“Air sealing” is like the windbreaker that pairs up with the wool sweater of insulation in your home’s protective layers. Without both, you’ll be far less comfortable, and that’s why it is important to address both. To get air sealing right, we conduct a “blower door test” to pinpoint the cracks, voids, and gaps where air leaks into (and out of) your house. It is most important to locate and seal the gaps found at the top and bottom of the home, due to a phenomenon known as “stack effect” (see more here). Our blower door test is a key component in identifying these unwanted sources of air infiltration and exfiltration, which can account for up to one third of the total conditioned air lost from your home.
Thermal imaging, also known as an infra-red camera scan, is similar to taking an X-ray of the wall, in the sense that it lets us see things inside of a building structure that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. It can uncover deficiencies in your home such as air leaks and missing insulation. Using thermal imaging, we find issues that are often completely unknown to the homeowner, and are often located in unexpected areas - like around light fixtures in the ceiling.
Combustion safety testing performed during the audit ensures all combustion appliances are running safely and are not back-drafting. While our auditors are experts when it comes to the visual assessment of your home's mechanical systems, there is also a need for the use of high-tech diagnostic equipment. All appliances and hot water and HVAC equipment are closely evaluated for their fuel economy and energy efficiency. These tests and measurements assist us in determining your whole house performance and the most cost effective ways to improve your comfort and health and reduce your energy waste.
