Frequently Asked Questions
The language of the home performance world can be confusing, here are some answers to common questions
What is Home Performance?
Home performance is a term used to describe how all aspects of a home work together as one comprehensive system. Home performance work is done by home performance contractors and weatherization professionals. These are people who have undergone specialized training so that they can diagnose a home's problems (drafty, moldy, expensive to heat or cool, uncomfortable) and find ways to fix them.
Why Should I Get an Energy Audit?
Do you have rooms that are uncomfortable? Unsatisfied with your energy bills? We will help you identify issues and come up with solutions to these problems. Sometimes you might not even be aware of opportunities for bettering your home. A few things we can identify include, Inefficient insulation, windows, and doors, Problems with heating and cooling systems., Appliances consuming excess energy, Air leaks, Drafts or uneven temperatures throughout the home, Old or inefficient HVAC systems, and Excessive dust accumulation or poor indoor air quality.
What is a Blower Door?
A blower door test is a diagnostic tool used to measure the airtightness of a building. It involves the use of a specialized fan temporarily installed in an exterior door with a frame. The fan creates a pressure difference inside the building, and we use a device called a manometer to measure the amount of air (leakage) moving across the fan.
What is a Thermal Scan?
Infrared Cameras, (Thermal Camera) work by detecting infrared radiation (which is emitted by all objects based on their temperature) and converting this radiation into an electrical signal, which is then processed to produce a visual image. We use these cameras to assist us in verifying condition and presence of insulation, moisture, and finding air leaks.
What Will Air Sealing Do For Me?
Reducing the amount of air that leaks in and out of your home is a cost-effective way to cut heating and cooling costs, improve durability, increase comfort, and create a healthier indoor environment. Caulking and weatherstripping are two simple and effective air-sealing techniques that offer quick returns on investment, often one year or less. Caulk is generally used for cracks and openings between stationary house components such as around door and window frames, and weatherstripping is used to seal components that move, such as doors and operable windows. We will prioritize places to air seal utilizing our home performance tools.
What are VOC's and MVOC's?
VOCs, Volatile Organic Compounds, are organic chemicals that vaporize easily at room temperature. There are thousands of different VOCs in indoor air from hundreds of sources, making both source identification and remediation plans challenging.
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​Whether mold is visible or not, i.e., “hidden mold,” certain chemicals called mold volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) are produced as mold digests its food. Long exposure to these VOCs can have serious health effects especially in infants, small children, the elderly and anyone with chemical sensitivities, or respiratory issues. Because mold VOCs are produced as the mold grows, they can be used as an indicator of active mold.
Is Environmental Testing Expensive?
Efficiency Maine allows "Health and Safety" costs to be up to 25% of the total Air Sealing and Insulation Project Cost. If we perform air sealing and or insulation work to your home, you can roll in some or all of the cost of radon testing, water testing, or indoor air quality testing.
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As stand alone tests, tests range from 150-500 dollars, which may seem like a lot. But, considering we spend 80-90% of our time indoors, these tests will give you piece of mind or could alert you of unhealthy living conditions.
Do You Do Insulation?
We tend to recommend contractors that we have previous relationships with that we have vetted and believe are the most thorough and cost effective. That being said on a case by case basis, we can complete insulation projects if you would like.
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Furthermore, we can act as your project team and handle the rest of your project to completion. We will gather estimates, coordinate the work scope, supervise the contractors and advocate for you. If something doesn’t make sense or isn’t as expected, we’ll work with the contractor to make it right. Through Efficiency Maine, all the work will be eligible for rebates. With
our partners, the all in price tends to be similar as if you utilized us and the other contractor separately.