HOME INSPECTION Thermal Efficiency – heat and cooling loss The inspection by Okanagan Energy with an infrared camera provides the property owner information regarding the condition of the property that traditionally is not visible with a visual inspection. Infrared energy audit of your home or business is done to identify where expensive heated air is leaking to the outside and cold air is infiltrating the building. This allows the property owner to identify where improvements can be made. Older structures are especially vulnerable to heat loss and infiltration of cold air. It is common to see entire walls, ceilings and attics lacking in sufficient insulation. Infrared inspections are the best way to identify those areas needing improvement, increasing the property’s thermal efficiency and save you money.
By checking for loose or defective connections, we can determine where a circuit is running abnormally hot. This condition can indicate a fire safety problem as well as the use of excessive electricity. When a problem is identified it will allow the property owner to take action to do repairs resulting in saving electricity (money) and making a safer home or business. Building Moisture Moisture can compromise the integrity of a building through damaged insulation, rotten wood, mildew, crumbling concrete and corroded metals to name a few. Okanagan Energy’s Infrared Imaging can also identify where water can damage walls, ceilings, roofs and floors before they become a major problem. It can be a very effective and valuable tool to trace down where a leak is coming from. We can see those things that otherwise would remain unseen. Heat and Cooling Losses Insulation issues can be a problem to any structure including new homes. Older homes, which were built prior to any insulation standards being determined, will benefit from identifying where insulation is substandard before initiating a plan to upgrade the structure. This should result in the property owner saving energy (and money). Some insulation problems are almost impossible to detect without an infrared inspection. An example of this is blown or batts of insulation that does not fill the entire cavity because of improper installation or settling. An inspection with infrared technology will allow the property owner to properly identify the problem areas and then create a plan that will fit their financial needs. Other areas of concern can be access plates, electrical outlets, telephone and cable jacks, light switches, doorbells, recessed lighting, ceiling fans, ducts, etc. These areas can lack insulation and may be the source of undetectable drafts, heat loss or air intrusion. Doors and windows are other areas of heat loss that may be taken for granted by the property owner which can result in great loss of energy or air intrusion which can be very costly. These small leaks, when considered all together, can equal an open window in your house all year around. Okanagan Energy takes the guess work out of determining whether or not you have a problem and takes the guess work out of fixing it. This will save you money on un-needed insulation, window, door, or heating upgrades.
Inspection and Reporting Okanagan Energy Thermographic Imaging is not associated with any other companies or contractors, ensuring you have an unbiased evaluation. We do not endorse any particular trades’ personnel or guarantee their performance but we can provide you with a list of companies that are known to be reputable in your community. An inspection by Okanagan Energy of a home or business will include an entire infrared evaluation of all the exterior walls for heat loss and air intrusion, damage caused by water and electrical problems in your panel. Our policy is to ensure the highest standards of inspection and reporting that will provide the property owner with an accurate, detailed report, with recommendations, for all areas of the structure that may be of concern. The report will be provided to the property owner within one week after the inspection.
|
