Sometimes, when there’s nothing on the ‘to-do’ list, I like to load the family into the car and take a drive in whatever direction the car is facing. We go places we’ve never been, see things we would never otherwise see, and generally have an enjoyable time.
When there’s a specific destination in mind however, going in a random direction isn’t the best way to get there. You need a map that shows your starting point, your ending point, and things along the way that can help or hinder the trip. Google maps does a great job of showing you which routes are the fastest, where to stop for fuel, repairs, rest, etc. and where road construction might make the trip more difficult.
But, what does this have to do with your home, and how to make it more comfortable, healthy, and efficient?
Great question! I’m glad you asked.
Improving the comfort of your home shouldn’t be a Sunday drive. When you’re investing your hard-earned money on your home, it’s best to know where you’re starting from, what your goal is, and the best way to get there without wasting time and/or money.
This is where an home energy audit comes in.
Road Map To Comfort
An home energy audit analyzes how you spend time in your home, how your home uses energy, obstacles that might prevent your home from working better, and offers ways your home can meet your needs in the most cost-effective way possible.
Some companies will tell you an home energy audit isn’t necessary – that your home is just like many others they’ve worked on, and that experience tells them exactly what your home needs.
That’s like pointing your car in a random direction and trying to get to a specific location. Doesn’t seem too efficient, does it?
Your Home Is Like A Fingerprint
At Home Energy Solutions of Wisconsin, we know that every home, just like the people living in them, is unique, and no one solution will work for everyone.
Our home energy audit begins with a walk-through of the house, along with a conversation about both the house and how you spend time in it. We want to know how you use your home, how your home treats you, and how you want your home to look and feel. This helps us define the goal, or destination, for your home’s performance.
Once we know the goal, or where you want your home to be, we can begin working on the roadmap to getting it there.
Finding The Dead-ends And Detours
The next step in developing the ‘roadmap to comfort’, after the walk-through, is a scientific test of your home’s mechanical and structural systems. We want to make sure your home’s heating, cooling, and water heating systems are doing their job efficiently and safely, and will continue to do so after your comfort goals for the house are reached.
Your home’s exterior is viewed for obvious issues such as: roof or wall leaks, improperly sloped landscaping, and other potential problem areas around the perimeter of the house.
Inside the home, your mechanical equipment, fireplaces and/or wood burning stoves will be checked to make sure they’re operating properly and safely.
We’ll also do a visual inspection of your attic, basement, and crawl space, looking for moisture and mold issues.
After the home and its systems have been checked over, we’ll perform a blower door test, which measures the air tightness of the home, to find areas where your home’s comfort can be improved.
We’ll also may use an infrared camera to further identify air leaks and to show where insulation may be lacking.
Drawing The Map
Once your home has been inspected and analyzed, we’ll use the specific information gathered, along with computer modeling software, to determine where your home is misusing energy. We’ll also develop a list of improvements that can be made, along with the energy savings each of those improvements can be expected to deliver.
Now that the entire roadmap has been developed, and all the potential pitfalls and obstacles have been identified, it’s time to plan the rest of the trip.
A Successful Journey
With your goals and budget in mind, we’ll work with you to develop a plan and schedule that delivers the biggest increase in comfort for the least amount of expense. Our skilled auditor will then implement the plan, keeping you informed along the way, and deliver to you a home that is more comfortable, healthy, and efficient, all of which are easy to accomplish if you know in advance where you’re going.
Ready To Get Started?
If one of your goals is to have a more comfortable, healthy, and efficient home, call 888.719.5905 or learn more at Home Energy Solutions of Wisconsin.