How a Home Energy Audit Works

When a home owner contacts a company for an energy audit there are always a few questions that come to mind.

1. What will they check?
2. Is there anything I need to do or know?
3. Is it safe?
4. What is all that equipment for and what does it do?
5. Is there any dangers?

Let’s answer these questions. 

First of all the company will ask for past utility bills to establish a baseline level of energy usage.

Second they will interview you about the number of occupants and any special information they may need.

Third thing to know is that the process is entirely safe and should cause no damage to the home

Fourth the equipment they consists of many items:

1. A gas sniffer is used to test for any gas leaks in the gas lines and appliances that are gas fired. This is important for safety reasons. They will check along the gas lines and around all the accessible valves for gas leaks. This equipment has a long metal hose that samples the air for such leaks. 
2. A monoxor is the equipment used to test for carbon monoxide. It samples the air and reads the amount of carbon monoxide present. They will check a gas water heater at the vent to make sure it is burning cleanly. Also checked are any gas heaters and ranges.
3. The blower door is a big fan that is temporarily installed in an outside doorway. It is used to pressurize the home to check for air leakage. The home may be depressurized also. A monometer is hooked up to the fan and takes airflow readings. By the readings and calculations from information by the manufactures of your homes HVAC unit, a percentage of air leakage can be determined. The inspector will also go about the home checking for air leaks from the attic areas and the outside into the inside. This check is done with a smoke puffer or other smoke producing device (incense, punks). They will check doors and windows for ineffective weather stripping and sealing. Also a source of leakage is outlets and receptacles. Light fixtures, baseboards and any place where air can infiltrate the home.
4. A duct blaster is a device that is connected to the HVAC unit to check for air leakage in the ducts that carry the heated or cooled air throughout your home. This test is done by sealing up the supply vents and then connecting the duct blaster to the return vent. This is a fan that will pressurize your HVAC unit ductwork. Again a monometer is used to measure the airflow through the system ducts. Calculations are done to determine the amount of air leakage in the system.
5. After all the tests are performed, you will get the results and any recommendations to improve your homes energy use.

There are no dangers in any of these tests and no damage should occur.

View pictures of the equipment used during an energy audit.

During your Energy Audit a piece of equipment will be used that is called a Duct Blaster. View the video below to see what a Duct Blaster is and how it is used.