References and Online Links
PSC believes in educating our customers about home performance. Home
performance improvements save you money while improving your home's
livability.
The following references are cited in our diagnostic building report
and serve as an excellent start to your home performance education.
Index
Tools and Equipment List Downloads
Tools and Technical Support for the Building Analyst
Tools and Equipment for Air Sealing
Tools and Equipment to Support Cellulose Insulation
Combustion Safety and Heating Related Tests
Carbon Monoxide Tests
Combustion Efficiency Tests
Draft Test
Flue Inspection
HVAC Inspection
Duct Air Flow Estimate
Health and Durability Inspections
Mold and Moisture Sources
Indoor Air Pollution Sources
Building Durability Inspection
Envelope Inspection
Roof and Attic Inspection
Exhaust Fan Duct Condition
Whole Building Performance Tests
Exhaust Fan Flow
Blower Door Test
Duct Leakage
Pressure Mapping
Optional Inspections
Lighting
Appliances
Combustion Safety and Heating Related Tests
These tests and inspections are conducted in the heating and cooling
equipment area of your building.
Carbon Monoxide Tests
These tests look for excess Carbon Monoxide in the flue gases of your
heating appliances and in the air of your building. Information on Carbon
Monoxide tests is available on Page 33 No Regrets Remodeling and at
"Carbon Monoxide from Ovens: A Serious IAQ Problem" http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950907.html
and at "Combustion Safety Checks" http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950308.html
on the internet.
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Combustion Efficiency Test
This test measures the efficiency of your heating system. A higher number
means that more of the energy in the fuel goes into heating your house.
More information on combustion efficiency is available on Pages 76 -
78 of No Regrets Remodeling and at "Choosing a Heating System That Saves
Energy" by A.C.S. (Skip) Hayden http://homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/960309.html
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Drafting Tests
These tests evaluate the risk that the combustion gases in your
buildings flue(s) will be pulled back into your house by a source of
negative pressure. Information on the risks of back drafting is available
on Pages 23, 51, and 180 of "No Regrets Remodeling," and at Putting
Pressure on Building Codes by David Brook http://hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/9609press.html
on the internet
Flue Inspection
This inspection examines your combustion equipment flue pipes for blockages
or other hazardous conditions. More information on combustion efficiency
is available on at "Combustion Safety Checks: How Not to Kill Your Clients"
by Rob deKieffer, http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950308.html
on the internet.
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HVAC Equipment Inspection
This visual inspection examines the overall condition of your heating,
ventilation and air conditioning equipment. More information on equipment
options is available on Pages 51 - 61, 82 - 121 of No Regrets Remodeling
and at "Contracting for Comfort" by Karen Walker and Royce Lewis
http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/961115.html
on the internet.
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Duct Air Flow Estimate
This test estimates the amount of air moving through your duct system.
Too little air movement in your ducts will affect the comfort and efficiency
of your heating and/or cooling system. More information on the importance
of adequate duct air flow is available on Pages 34-35, 60 and 102 of
No Regrets Remodeling and at "Sizing Air Conditioners: If Bigger Is
Not Better, What Is?" by John Proctor and Peggy Albright http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/960907.html
on the internet.
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Health and Durability Inspections
The results of a visual inspection of your building are recorded in
this section of the report.
Mold and Moisture Sources
As part of a walkthrough of the building, your inspector will identify
the following areas where there is evidence of mold or high humidity.
More information on mold and moisture sources is available on Pages
25, 51-53, 178,179, 188, 191, and 196 of No Regrets Remodeling and at
"Fundamentals Of Moisture In Houses" by Joseph Lstiburek and John Carmody
http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/951108.html
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Indoor Air Pollution Sources
As part of a walkthrough of the building, your inspector will identify
the following areas where there is evidence of potential sources of
indoor air pollution. More information on mold and moisture sources
is available on Pages 24, 51, 165 of No Regrets Remodeling and at the
EPA websites at http://www.epa.gov/reg5oair/radon/resrchome.htm
and http://www.epa.gov/iedweb00/index.html
and at "Clearing the Air: Filters for Residential Forced_Air Systems"
by Dennis Creech, Mike Barcik, and Steve Byers, http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/9607airfilter.html
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Building Durability Inspection
As part of a walkthrough of the building, your inspector has identified
the following areas where there is evidence of maintenance problems
affecting the durability of your building. More information on building
durability and maintenance problems is available on Pages 8 – 14 in
No Regrets Remodeling and at "Beauty and the Beast Upstairs" http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950309.html,
and "Out, Out Dammed Ice! by Paul Fisette" http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/961109.html
on the Internet
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Insulation and Envelope Inspection
As part of a walkthrough of the building, your inspector has visually
estimated the insulation levels in various areas of your building's
shell. More information on the appropriate insulation levels is available
Pages 39 - 50, 171 - 196 in No Regrets Remodeling and at "Home Energy's
Consumer Guide to Insulation" http://www.homeenergy.org//archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/9609insulation.html
and "Does Floor Insulation Performance Meet Expectations?" and http://www.homeenergy.org//archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/94/940304.html
and "A Plan to Stop Fluffing and Cheating in Attic Insulation" http://www.homeenergy.org//archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/9605trends5.html
on the Internet
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Roof and Attic Inspection
As part of a walkthrough of the building, your inspector has attempted
to examine your roof and attic for evidence of maintenance problems.
More information on roof durability and maintenance problems is available
on Pages 197 - 204 in No Regrets Remodeling and at "Beauty and the Beast
Upstairs" http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950309.html
and "Out, Out Dammed Ice!" by Paul Fisette http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/9611ice.html
on the Internet
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Exhaust Fan Duct Condition
As part of a walkthrough of the building, your inspector has attempted
to examine the condition your exhaust fan ductwork for length and condition.
Too long of a duct run can cause moisture problems and leaky exhaust
ducts can put damaging amounts of moisture into your building. More
information on exhaust systems is available on Pages 53,54,56 of No
Regrets Remodeling and at "Mechanical Ventilation for the Home" by Don
Stevens http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/960307.html
on the Internet
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Whole Building Performance Tests
Exhaust Fan Flow
This test measures the ability of your exhaust fan systems to remove
air from your house. Not enough air flow means the fan is making noise
but not moving air. More information on exhaust systems is available
on Pages 53,54,56 of No Regrets Remodeling and at "Mechanical Ventilation
for the Home" by Don Stevens http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/960307.html
on the Internet
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Blower Door Test
This test measures the leakiness of your house. A higher number means
that your house is draftier and uses more energy. More information on
blower door testing is available on Pages 12, 28 of No Regrets Remodeling
and at "Introduction to Blower Doors" by David Keefe http://www.homeenergy.org//archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/94/940110.html
and "The History of the Blower Door" by Abba Anderson http://www.homeenergy.org//archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/951109.html
and "Two Favorite Test Methods, By the Book" By Mark P. Modera http://www.homeenergy.org//archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/93/930912.html
on the Internet
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Duct Leakage
This test measures the leakiness of your duct system. More information
on duct leakage is available on Pages 13 - 15, 26 - 28, 33 - 35, 102
of No Regrets Remodeling and at "Diagnosing Ducts - Finding the Energy
Culprits" by John Proctor, Michael Blasnik, Bruce Davis, Tom Downey,
Mark P. Modera, Gary Nelson, and John J. Tooley Jr. http://www.homeenergy.org//archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/93/930911.html
and Discovering Ducts http://www.homeenergy.org//archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/93/930909.html
on the Internet
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Pressure Mapping
This test helps to determine the unintentional airflows that occur when
the heating and cooling fan is on. A second test looks at the unintentional
connectedness of various spaces such as attics, basements and garages
to your building. More information on pressure mapping is available
on Pages 33 and 34 of No Regrets Remodeling and at "Dazzling Color Hoses-More
Than a Fashion Statement" http://www.homeenergy.org//archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/95/950707.html
and "User-Friendly Pressure Diagnostics" by Jim Fitzgerald, Robert Nevitt,
and Michael Blasnik http://www.homeenergy.org//archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/94/940908.html
on the Internet
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Optional Inspections
Lighting
Lighting bulbs and fixtures can be replaced with more efficient bulbs
and fixtures that last longer and pay for themselves. More information
on lighting choices is available on Pages 122-136, 154-155 of No Regrets
Remodeling and at "Lighting Makeovers: The Best Is Not Always the Brightest"
by Kathryn M. Conway http://www.homeenergy.org//archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/94/941109.html
and "Small PV Grows in the Garden" by Steven Bodzin http://www.homeenergy.org//archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/9605trends2.html
on the Internet
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Appliances
Energy Star appliances save money and provide high performance. More
information on Energy Star appliances is available on Pages 76, 151-152,
158 of No Regrets Remodeling and at "The Second Price Tag: Energy Efficient
appliances cost less to own" http://www.energystar.gov/products/appliances.html
on the Internet
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