Energy Evaluations: How They're Helpful and What You Can Expect

An energy evaluation is one of the first steps you can take toward making your home more efficient. And if you’re concerned about the environment — as most of us are these days — it can help you shrink your carbon footprint. A home that uses less energy taps fewer of our precious resources. So what should you expect when your HVAC-system contractor does an energy evaluation? Here are some common elements of a home energy evaluation:

• A blower door test: Your evaluator will use this device to see where your home is leaking air. He’ll install the equipment, which is essentially a big fan, in an exterior door. This will depressurize your home and reveal where air is seeping. Typical trouble areas include door and window frames and spots where cable, plumbing and electrical lines enter your home.
• A thermographic scan: Your evaluator will use an infrared camera to identify areas where you’re gaining or losing heat. For example, if you’re having your evaluation done in the summer, the scan might show that heat in attic is radiating into your living space, which means that you should boost your attic insulation.
• Additional measures: Your evaluator will also check out your ductwork, discuss any home-comfort problems you’ve been experiencing and finally draw up a list of recommendations. You can use these recommendations as a guide for the home improvements you undertake in the coming months or years.

You can maximize the benefits of your home energy evaluation by being prepared. Have a list of concerns, and be ready to take notes and ask questions. In the end, what you spend on your evaluation and the improvements you make will pay off in lower energy bills and a greener environment.

For more information concerning energy evaluations and home comfort issues, contact Blanton’s Heating & A/C. We’ve been serving Fayetteville-area homeowners since 1951, and we’re committed to helping our region become both energy and resource efficient.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Fayetteville, North Carolina and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).