how airtight it is. The test measures the airflow through the fan as well as the pressure difference between the outdoors and indoors. That establishes the degree of your home’s air leaks.
Infrared Images
When conducting this test, an home energy efficiency professional uses a special infrared camera to take pictures of your house. The camera shows temperature differences along the building’s surfaces. The images that the pro takes from inside your home show cold spots whereas those taken from the outdoors show hot spots. This test enables the pro to accurately pinpoint the areas that need air sealing or insulation improved.
Test for Low-E Coating
The low-E (low emissivity) coating helps reduce heat transmission through a window pane. As a result, it contributes to improved home comfort. Handheld devices known as window checkers are used to test for low-E coatings. They’re placed on interior panes to detect the coatings. If a manufacturer guarantees all windows have low-E coatings and this test reveals otherwise, the manufacturer ought to replace them.
Once these tests identify the inefficiencies in your home, you can then have them fixed to reduce your energy use. This will have a dramatic impact on your household budget.
If you need help with home energy efficiency testing and consumption reduction measures, contact the experts at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been helping homeowners in the Lorain area deal with their energy and home comfort issues for 35 years.
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area