Is your home drafty, dusty, smelly? Are your energy bills sky high? Your home may be in need of a Home and Duct Performance Audit! This service from F.H. Furr allows professional technicians to come in for an initial consultation and later perform equipment and insulation inspections, air leakage evaluations, air flow diagnosis and provide the homeowner with a personalized improvement plan!
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Energy Services: Home Energy and Duct Performance Audit
1. A Healthy House…
…Helps Make A
Healthy Home
Introducing The
Home Energy And
Duct Performance Audit
E n e r g y S e r v i c e s
2. New Or Restored… Experience A
New Level Of Comfort…
…And A Better, More
Pleasing Home
DO YOU HEAR FAMILY COMPLAINTS ABOUT
COMFORT OR AIR QUALITY?:
‣ ‘Drafty old barn’
‣ ‘My room’s too cold in the winter and too
hot in the summer’
‣ ‘Hands off that thermostat!’
‣ ‘Are you getting sick again?’
‣ ‘I just cleaned yesterday, and there’s
already dust everywhere’
‣ ‘Smells like a locker room!’
‣ ‘Same kind of house, and their bills are half ours!’
Take a LOOK-SNIFF around—
do you SENSE:
Visible dust…Dirt lines at carpet edges…Dry air, static
shocks…Musty odors…Smelly fireplace…Hot or cold
rooms…High energy/repair bills…Roof moisture/ice
problems…Mold or rot on wood framing…Dirt or sweating
on AC vents, insulation or pipes…Damaged or degraded
insulation…Warped or buckled flooring?
Actions taken to improve comfort, economy and air
quality have to be addressed as an integrated, related
system. How? Start with a Home And Duct
Performance Audit from F.H. Furr.
Equally effective with recent or classic restoration
construction, An Audit is aimed at bringing you:
‣ Uniform temperature and humidity
year round
‣ A fresh feeling, healthy indoor air
quality and interior cleanness
‣ Low utility bills
Move toward a snug and pleasant indoor
environment…a healthy home…with a
Home And Duct Performance
Audit.
3. Introducing The
Home & Duct
Performance
Audit
THE HOME AND DUCT PERFORMANCE AUDIT TAKES
ABOUT 3 HOURS, SCHEDULED DURING NORMAL
BUSINESS HOURS. THE MORE HOUSEHOLD
RESIDENTS THAT CAN BE PRESENT, THE BETTER, TO
ENSURE ALL QUESTIONS ARE ADDRESSED. YOU ARE
UNDER ABSOLUTELY NO OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE
ANY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS OR
SERVICES FROM F.H. FURR.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS…
Audit Components
1. INITIAL CONSULTATION
Your test starts with an initial interview with a Certified Energy
Specialist. Your input about how the house looks and feels under
various conditions provides valuable information.
2. EQUIPMENT INSPECTION
Our experts assess whether or not your heating and cooling
equipment is efficient, dependable and safe. They will inspect for
deterioration and installation or maintenance problems and tell you
the average life span of your type of equipment. They will also
evaluate your system’s air filtration and purification effectiveness in
cleaning your indoor air.
3. INSULATION INSPECTION
Both comfort and economy will suffer if you don’t have enough
insulation. Our experts will assess whether your insulation and its
condition top to bottom meets currently recommended levels. They
will look for hidden defects, such as hollow wall cavities, that allow
air and heat to bypass your insulation.
4. AIR LEAKAGE EVALUATION
Not all air leaks are created equal. From an air quality standpoint,
those around your windows and doors are good leaks, since they
let in fresh outdoor air. Bad leaks in the building shell or ducts let in
dusty, moldy, or polluted air from your attic, garage, or crawl space
and cause your heating and cooling equipment to perform well
below peak efficiency. The F.H. Furr Audit’s Infiltrometer blower door
test pinpoints your home’s worst air leaks.
5. AIR FLOW DIAGNOSIS
Design flaws or blockages in your air duct system restrict air flow
and cause uneven distribution. This wastes money and makes your
home uncomfortable. F.H. Furr Energy Specialists conduct static
pressure tests that reveal hidden blockages or design problems. An
air flow capture hood test measures precisely how much
conditioned air is getting into “problem” rooms.
6. PERSONALIZED IMPROVEMENTS PLAN
Once the inspection and testing are complete, your consultant will
explain the results and give you a prioritized action plan for
recommended improvements. Many of these (caulking or
weatherstripping) you can do as weekend projects. For
improvements better left to professionals your F.H. Furr consultant
will prepare a proposal for repairs and recommend trustworthy
contractors for services we do not offer.
E n e r g y S e r v i c e s
4. Make A
Tremendous
Impact On
Livability
With a completed F.H. Furr Home And Duct Performance Audit,
you are on track for a significant improvement in your home’s
livability. Whether recent construction or a classic restoration, your
house will be safer, more healthy and efficient, with:
‣ Constant, uniform indoor temperature and humidity
year round
‣ Reduced indoor air impurities
‣ Reduced operating costs
Many improvements you can do yourself. And if needed
improvements will strain your budget, a completed F.H. Furr Audit
can help fulfill requirements for low-interest energy loans that you
can pay off quickly with accumulating savings.
Many factors go into making a healthy house. To give you an idea
of the improvement potential arising from an Audit, here are a few
of the considerations.
Sealing in
conditioned air
One of your highest potential improvements is securing the shell of
the home from air infiltration and exfiltration. The objective is to
contain your interior airflow from the basement/crawl space and
the attic, eliminating a “chimney/teepee” effect involving
conditioned and unconditioned air within your house. We want to
make sure that your valuable conditioned air goes to and stays
where it is intended—your living space. You will enjoy:
‣ More even humidity in your living space year-round
‣ Warmer floors and protection of pipes from freezing
‣ No sweating of equipment, ducts and pipes,
preventing damage, improving efficiency and
eliminating musty odors.
Sealing also prevents pest entry, reduces noise, reduces internal
drafts and reduces entry of airborne pollution, including radon gas.
The U.S. Department of Energy says that sealing reduces your
total annual energy bill 10% ($220/year on average). Other
authorities estimate up to 60% savings.
Typical sealing strategies suggested by Audits
‣ Encapsulation or spray foam in crawl spaces
‣ Adding barriers around openings
‣ Adding or repairing weatherstripping
‣ Adding soffit baffles
‣ Installing door sweeps, thresholds, outlet
gaskets and faucet cover
5. Insulation…What R you
talking about?
Climate, home construction, life style and utility prices all impact the
costs to heat and cool your home. Adequate insulation can be a
great equalizer. Houses constructed more than a decade ago
probably don’t meet the U.S. Department of Energy’s Thermal
Resistance (R-value) guidelines for insulation. These houses can
lose heat in the winter and gain heat in the summer, wasting
precious energy dollars and natural resources.
Adding additional insulation is
a cost effective way to make
your home more comfortable
year round.
Your F.H. Furr Energy Specialist will check your
attic to see if the tops of your joists are visible. If
so, adding blown attic insulation from the typical
5” up to 18”, (upgrading from R-15 to R-38 or
R-49) can save up to 20% on your heating and
cooling energy bills.
Blown-in, loose-fill insulation is usually made of
fiberglass, rock wool, or cellulose, taking the
form of shreds, granules, or nodules. This blown-
in material conforms readily to building cavities
and attics. It is especially well suited for limited-
access places, and it can be blown over existing
insulation for cost-effective improvements.
What is insulation?
Insulation is used to slow the transfer of heat through walls and
ceilings. The reduction in heat loss and heat gain reduces
energy usage and helps maintain a uniform temperature.
There are several types of insulation products the most
common are fiberglass, rock wool, and cellulose. Flexible
products made from mineral fibers, such as fiberglass and rook
wool are available in widths suited to standard wall studs and
attic floor joists. Loose-fill insulation is usually made of
fiberglass, rock wool, or
cellulose (comes in shreds,
granules, or modules.) These
small particles should be
blown into spaces using
special pneumatic equipment.
T h i s b l o w n i n m a t e r i a l
conforms readily to building
cavities and attics. Therefore,
loose-fill insulation is well
suited for places where it is
difficult to install other types of
insulation or loose-fill can be
blown over existing insulation
to improve thermal resistance.
E n e r g y S e r v i c e s
6. Optimizing duct systems
A duct system that is properly sized, sealed, insulated and free from obstructions
will make your home more comfortable, energy efficient, and safer. Duct
improvements have many benefits:
‣ Correcting air flow balance problems of supply and return air that cause
seasonal problems with individual rooms
‣ Preventing entry of contaminants that generate dust, cause odors and
aggravate asthma and allergies
‣ Preventing backdraft of harmful combustion products such as carbon
monoxide
Most homes have leaky ductwork and insufficient air flow, resulting in an uncomfortable
living environment—regardless of the thermostat setting. Your home performance
contractor may recommend sealing your home’s ducts with mastic, metal tape or aerosol-
based sealant, and balancing the duct system to optimize air flow to all rooms. Insulating
ductwork in attics, crawlspaces, and some basements can also help to ensure that your
home will be more comfortable.
Surveys by the Department of Energy find
that typically 20% of conditioned air is lost
through leaking ducts, a leading cause of
energy waste.
What’s more, leaking, incorrectly sized or
obstructed ducts shorten the service life of fan
motors and bearings.
If you are considering an HVAC equipment replacement or upgrade, an Audit including ducts is essential
to prevent mis-sizing and compounded problems. Buying new high efficiency heating and
cooling equipment, and then hooking it up to the typical inefficient duct
system, is like buying a super-fuel efficient hybrid car and
then driving it with a leak in the gas
tank. Do an Audit first.
SIMPLE STEPS TO
IMPROVING
DUCT PERFORMANCE
Because ducts are often concealed in
walls, ceiling, attics, and basements,
repairing them can be difficult. But there
are things that you can do to improve
duct performance in your house.
Start by sealing air leaks using mastic
sealant or metal tape and insulating
all the ducts that you can access.
Never use duct tape, as it is not
long-lasting.
Also, make sure that the
connections at vents and
registers are well-sealed where
they meet the floors, walls, and
ceiling. These are common
locations to find leaks and
disconnected ductwork.
7. Some signs that your
home may have leaky,
poorly insulated, or
inefficient ducts:
‣You have high summer
and winter utility bills.
‣You have rooms that
are difficult to heat and
cool.
‣You have stuffy rooms
that never seem to feel
comfortable.
‣Your ducts are located
in an attic, unfinished
basement, crawlspace,
or the garage.
‣You find tangled or
kinked flexible ducts in
your system.
E n e r g y S e r v i c e s
8. In HVAC, bigger
isn’t always
better
When it comes to HVAC systems, too big can be much worse
than too small. In fact, most homeowners who purchase an
oversized heating and cooling system suffer with:
‣ Higher utility bills
‣ More breakdowns and repair bills
‣ Uneven temperatures
‣ Uncomfortable summertime humidity
‣ Increased noise
‣ Greater duct leakage
‣ Increased mold, dust mites and allergies
A homeowner who insists on a bigger system will usually (too late)
find out that the real problem is a weak duct system, air leaks,
missing insulation, or inadequate maintenance.
An Audit will prevent this scenario from happening. Symptoms
and actual causes will be determined…
‘This room stays too hot (cold)’
If temperatures are fine where your thermostat is, your problem
isn’t a lack of HVAC capacity; it simply isn’t getting where it’s
needed, so an Audit will probably conclude you should:
‣ Improve your duct system
‣ Seal air leaks
‣ Improve insulation
‘Our system has to run ALL the time!’
As long as it keeps you comfortable, that’s great! An HVAC
system is supposed to run for hours at a time for maximum
efficiency, comfort and durability. However, if it doesn’t keep you
comfortable, an Audit will probably show you need to:
‣ Improve your duct system
‣ Seal air leaks
‣ Improve insulation
9. ‘This system takes for EVER to cool (heat) the
house when we get home!’
First, try a programmable or internet-enabled thermostat that
starts conditioning your house a few hours before you get home.
However, if it is still uncomfortable, an Audit will probably show
you need to:
‣ Improve your duct system
‣ Seal air leaks
‣ Improve insulation
So, you see a pattern here. The lesson is that a Home And Duct
Performance Audit can pinpoint the true causes of comfort
problems, preventing expensive mistakes. Did you already buy an
oversized unit? Then your Auditor will probably hear:
‘Our system breaks down a lot’
That’s because an oversized unit cycles on and off excessively.
Most wear to electrical and mechanical equipment happens at
start-up.
‘Too many of our rooms just don’t get any heat
(cooling)!’
When an oversized system short-cycles, the farthest-away rooms
simply don’t get enough cool or warm air. A right-sized system
mixes air better and provides more uniform temperatures.
‘Noisy as a wind tunnel!’
Oversized equipment moves a lot more air than is necessary
through existing (small) ducts. Duct pressures are too high,
causing:
‣ The blower motor to use more electricity
‣ Intense blasts of excessively cold or hot air
‣ Leakier ducts that waste energy and distribute dust
throughout the house
‘This AC makes the house cold and clammy!’
An oversized AC cools the house quickly and then shuts off before
it has time to remove humidity. The result: living with a cold
clammy feeling or over-cooling the house with much higher
electric bills.
‘Everybody gets sneezy and sick.’
An oversized AC can’t keep inside relative humidity below 50% in
humid climates, encouraging growth of mold and dust mites, with
attendant allergy suffering.
E n e r g y S e r v i c e s
10. Promise only what you can deliver.
Then deliver more than you
promise.
Our goal at F.H. Furr is to be YOUR preferred service
company. From the moment you contact us to the moment
we are done resolving the problem, we will treat you and your
home with the respect you deserve. F.H. Furr guarantees to
provide you with an experience customized to meet your
needs.
Because we believe in our services and technicians so much, we
have created a special program for our most enthusiastic
customers. The program is called the Preferred Service Club
and is designed to cut the cost of your plumbing, heating, and air
conditioning services. There’s a reason why our customers say we
are “Absolutely the Best!” Ask your F.H. Furr technician for details on
this money saving program, or call us today at 703-690-1133.
Flat-Rate Pricing
We use only up front flat-rate pricing. We do not agree with our
competitors by adding costs and passing on additional fees for additional
time. Once our technician diagnoses the problem, he or she will show you
the cost in writing and explain it to you.
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
We agree to accept responsibility for your complete satisfaction with the
material we use and workmanship provided by us, and paid for by you. During
the first year, if you are dissatisfied with the performance of the heating or air
conditioning equipment, our services, our people or for any reason, we will do
whatever it takes to make it right and correct the problem to your satisfaction.
About F.H. Furr
F.H. Furr Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. is a family
owned and operated company. We have been a part of the
community, and had the privilege to service our neighbors for over
30 years.
Our headquarters and main warehouse, located in Manassas,
has over 24,000 square feet, and is stocked and equipped to
handle the greatest of customer requests.
Our experienced staff can quickly understand the job
requirements and develop effective working solutions that
meet our customers’ needs. Built on an IT infrastructure of
the highest standards, and supported by industry-specific
software with top of the line dispatching capabilities, we
can meet your needs on time.
Our fleet of professional Service Technicians, Installation
Crews and Comfort Consultants is continually trained to
provide quality service. Our employees are also our
neighbors, which translates to the best customer
service in the plumbing and HVAC industry.
BPI certified and
NADCA certified
11. The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself
in the service of others. – Ghandi
Trained & Certified Technicians
At F.H. Furr Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning Inc. we have committed ourselves to the
highest degree of professional development and training in the industry. Recognizing the challenges
associated with staffing our company with the best and most professionally trained individuals in
the industry.
24-Hour Emergency Service
Have an Emergency? Just give us a call! We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for
emergency service…call us now at 703-690-1133.
Fully-Stocked Trucks
We have organized our fleet inventory to increase our field efficiency, our goal is to label
and organize each truck with every stock item you might need. Decreasing the time spent
chasing every day parts inconveniences our customers and our technicians.
Fleet Maintenance
At F.H. Furr, we believe that our fleet is a personal extension and representation of our
standard of excellence. Our trucks are visible to our neighbors and keeping a
rigorous schedule of cleaning and maintenance, is one of the many ways we show
our deep care and appreciation to our communities.
What Some Of Our
Customers Say
About F.H. Furr:
Trust is a big issue with me
& am very satisfied knowing
that I have nothing but
respect for your technicians.
Because they are honest and
trustworthy; accountable for
their mistake if made! I look
forward to you coming next
season! — Mrs. Mathis
It was a pleasure working with you
and I'd certainly make
recommendations to my colleagues
based on this visit. Thanks again for the
service, it really makes a difference! –
Mrs. Tige N.
On the basis of your company’s work for
us, I would not hesitate to recommend F.H.
Furr Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning Inc.
to others. – Mr. Will S.
You have acquired a ‘Customer For Life,’ and an
enthusiastic endorser of your products, and,
more important, your service. — Mr. David R.
See More At www.fhfurr.com!
E n e r g y S e r v i c e s