Residential Trends ~The “whole house as a system” saves you $$$$

The latest residential trend is to conserve energy and look at the whole house as a system; this idea ties comfort levels & health aspects of a building to the idea of looking at all the parts for the best durability, comfort & safety in the home. The whole house approach includes looking at how the A/C system, attic insulation, the windows and doors and the weatherization of the building envelope all act together as a system to keep the occupants safe, healthy & comfortable. In other words, this means looking at “Gaps, Cracks & Holes” to combat the influx of pollutants. In our climate here in Pensacola, the big pollutant is Humidity; water vapor or moisture leads to big problems. The trend and research shows us that you need to do a full energy diagnosis by testing the home. The biggest improvement is related to the HVAC system & controlling moisture or humidity through better A/C equipment. But hold on there~ it’s not all “just in the box” (A/C Equip). A US Dept. of Energy study has shown that most duct systems leak anywhere from 25-40%, or more, of their conditioned air out of the ducts into attics or crawl spaces due poor design or poor installation. The best way to diagnose the “whole house” issues is to use a blower door to conduct a “negative air test”. This is a new test that allows the homeowner to see all the areas that are affecting the health, comfort & durability of a building. The test data is also used in a comprehensive energy audit. Before the blower door was popular most contractors would “guess” at the problem & then try to find a solution to the issues like “Excessive Dust”, “Hot or Cold rooms” or “High Utility bills” . Now-a-days there are contractors in the market place that “test” and “never guess” at the biggest problem many homeowners face. So don’t accept a guess when it comes down to the comfort or safety of your family, have the whole house tested as a system.

For more money saving, homeowner tips, look at the consumer education videos on our website www.gulfcoastaircare.com