What is a home audit?

Home audit or energy audit is an inspection of the whole house that can usually reveal where and how to lose energy. The task of the auditor is usually to control the energy efficiency of home, identify inefficient operating systems and propose improvements that should reduce energy costs. In principle, there are three types of audits: a simple passage survey, a comprehensive air leak test and diagnostic screening using specialized equipment.

Normally performed outdoors, transparent control is a thorough evaluation in general, including checking all outer doors, storm doors, windows, skylights, roofs and tiles. Most auditors follow gaps, bad seals and other signs of insufficient weather strength. The auditor usually takes into account the orientation of the Sun building and any plants that also provide shadow or windbreaker.

Inside, the inspection usually includes items such as thermostats and exhaust holes. It is also usual that the auditor analyzes the effectiveness of largeAppliances such as furnace, air conditioning and water heater. In the basement it usually checks the walls, air ducts and wall sills for seals and proper insulation. In the attic, the auditor usually measures insulation, checks the attic holes and checks other areas that can cause air leakage.

Since the basic home inspection inspection does not require specialized diagnostic test equipment, the owner of the house can often perform a simple home audit without professional help. Domestic audit control lists are usually available from local public services companies, various energy saving websites and government websites such as the United States Ministry. Due to education and experience, certified energy auditors can usually be more thorough inspection than the owners of home no qualification during a walk -the Through Audity.

in dIgnostic screening test professional auditors often use the blower test doors to measure the airtight building. During the home audit, a strong fan is mounted in the outer door frame. When the fan pulls the air out of the house, the air pressure is reduced inside, similar to the vacuum effect. The pressure of the outer air then pushes the air inside the cracks and the holes. Some auditors use a smoke stick to detect air leakage and others use a calibrated unit with airflow manometer to check the air return speed through uninhabited cracks and holes.

Another diagnostic test is an infrared thermography test, which uses a special infrared imaging device called "forward -looking infrared radiation" or flir, a camera to identify temperature differences in the exterior of the house. Usually, when there is a distinct difference between outer air temperature and internal temperature, this high -resolution thermography is very effective in showing where anywhere outsideThe house shell is transferred. The home audit of thermal analysis is usually the most expensive audit, but it is often the most revealing of three.

There is a new test of energy audit, which is not so common called a gas gas test of perfluorocarbon (PFT). The Brookhaven National Laboratory invented a test that uses perfluorocarbon and gas receiver to measure air changes. As the emitter issues gas, the receiver collects it. In this test, the concentration of the gas that the receiver lifts, the efficiency of the house. More gas in the receiver is equal to the stricter house. The owner of the house sends the receiver back to the laboratory for analysis. This test, as well as the airflow manometer test, does not exceed where the air leaks are, but rather provide a general diagnosis of the building tightness.