The Importance of Home Performance Evaluations
Alabama homeowners who would like to improve energy efficiency may not know how to identify effective household energy-saving solutions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program recommends a whole-house approach to energy conservation. If you have high energy bills, uneven heating and cooling or a lot of dust, your home may benefit from a home performance evaluation. Home performance evaluations look at energy usage in all areas, from insulation to the heating and cooling system.
What Is a Home Performance Evaluation?
The purpose of a home performance evaluation is to examine factors that affect indoor comfort including heat flow, air flow, moisture and indoor air quality. The benefits are many. If there are leaks in the building envelope or inadequate insulation, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system will not perform properly. Sealing leaks and adding insulation will reduce drafts, regulate air flow, achieve proper moisture control and improve air quality.
A certified contractor uses several tools to identify leaks, evaluate levels of insulation and examine the effectiveness of the HVAC system. A blower-door test identifies leaks around windows and doors, pipes, electrical outlets and other elements of the building envelope. Ductwork and seams will also be examined for leaks. The contractor will evaluate the performance of the entire HVAC system.
You will be presented with a written summary of the findings with recommendations for fixing any problems. Depending on your contractor’s findings, air sealing and upgraded insulating are usually among the first steps suggested to improve energy efficiency. Weather stripping and caulking are simple, inexpensive ways to reduce air leaks. If the building leaks air or has too little insulation, the benefits of an energy-efficient HVAC system are lost.
Selecting a Contractor
Riley Heating and Air Conditioning has more than 40 years of experience providing HVAC service in western Georgia and eastern Alabama. As a member of the Building Performance Institute, our technicians are trained to conduct home performance evaluations and recommend effective ways to improve your indoor environment. For more information about improving energy efficiency in your home or about our general services, contact us at 334-298-1278.