Home energy audit.

[BrianN]

Finally, tomorrow I have some one coming to do a home energy audit.
The sad thing about it is, I have to let the wood stove cool down, so, I just put in a final load, and will be cranking it up today, with the hopes that it will burn out and cool down by morning. 22 hours from now.
Luckily, we have the pellet stove that we can keep the living room near room temp with, and, if need be, I will turn the dial up on the dreaded base board heaters. I just cringe at that thought.
The good news with that is, I can empty out some ash, and, do a dollar bill test. I have noticed lately that the front of the fire box is burning completely down, while I still have lots of coals at the back and side walls. I figure there may be an air leak. But, saying that, I have run a lighter flame around the door seal, and it doesn't seem to be sucking the flame in.

 

[PapaDave]

 

[BrianN]

Great, just got a message from the wife. Pellet stove won't light. And I am at work. Not looking good for her tonight.

 

[PapaDave]

 

[BrianN]

Well, stove is clean from all ashes, chimney swept. Just waiting for the energy audit company to come in and do their job so I can get this fire going again. It's freezing in here.

 

[Highbeam]

My BK does a very good job of burning out the front center before consuming the sides as a sort of split fire. What you describe is exactly what mine does so we either both have leaky door gaskets or neither of us do. The air supply to the firebox is airwash only so it makes sense that the load burns front to back, center first.

I would have thought that the energy audit guys want you to keep the hosue temps up so that they can see the differential with their heat cameras. It helps them identify leaks in insulation if your "heat" is escaping. No heat = no smoking gun.

 

[BrianN]

Well, I did do the dollar bill test, and there is no way to move anything between that door and gasket. So, I'm going to say it is normal.
When the energy audit was here, they wanted all fires out and cooled so they could test air leakage. Funny thing is, there was no smoke to test for air leakage, just running our hands around window sills, outlets and the likes, and, there was no heat cameras. Kind of weird. I thought for sure they would have done that. You know, look into the walls. Pretty disappointed actually.
It took a total of 1.5 hours. One hour was taking photos and measurements, checking the attic. The rest of the time was checking for air leakage.
I finally got to light the stove when he left, and I still can't get the house up to temp. This sucks.
This may be a reason though.

 

[woodgeek]

Pretty fishy there's no IR. Was this a free utility audit? And out this way they say a 20°F differential in and out is plenty for the IR to see. I did my audit in March when it was 40°F outside,

 

[BrianN]

No, unfortunately, not free. Audit was $150, his travel fee was $75. He had to drive an hour to get here.
Now, I have to find some one with an IR, or, find some where that I could rent one from.

 

[jharkin]

Oh that sucks.. Without doing an IR scan and/or a blower door how much can he really tell you?

Sounds like the free utility audits we get here that just poke some holes in the wall looking for insulation and tell you to replace your windows. Pointless really but necessary to qualify for the rebates on work you would have done anyway.