Home Energy Audit in Millsboro, DE
Challenge
This beautiful Millsboro, DE home, built in 2013, is very typical of the housing stock being built in Sussex County, DE. The HVAC equipment was aging and the homeowner wanted to replace it with most efficient state-of-the-art equipment.
The house is very "tight", which is a major factor in home energy efficiency. However, there were still a number of comfort issues, mostly caused by flaws in the insulation that were easily found by Lawson Home Services energy auditor, Ryan Wurzel. Have a look at the pictures below and see for yourself.
Solution
In the profession of home comfort and energy efficiency we use the acronym PDR
- Produce - this refers to production of conditioned air, more commonly known as HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). In the past few decades there have been many advances made in HVAC efficiency. This homeowner wanted to replace his aging, less efficient HVAC system with state-of-the-art equipment while the financial incentives from Energize Delaware to do so are still available.
- Deliver - we want to make sure the conditioned air gets to all the rooms, at as close to the same temperature it was when it left the production unit. But HVAC ductwork often leaks, especially while traveling through attics. The conditioned air is totally useless in the attic. HVAC duct work leaks for many reasons, mastic cracks, tape looses its stickiness, ducts getting punctured by careless workers.
- Retain - we want the conditioned air to stay in rooms as long as practical, rather than leaking away into the attic as it typically does. We also want to insulate ceilings and walls to prevent heat transfer. In the winter insulation keeps the heat in. In the summer insulation keeps the heat out. The IR pictures below show where the insulation is not working which is useful for creating a strategy to improve the insulation and do a better job of retaining, which really means maintaining the desired indoor air temperature.
Currently, as of December 2023, Energize Delaware is still subsidizing energy audits for Delaware residents. The cost to homeowners is just $50 ($25 if you are military or first responder personnel). So why not contact Lawson Home Services to schedule an energy audit at your home. The detailed audit report will show the most effective and cost efficient ways to improve the comfort, energy efficiency, and value of your home, while creating an environment that is better for the health of the occupants.
