Missing wall insulation

There are many types of energy audit surveys and some can get quite complex and expensive. The specialty energy audit companies evaluate not only the envelope of the building but many other components and assemblies within the structure. We caution consumers to beware of companies who offer to both perform energy audits and then offer to make the needed repair improvements.

ENERGY AUDITS - Energy audits are an important part of every building’s maintenance schedule, but the energy audit does not have to be performed by professionals. Let’s face it, most of the components in an energy audit are visible to both the qualified energy auditor, as well as the untrained building owner. This would include the identification of items such as:

• 1) Old single glazed windows
• 2) Outdated water heaters
• 3) Missing insulation on plumbing pipes
• 4) Outdated lighting fixtures
• 5) Inefficient heating systems (Most homeowners do not know how to identify these)

DO-IT-YOURSELF-ENERGY AUDITS - We have found that most consumers do not need to pay us the extra fee to compile a list of energy wasting components that should be upgraded. Instead, they can use our recommended U.S. Department of Energy Do-It-Yourself Energy Audit guidelines. Your do-it-yourself energy audit will allow you to compile your own list of visible components that can be upgraded to improve energy efficiency.

MISSING SKYLIGHT INSULATION

FREE DO-IT-YOURSELF ENERGY AUDIT GUIDELINES - Please click on the following link...

NORTHWEST INFRARED’S RECOMMENDED D.O.E. ENERGY AUDIT GUIDELINES

HIRE US TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN’T SEE - After you have performed your Do-It-Yourself Energy Audit, then have us perform our Thermographic Scan to identify the insulation voids and energy loss defects that are costing you wasted energy dollars.

WHAT DOES INFRARED SEE? - There are many issues that infrared can see that are totally oblivious to the naked eye. Once the issues are identified, the corrections can save the property owner many hard earned dollars? In short, then missing, damaged, or otherwise ineffective insulation, gaps in framing, stud work, and water damage within the wall cavity issues can be revealed and corrective actions can then be taken.

INFRARED MEASURES TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES - Infrared scanning of a building envelope will detect thermal defects and air leakage within the building that can’t be seen to the naked eye. Infrared thermography measures surface temperatures by using an infrared camera. Images are taken by the camera to record the temperature variations of the wall’s and ceiling’s surfaces. The resulting information and thermograms (pictures) help determine where insulation or other repairs are needed.

PREPARING FOR A THERMAL SCAN - To prepare for a thermal scan it is best to remove as many obstacles as possible from the view of our thermal imaging camera, such as pictures, furniture, drapes, and stored items.

CAN WE SEE THROUGH WALLS? - Even though it appears that we are seeing through walls, we are not. The imager can’t detect thermal patterns through masses such as furniture, stored items, or glass. The most accurate and clear images will occur when there is at least a twenty degrees difference between the inside of the building and the outside. When there is less temperature difference, then there will be less usable data. This means that the varying conditions of the day and the time of the year will greatly determine how we, as Thermographers, will scan the building. In most cases, the heat loss evaluation will take place from inside the building so that many of the undesirable factors, such as wind and rain, which can disturb the heat flow patterns, can be averted.