Three Sources of High Energy Bills

Since 1999, we have trained with industry leading Comfort Institute to deliver the most advanced energy-saving services to Northwest Indiana homes and businesses. Comfort Institute recommends, and we agree, looking at all three sources of high energy bills:
1) the equipment, 2) the duct system, and 3) the thermal envelope (ceiling, walls, and floors).

1) Equipment

Yes, a Lennox high efficiency furnace, air conditioner, or ClimateMaster geothermal system can save you money on your energy bills, and is a good idea, but only if the other two variables of energy efficiency are addressed: the duct system and the thermal envelope.

2) Duct Systems

So you replace your 60% efficient furnace with a new 90% model, and you expect to save about 30% on your gas bill. Don't bet on it! Your furnace is 90% efficient in a laboratory, but if it's connected to a duct system that's only 70% efficient, your “system efficiency” drops to 63%, a gas usage savings of only about 21%! But you paid for a 90% efficient unit and 30% energy savings.

Duct leaks are the worst leaks a home or business can have. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy states that “typical duct systems lose 25 to 40% of the heating or cooling energy put out by the central furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner. Duct repairs could be the most important energy improvement measure you can do...”

Duct systems have tremendous pressures, both positive (supply duct) and negative (return air duct), exerted on them by the furnace blower when the furnace or air conditioner is operating. That means that air from unconditioned areas, such as an attic, crawlspace, unfinished basement, or garage can be pulled into a home or building through the return air duct, or pushed into an unconditioned area through the supply duct at a very high rate of speed. Imagine pulling 125 degree Fahrenheit attic air into your air conditioning system, and trying to cool it to 75 degrees.

We see it frequently, and the results are devastating.

Ouch!

In fact, experts say that one (1) square inch of duct leakage connected to an unconditioned area is equivalent to a 30-square-inch hole in the side of your home year around! OUCH!!! And in Northwest Indiana, where our furnace blowers run about 2600 hours per year, we've seen folks paying the utility company well over $125.00 per month extra for wasted energy instead of paying themselves!

One last example on duct leakage: If 100 cubic feet of air per minute is pulled from your attic into your duct system through numerous tiny leaks (not unusual at all), then 15,600,000 cubic feet of air will enter your home in a year's time. That's the area of a football field 325 feet high! It takes a huge amount of energy to heat or cool that air, not to mention the adverse health effects it has on the building occupants when fiberglass, cellulose, molds, filth, dust, chemicals, and allergens are pulled in with that unconditioned air. Now you've caught a glance of why people develop allergies and other respiratory problems in their 40's and 50's - your body can only take so much for so long.

If you want to know the facts and pinpoint “hidden opportunities” to save big energy dollars (and who can afford not to?), call us. We'd be happy to help with testing and sealing your duct system!

Note: Do not try to seal a duct system without advanced certified training and proper sealants. Dangerous or fatal conditions can result, including carbon monoxide poisoning and sealant off-gassing.

3) Thermal Envelope

One other area our test uncovers for energy saving opportunities is the thermal envelope comprised of your ceilings, walls, and floors. We can conveniently repair these problems, too. Leaks in this area include open plumbing and duct chases to your attic from your basement, recessed can lights (you'd be surprised how much they leak attic air, insulation fibers, and other pollutants into your home), attic accesses, and open, unsealed crawlspaces.

Our infiltrometer test will help you identify opportunities to save money for as long as you own your home.

Please call us for your infiltrometer test today. You'll be glad you did!