Unit 39 Residential Energy Audit

What will a cracked heat exchanger cause in a combustion appliance?

A cracked heat exchanger can allow combustion chamber products to mix with the heating air that enters the living space of the house and cause serious illness.

Describe incomplete combustion.

Incomplete combustion occurs when a combustion reaction occurs without a sufficient supply of oxygen.

Describe backdrafting.

Backdrafting is described as the continuous spillage when the direction of chimney flow is reversed.

Describe excess air as it applies to a combustion appliance.

Excess air as it applies to a combustion appliance is the combination of Primary, Secondary and Dilution air.

What is the function of the flame flame safeguard controls?

The function of the flame flame safeguard controls is to protect against unignited fuel that enters the combustion's appliance combustion chamber.

What are three common flame safeguard controls?

Three common flame safeguard controls are thermocouples, flame rectification and cadmium sulfide cell or photo cell.

Name two nationally recognized energy certifications for home auditors and contractors

1. (BPI) Building Performance Institute 2. (RESNET) Residential Energy Services Network

Name and briefly explain the five most common diagnostic tests performed during a residential energy audit

1. Blower door testing: It gives the auditor insight on how tight or leaky the home's building envelope is overall. 2. Infrared scanning testing:

Name and Briefly explain the three broad categories of a residential of a residential energy audit.

1. Screening, visual inspections and measurements: 2. Diagnostic testing 3. Numerical analysis with reporting

What is meant by direct-vented, sealed-combustion, high-efficiency furnace.

A direct-vented, sealed-combustion, high-efficiency furnace uses air from outside for combustion using a pipe that is usually made of PVC plastic.

What is the function of the duct blower?

A duct blowers function is used to measure the airtightness of forced air heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) ductwork during residential energy audits.

Define a home energy index.

A home energy index is defined as a way to compare one home to another and to characterize their efficiency through an energy index.

Define a residential energy audit

A residential energy audit can be defined as the steps taken increase the homeowner's comfort, safety, and health and the life of the house. While conserving energy and saving the homeowner money

What can an infrared scanning camera do for an auditor that a blower door test cannot do?

An infrared scanning camera can show the exact location of leaks which is something the blower door test cannot do.

What is the difference between a base load and a seasonal energy usage as they apply to a residential homes?

Base loads include usages for all electrical needs with the exception of heating and cooling energy which are considered seasonal.

When performing a combustion efficiency test, digital flue gas will measure the following four parameters?

Carbon monoxide (CO), oxygen (O2), draft, and flu gas temperature.

Describe complete combustion.

Complete combustion produces carbon dioxide, water vapor and heat.

Describe dilution air as it applies to a combustion appliance.

Dilution air as it applies to a combustion appliance is defined as air that enters after combustion, usually at the end of the heat exchanger.

Describe draft as it applies to combustion appliances.

Draft as it applies to combustion appliances is pressure that moves combustion byproducts through the flue and chimney and out of the building.

What is Energy Conservation Measure (ECM)?

Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) is the method that is applied to a residence according to their energy saving potential.

What are four causes of backdrafting?

Four causes of backdrafting include open fireplaces, cloths dryers, exhaust fans and leaky return air ducts in the combustion appliance zone.

What is the difference between induced-draft and forced-draft combustion appliances?

Induced-draft systems have a combustion blower motor located at the outlet of the heat exchanger. Forced-draft systems push or blow combustion gases through the heat exchanger and cause a positive pressure.

Name seven base loads or LAMEL loads as they apply to a residential energy audit

Lights, refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, clothes dryers, computers, printers, copiers, cell phone chargers.

What is one inch of water column is equal?

One inch of water column is equal to 250 pascals.

What is one pascal is equal to?

One pascal is equal to 0.00401865 inches of water column.

What is the difference between an over-the-fire draft and stack draft?

Over-the-fire draft, the draft over the fire and has a lesser eating than chimney draft. Stack draft is the draft between the combustion device and the draft diverter or flue draft.,

Define primary air in a combustion chamber.

Primary air in a combustion chamber is defined as air that mixes with the raw gas in the burner before a flame is established.

Define secondary air in a combustion chamber.

Secondary air in a combustion chamber is defined as air that enters the combustion chamber after ignition and supports it.

Describe spillage

Spillage is the temporary flow of combustion byproducts from an open combustion appliance at the draft dilution port.

Describe the blower door test.

The blower door test is used to measure the air leakage into and out of a home. The blower door blows air out of the house bringing it to a standard pressure. The the air flowing through the blower door is measured which determines the severity of your home's air leaks and your home's energy efficiency.

Performing a home energy audit starts with a visual inspection of a home and it's energy systems which include

The building envelope, HVAC systems, base load inspections and indoor air quality.

describe how to check for duct leakage to the outdoors using a duct blower and a blower door.

The following procedures are describe how to check for duct leakage to the outdoors using a duct blower and a blower door. • Close all windows and outside doors, all interior doors remain open. • Install blower door in a configuration to pressurize the home. • Connect duct blower to air handler or air register. • Pressurize duct system to 25 Pascals. • Pressurize the house with blower door until the pressure difference between the house and duct work is 0.0 pascals. • The Duct Blaster is set up and attached to the duct system (usually near the furnace). • The blower door is turned on and the house is pressurized to 25 Pascals. • The airflow indicated on the Duct Blaster's manometer (in cfm) quantifies duct leakage to the outdoors.