Publication date: 03/05/2010

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Cut energy bill: Have home tested for heat loss

When it comes to energy loss, the greatest offenders are the air and heat loss in your home, which increases energy costs and can decrease your level of comfort. Two ways a homeowner can determine where their home has leaks are with a blower door test and thermal imaging scan with an infrared camera.

A blower door test is designed to measure the air tightness of your home and locate sources of air leakage. It will actually tell you the rate of air changes per hour in your home and match that up against an average so you can determine if your home is too drafty.

Ed Irvine, the manager of indoor air quality at Flame Heating Cooling Electrical, (888) 234-2340, www.flamefurnace.com, explained that a blower door test uses a powerful fan that mounts into the frame of an exterior door and simulates a 15 mile-per-hour wind. The fan pulls air out of the house, lowering the air pressure inside, while the higher outside air pressure then flows in through all unsealed cracks and openings.

Ed said he uses a smoke puffer, flashlight and an infrared camera during the test so homeowners can see the air leaks and temperature differentials in the home. "With a blower door test, it's common to see leaks in places people don't often consider, such as around electrical outlets or in gaps between walls."

John Razumich, president of Thermal Imaging Consultants, (586) 783-8885, www.thermalimagingconsultant.com, said thermal imaging helps homeowners see their world in a different light. He explained that the quality infrared cameras he uses cost between $25,000 and $50,000. They have the ability to shoot both video and still images that detail heat gain or loss, and can also detect water leakage in a home.

"With thermal imaging, we look for hot or cold patterns in a home that don't belong to help people make educated decisions regarding home improvements and preventative maintenance," John said.

He has the homeowner follow him throughout the home as his infrared camera takes both thermal images and digital photos. That way the homeowner can match up the problems with a real photograph. He also recommends that homeowners get a thermal imaging scan after they have new windows or insulation installed to make sure that the job was done properly.

Bob Carey, president of Infrared Services of Michigan, (810) 329-9033, www.ismichigan.com, said that using both the blower door test and infrared technology together really gives the homeowner a complete picture of the home's energy efficiency.

One area of potential air loss that all three agree is often overlooked is the duct work. "It's not uncommon for a home to lose more than 30 percent of its air flow due to a leaky air duct," Bob said. "We can do a mini-blower door test to help determine if there is a significant amount of duct leakage."

"When people's basements are freezing in the summer yet their upstairs is hot even with the air conditioning running, it's often due to leaky air ducts," Ed Irvine from Flame added.

While using the infrared technology is a great way to be proactive in one's current home, it's also important as a safeguard when someone is buying a foreclosed home. "As long as the heat and water are turned on, an infrared scan of a foreclosed home can really detect any water leaks and other potential problems before someone buys the home," John Razumich said.

DTE Energy and Michigan Consolidated Gas Company are hoping to motivate their customers with rebates when they schedule a comprehensive energy audit that includes a blower door test. For information, call (866) 796-512 or visit www.yourenergysavings.com.

So before you spend money on new windows or added insulation to help you save energy, it makes sense to spend a few hundred dollars on a blower door test or thermal imaging scan to give you the knowledge you need to make an informed decision.

Note: This article was accurate at the date of publication. However, information contained in it may have changed. If you plan to use the information contained herein for any purpose, verification of its continued accuracy is your responsibility.

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