Energy Testing
AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING SYSTEM ENERGY EFFICIENCY TESTING
Industry experts estimate that more than 75% of U.S homes are leaky enough to justify sealing or repair. Leaky ducts can significantly increase air conditioning and heating bills, dramatically reduce equipment capacity and performance, as well as result in potentially dangerous indoor air quality problems. In fact, duct leakage is responsible for many of the comfort complaints experienced by homeowners today. Leaks are now recognized as a major source of energy waste in both new and existing homes. Leaks can account for more than 25% of your homes energy loss. This can prevent the heating and cooling system from doing the job properly, resulting in hot and cold spots, along with indoor air quality and humidity issues inside the home. Below are a few examples:
Leaks in the supply ductwork cause expensive conditioned air to be dumped into the attic, crawlspace or garage instead of into the house.
Return leaks pull outside air (hot in summer, cold in winter) into the duct system, reducing both efficiency and capacity. In humid climates, moist air being drawn into return leaks can overwhelm the dehumidification capacity of air conditioning systems causing homes to feel clammy, even when the air conditioner is running.
Heat pumps are particularly susceptible to comfort complaints from duct leakage, especially during the heating season. Duct leaks can cause the air coming from heat pumps to feel luke-warm in the summer or even cold during the winter. In addition, leaky ductwork has been found to greatly increase the use of electric strip heaters in heat pumps during the heating season.
Leaks in return ductwork draw air into the house from crawlspaces, garages and attics bringing with it dust, mold spores, insulation fibers and other contaminants.
Household depressurization from duct leaks and imbalanced duct systems can cause spillage of combustion products (from furnaces, water heaters and fireplaces) into the house.
Diagnostic Testing is an inspection of your HVAC system made up of several tests, which enable us to give you a complete and comprehensive performance evaluation. The results are then evaluated and an initial report, which includes any recommended changes and/or repairs, will be provided.
Our testing includes all of the following:
Equipment Inspection– An inspection is performed on all major heating and air conditioning equipment. During this inspection the technician will determine the age, capacity, and over all efficiency of the existing equipment.
Air Duct Leakage Test– Air duct leakage is evaluated by using The Duct Blaster™ as our primary tool to measure and record the amount of air leakage in the duct system. This test alone has proven to increase the efficiency of many of our customers HVAC systems by as much as 50% (correct air volume, distributed properly throughout the home, is a key factor in achieving the most consistent and efficient system possible).
Air Balancing– Supply and return air volume is measured using our state-of-the-art AccuBalance™ series airflow hood. The airflow is then adjusted and balanced to ensure proper air balance throughout the home. This will eliminate hot and cold spots.
Carbon Monoxide Test– Carbon Monoxide levels in the living space of the home, as well as in and around the heating equipment and in the flue pipe will be measured and recorded. High levels of Carbon Monoxide in the living space of a home can be extremely dangerous, even deadly. However, high levels of this gas in a flue pipe can indicate several potential problems within the heating system that can go undetected for years.