We at e-caps utilize a systems approach to building diagnosis. Automobiles are made up of interacting components and systems – when one component fails, it affects the performance of the entire vehicle. The same applied's to your home.

High energy bills, fluctuating temperatures from room-to-room, drafts, moisture, mold, mildew, poor indoor air quality, pest infestations, and premature deterioration of building materials can all be the result of a breakdown in the relationship between the systems in your house – the building envelope (shell), heating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and you, the occupants. If one system has a problem, it impacts the other systems’ ability to function properly.

Click image to enlarge

Treating the obvious symptom without knowing the real culprit behind it can actually make the problem worse or create new problems. The process of elimination approach just causes frustration as you try solution after solution – investing more time, money and energy – without resolution. Properly diagnosing and fixing the root cause requires implementation of a systems approach based on building science.

Click image to enlarge

We at e-Caps are BPI certified professionals that conduct a comprehensive whole home assessment to determine the real problems, then prescribe and prioritize improvements that make the system as a whole function at its best.

Department of Energy's recommendations

Your first Home energy audit takes approximately 2 to 3 hours to complete. We will need access to the entire house, including attic, crawl space, basement, heating, cooling equipment and appliances or any other hard to reach areas.

Our process began's with an interview of you the home owner, to find out what symptoms you’ve noticed and what, if anything, you’ve tried to fix. An evaluation of your energy bills provides clues to areas that need improvement.

SRP's Home Energy Management

Next we began the recording of the quality of air circulating in your home. We measure the levels of carbon monoxide, check for gas & refrigerant leakage around hoses, couplings appliances etc. Insure all combustibles have adequate ventilation/flukes.

The Informant® 2 leak detector allows pinpoint detection of both refrigerant and combustible gas leaks with the same instrument. Its unique combination of state-of-the-art patented sensor technology, advanced software design, and microprocessor controlled circuitry offers you unmatched precision coupled with tremendous speed. It is unquestionably the most sensitive, most reliable, most accurate leak detector on the market today. And the fastest.

The Bacharach Fyrite®Tech lets us test from carbon Monoxide to oxygen to stack temperature measurement, the Fyrite®Tech instantly gathers the precise measurements needed to ensure the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of residential fuel-burning appliances and furnaces.

    

Click image to enlarge

Once we have determine safe air quality the house is depressurized utilizing a technique called blower door testing. Blower doors depressurize the home to amplify air leakage so leakage can be measured and air leaks can be located. Blower-door testing is the most practical way to determine energy saving from air sealing methods.

   

Click image to enlarge

We use the Minneapolis Blower DoorTM which has been recognized as the best designed and supported building air tightness testing system in the world. Combined with specialized accessories and complete testing procedures developed by The Energy Conservatory, The Minneapolis Blower Door is the system of choice for utility programs, energy raters, HVAC contractors, builders, insulation contractors and weatherization professionals.

Next thermal based pictures 120 x 120 (14,400) pixels are taken of your home using The FLIR i7 thermal imaging infrared camera to detect electrical, mechanical, HVAC, moisture and any additional energy-audit-related problems.

    

    

Click image to enlarge.