Was it difficult to cool your home last summer? Did you feel like no matter how high you cranked the AC, your house still felt humid and sticky? This is a common complaint we hear from our customers in Chicagoland. Most of the time, this is not an HVAC problem; it’s an air leakage and insulation problem.
Air leakage and poor insulation cause an air conditioning system to run longer, harder, and less efficiently. Without correcting this issue, you’ll struggle to keep your home cool during the summer. A home energy assessment is the first diagnostic step you can take to resolve this problem. Here’s what you can expect from the process and how our strategic performance upgrades can significantly improve your comfort this summer.
What is a Home Energy Assessment and How Does It Help?
A home energy assessment uncovers the hidden issues in your home’s building envelope. The goal is to find the root cause of your comfort issues and avoid sticking band-aids on problems. ARC Insulation sets itself apart from competitors with this approach. It’s the first pillar of The ARC Way.
Energy assessments use a variety of advanced tests to understand where energy may be escaping in a home. They are the first step towards making your home cool and comfortable this summer. Without an assessment, you’re making broad assumptions and taking shots in the dark. As the Department of Energy recommends, it’s essential to use a qualified technician for thorough and accurate testing.
Our energy assessments focus on resolving five core issues: inconsistent temperatures, poor HVAC performance, high energy bills, inadequate insulation, and air leaks.
Free Assessment vs. Comprehensive Energy Audit
Not every homeowner needs a complete energy audit with all of the below steps. Audits are paid assessments designed for homes with complex comfort and performance issues. They leave no stone unturned to ensure that you receive a solution that completely resolves the problems you’re experiencing.
Many families benefit from a standard, free assessment instead. These are less extensive and better for homes with a specific, easily identifiable problem. We use them to perform a diagnosis and provide you with a scope of work and a quote.
What to Expect During Your Home Energy Assessment in Chicagoland
Whether you need a home energy assessment in Elk Grove Village or Naperville, you’ll receive a targeted, performance-based approach from our team. To solve air conditioning-related comfort issues, we primarily focus on identifying air leakage in your home. When there are leaks, humid exterior air can find its way in, and your air-conditioned air can find its way out. This creates discomfort. We locate areas of weakness with the following diagnostics:
- Blower Door Tests: During a blower door test, we pressurize your home, suck air in, and blow air out. We measure pressure differences, take note of abnormalities, and use techniques like smoke pencils and thermal cameras to pinpoint leaks.
- Infrared Cameras: Infrared cameras are used to spot temperature differences in the home that are caused by air leaks or poor insulation.
- Duct Leakage Tests: Sometimes, issues with air conditioning are due to duct leaks. If air is escaping from them up into your rafters or down into your basement, you won’t be cooling your residence to its full potential. Our tests can find these leaks.
Our Illinois Insulators Can Help With Summer Heat
Once your energy assessment is complete, we can make a calculated plan to fix your home’s discomfort or determine if a full audit is needed. We take a performance-based approach with our work, not a prescriptive approach. This means that we’re only satisfied by how your home actually performs in real-world scenarios, not just how it appears on paper according to codes.
Most of the time, if you’re having comfort issues during the summer, our energy assessments will determine that you need air sealing and insulation. ARC Insulation specializes in foam insulation in Chicago, which has the benefit of providing both air sealing and insulation. Spray foam insulation is very effective in hard-to-reach areas in the attic and basement, which are the two prime places for energy loss. By investing in this service, you will benefit from the following this summer:
- Lower Energy Bills: With less energy loss, your air conditioning system will run less, resulting in lower electricity bills.
- More Consistent Comfort: You’ll feel fewer drafts, and the cold air your AC produces will last longer in the home before it dissipates.
- Less HVAC Wear and Tear: A well-sealed and insulated home is better for your HVAC equipment. It won’t have to work harder to overcome air leakage, so it will require less frequent maintenance.
Since 1993, ARC Insulation has helped over 30,000 homes in the Naperville and Chicagoland area. We are state-certified for weatherization assessments, blower door tests, air sealing, and insulation. If you’re looking for a home performance company near you, trust our BPI Building Analysts to identify and resolve any summer comfort issues you may be worried about. Whether you need a complete energy audit or a free home assessment, we’re here to help.
