DIAGNOSTIC TESTING

Atlas Home Energy Solutions offers additional diagnositc testing services that can be combined with an energy audit or done as a stand-alone test.

Infrared (IR) Camera Inspections*

An infrared camera is a thermal imaging tool that is used to "see" temperature differences. It can be used to discover where outside air is entering into your home or where insulation is missing. Best infrared inspections are completed when there is at least a 15⁰F temperature difference between inside the house and outside.

*An Infrared Camera Inspection is included in the Comprehensive Home Energy Audit

Blower Door Testing - $150*

A blower door is a large calibrated fan that is placed in to an existing doorway in your home that simulates a 25 mph wind hitting your home from all sides. This test allows us to determine exactly how leaky your home is and aids us in locating the most significant air leaks.

This test is also used to help highlight the effect building leakage has on your insulation performance and makes it easier for us to identify those problems using an infrared camera.

*A Blower Door Test is included in the Comprehensive Home Energy Audit

Duct Leakage Testing - $150*

A duct leakage test is similar to a blower door test except that it only tests for air leakage in the home's ductwork instead of your whole house. Leakage points in ductwork are significantly more costly then leakage points in the building shell because the air that is lost has already been conditioned by the HVAC system. For the test, the inspector must seal off all the ducts in your home (Supply/Return) using tape. A small fan is then used to pressurize the ductwork to determine how many leakage paths there are. The location of the leaks can be determined through a visual inspection or by sending smoke through the ductwork if necessary.

A Duct Leakage Test only costs $100 when combined with a Comprehensive Home Energy Audit

Radon Testing - $125

Radon, a colorless, odorless, and radioactive gas found in rocky soil, is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States behind smoking. It enters the homes through leaks in the foundation and becomes concentrated on the lower levels of the home. Maryland homes have high radon risks due to the rocky soil that is often found in this area, see the map below.

The only way to test for radon levels is through advanced laboratory equiment. To test homes, a two-sample test kit is left is left in left in the lowest occupied level of the home to collect an airborne sample. This sample is sent to a lab and tested undergoes a radon detection analysis which indicate the radon concentration in your home. If the concentration levels are too high a mitigation system can be installed to remove radon.

Additional Combustion Appliance Testing - $50 per additional appliance

Combustion Appliance tests are performed on gas or oil burning furnances, boilers, water heaters, and ovens to determine:

• The Combustion Efficiency of the Unit
• Levels of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Gas in the units exhaust gases and in the air surrounding the appliance
• Whether or not any exhaust gases are spilling into the home during use
• The level of draft on the appliance that is pulling exhaust gases out of the house.
• The level of depressurization in the combustion appliance zone which can cause backdrafting and potentially a fire

Combustion Safetey Testing of One Furnace, One Water Heater and One Oven is included as a part of our Comprehensive Home Energy Audit. Because some homes may contain more than one combustion appliance zone, additional appliances can be tested for $50.