Testing and Inspection Services

Performance testing of Buildings * Residential & Commercial *

• Infrared Thermal Imager/Camera Survey will indicate quality of insulation and air sealing
• Blower Door Testing to evaluate tightness
• Duct Work Leakage testing\Surveys for warm air heating systems
• Heating System Evaluations
• Options for  fuels and Renewable/Sustainable Systems
• Natural/LP gas safety evaluation for leaks and piping issues
• Ventilation issues in attic
• Indoor Air Quality
• Insulation quantity and installed quality
• Thermal Bypass pathway review
• Storm preparation and back up heating systems
• Safety Equipment for occupants
• Safety issues

 If you have problems with these areas, we can help find the causes and recommend solutions.

• Ice Dams
• Moisture
• Mildew & Mold
• Cold rooms and drafts
• Air Quality
• High fuel usage
• Hot water takes too long to get to faucets

Quality Control Services on Building Projects: as an independent third party we can inspect and assess the workmanship level of your building project as an owner's representative.

Development of specifications and Project Scope Services: we can help develop the upgrade & remodeling specifications so that you can compare final bids and contractors.  Retrofit projects such as DEP's (Deep Energy Retrofits) have a high level of complexity and a team approach is a great benefit.   Final testing and quality control work is very helpful to get the optimum results.

Home Energy Audits: A major energy check up for Existing Homes

Chances are, you're spending much more on utility bills than you need to be.  A home energy audit gives you the opportunity to fix that.  Using the latest technology, including a blower door to assess air leakage and infrared thermography, a comprehensive home energy audit will point out leaks in your home's thermal envelope, deficiencies in insulation, and other opportunities to stop heat loss and reduce energy consumption, while improving the comfort and safety of your home. In addition to recommending fixes to reduce energy, we'll also evaluate carbon monoxide safety, mold and other air quality isssues and improvements to temperature controls and lighting. Our comprehensive audit report will include a prioritized list of potential improvements, and an estimate of the savings our recommended work will likely lead to.

Energy Star and LEED Certification

As green building standards become increasingly prominent in the real estate community, more homeowners are looking to a comprehensive energy audit report as a way to distinguish their properties.   New incentive programs will require Energy Audit testing by Certified Contractors to get the incentive credits and rebates.   Often some projects are not done correctly and are a waste of your money and resources, such a blowing in insulation into an attic, without air sealing the thermal bypass pathways.

Energy Star and Building Energy Codes have recently changed and have been revised.  Home built in the last decade have many areas for improvement that can be identified with a comprehensive energy audit.  This process requires testing and knowledge of how the building systems all work together to do the recommended functions of ventilation for occupant safety and durability.

Blower Door Testing

Blower door testing is a way to test the "leakiness" of your home. By depressurizing your home to simulate a 20 MPH wind on all sides and then measuring the rate at which air infiltrates through imperfections in the building envelope.  We're able to assess how much energy (and money) is escaping through air leaks, and how much you're likely to save by fixing those leaks.  You will have the opportunity to witness these bypass areas.  We also offer blower door testing as an isolated service to test the quality control during new construction or renovation and give homeowners and their contractors to opportunity to improve and seal the building envelope during the construction process where it is least expensive.

Infrared Diagnostics

Having your home evaluated with an infrared scanner sheds valuable light on the effectiveness of your home's thermal envelope. An infrared scanner reveals hidden air leaks and areas where insulation isn't performing, and can also yield some interesting surprises -- such as where an uninsulated hot water pipe or recessed lights may be contributing to an ice dam, for an example. It's a valuable part of any good home energy audit, and a step that we guarantee to take with thoroughness and precision (although our experience tells us that it can also be a fun part of the energy audit for homeowners).

When done with the Blower Door Testing we only need a difference of 5ºF for Infrared Testing, so this inspection work can be done anytime of the year, even in the warmer summer months. Home Performance Contracting

Home performance contracting includes looking at everything from lighting to insulation, from the boiler in your basement to the air sealing in your attic, to solve everything from moisture problems to energy waste and beyond. We also look at the relationship between a building's various components to address potential indoor air quality problems and other safety issues. The result is a home that is durable, comfortable, healthy, and energy efficient for our customers, we wouldn't settle for anything less. 

It is an advantage to have your 'Energy Audit done prior to the heating season, as contracting and repair work does require planning and goes better during favorable weather periods.