Building Performance

Building Performance by the Air Doctors

The heating and cooling system is usually blamed when your home or building is uncomfortable. During hundreds of consumer interviews, many of the consumers reported to us that they were disappointed in the performance of their HVAC system, especially after spending thousands of dollars on a new HVAC system replacement. Unfortunately, many contractors overlook the "shell" or the "envelope" of the home.

The building's shell (envelope) keeps the conditioned air from the HVAC system inside the house. Insulation and air sealing are two common issues with existing homes that must be addressed to guarantee comfort.

Air Sealing – Older homes were built to different construction standards, resulting in a significant amount of air leakage. As you pay to heat or cool your home, some of the conditioned air will leak into or out of the home. The air you have already paid to condition (heat, cool, clean, humidify, dehumidify) is gone, and now you have to start the process over again. As a result, the customer's utility bills will increase, and personal comfort is affected.

Insulation – Some homes do not have adequate insulation or any insulation at all! This situation can also increase your utility bill and decrease your comfort. Proper insulation is critical to a building's performance, and codes have only mandated insulation use since the 1970s. Having the proper levels of insulation can significantly reduce the size of the heating and cooling system and how often it works.

Our Process – When we are tasked to solve your comfort needs, we perform a comprehensive inspection called an energy audit. The energy audit focuses on three key areas: health and safety, durability of building materials, and energy efficiency. The energy audit helps to determine the "as is" condition of your home. We take this information and enter it into a software program. This software program “models” or simulates the home’s energy use and cost with its climate characteristics. The software will then prioritize what repairs are cost-effective and how quickly they would pay for themselves or whether there are benefits to a project based on safety for the occupants. Many of the home improvement repairs can be completed by using low to no-interest loans.

Contact us today for a free in-home consultation. The Air Doctors team has a crew of trained building scientists. These bright men and women are equipped to handle any comfort problem and deliver results. Insulation and air sealing are great add-on additions options for HVAC system upgrades. Many of our services come complete with utility rebates and tax incentives. Generally, the investment of a new HVAC system and shell upgrades together will pay for itself quickly.