With an Energy Audit, You Can Find What Parts of Your Florida Home Need Your Attention

If you were to blindly weatherize (seal air leaks, add insulation, upgrade windows, etc.) your home’s exterior shell, your efforts probably will be rewarded with savings and better comfort. But you could also waste your money, for example, improving insulation that was already getting the job done. With a professional energy audit, you’ll gain insight into which areas of your home are sufficiently resisting thermal heat exchange, and which areas require attention. Making worthwhile improvements to keep heat out of the home has a direct impact on how comfortable you’ll be over our long South Florida summer, and how much you’ll pay to power your air conditioner.

What is an energy audit?

A professional energy auditor assesses the energy efficiency level of building materials, as well as home occupant preferences, thermostat settings and more to diagnose inefficiencies. The auditor also employs tools to determine the home’s air leakage and heat movement, two factors that dictate how much cooled air the home requires for home occupants to remain comfortable.

Three primary parts of a typical energy audit include the interview, the blower door test and the thermographic scan.

• The interview includes a dialogue between you and the auditor to determine comfort needs and preferences, along with an assessment of factors in the home such as the existing HVAC system’s efficiency, your energy bills over a defined period, and a visual inspection of potential weaknesses in the home’s envelope.
• The blower door, a device featuring a frame that fits into an exterior door, a fan and gauges, measures air leakage in the home’s exterior envelope, and identifies where leaks occur.
• The thermographic device scans the home’s envelope, offering either still images or video of where heat is infiltrating or radiating into the home. Combined with the blower door test, the scan allows the auditor to locate where insulation is lacking and assists in finding air leaks, too.

NisAir Air Conditioning and Heating serves homeowners in Martin, Palm Beach and Indian River counties. We’re happy to help you increase your home’s energy efficiency and comfort. Just give us a call today to schedule a professional energy audit!