Six Steps to a More Comfortable, Healthy, and Efficient Home

A home performance test from General Heating & Air Conditioning can help identify and correct home comfort issues

Indoor air quality problems can run the gamut from dangerous conditions like poorly vented carbon monoxide to nuisances like dust, odors, and allergens. Uneven heating and cooling as well as inefficient operation of HVAC equipment can also pose problems for homeowners. If you are experiencing any sort of issue with your home comfort, a home performance test from the professionals at General Heating & Air Conditioning can help. The test consists of the following six steps.
Home performance test

  1. Initial Consultation

    2. The first step in any home performance test is an initial consultation. This consultation provides the technician with an opportunity to learn from the homeowner what the key indoor air quality and HVAC performance issues are. Since different individuals tend to have different perceptions about indoor air quality and comfort, it is wise to have all adults living in the home participate in the consultation.

  2. Equipment Inspection

    3. Inspecting your heating and cooling equipment helps identify issues such as oversized or undersized equipment, worn parts, dirty filters, and improper installation that may be causing problems with your indoor air quality and comfort.

  3. Insulation Inspection

    4. Insulation is very important for a comfortable and efficient home because it helps ensure that heated or cooled air stays in the home rather than being lost through walls or ceilings. During the home performance test, a technician will inspect your insulation to ensure that it is in good condition and meets the current recommended levels for optimum energy efficiency. Hidden defects such as hollow wall cavities will also be identified.

  4. Air Leakage Evaluation

    5. Every home should have some amount of air leakage, as this is one of the ways that fresh air enters the home. However, leaks that allow dusty, moldy, or hot or cold air from an attic, garage, or crawl space to enter the home are not desirable. Your home performance technician will check for these undesirable leaks using an infiltrometer blower test.

  5. Air Flow Diagnosis

    6. Another important part of your home performance test is checking the air flow through the ductwork. Blockages, leaks, and poor duct design make it more difficult for heated or cooled air to travel to all the rooms in your home, resulting in uneven temperatures and humidity levels. By identifying and correcting air flow issues, you can not only enjoy more consistent temperatures but also more efficient HVAC operation and lower utility bills.

  6. Personalized Improvements Plan

    7. At the end of your home performance test, the technician will discuss the problems that have been discovered and present a point by point plan for correcting these problems in order of priority. You can also request an estimate for some or all of the services that will be required to improve your home comfort and performance from the pros at General Heating & Air Conditioning.