Home Performance Analysis - Combustion Safety Testing

A very important part of Home Performance is testing to make sure that combustion appliances are operating properly. The Home Performance contractor will perform a "test-out" of all systems and measures completed to make sure the home is working as a system and that all combustion appliances are operating safely.

What are combustion appliances?

Combustion appliances burn fuel for heating your home, heating water, or cooking. When these appliances are inside your home, the fuel may take air from inside your home (including the garage, attic and basement) to provide oxygen for the combustion process. These fuels should be vented to the outside for safety. If these devices do not vent outside your home, dangerous pollutants such as carbon monoxide can circulate inside and may cause poisoning. Combustion devices in homes include:

1. Gas and oil furnaces

2. Gas and oil water heaters

3. Fireplaces

4. Wood stoves

5. Cooking appliances

Testing for carbon monoxide

Do I still need these tests if I'm not changing my heating system? Combustion safety tests are a necessary part of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR. Improvements to your home that appear unrelated to combustion devices can still affect them.

Here are two examples:

1. New windows reduce heat loss through the glass, but they also reduce air leakage. This is good because it saves energy and makes the home more comfortable. However, your furnace or water heater may be using air that leaks through your old windows. There is no way to know whether the new windows will affect your furnace, fireplaces or water heater without testing before and after installing the new windows.

2. Sealing leaky return ducts in your attic will save energy and may keep dust from coming into your home from the attic. When you seal those leaks, more air will be pulled through your return grill. In some cases, this increase in airflow through your return grill may compete with a fireplace or similar device. Test for this after the ducts have been sealed.

Now that I have completed a Home Performance assessment, how can I use these test results?

After thoroughly testing and evaluating your home, the Home Performance contractor will put the test information into a computer program that will print a report to help you decide what to do next. The report will identify which improvements will save the most on your energy costs and make recommendations to improve comfort, indoor air quality, and safe operation of combustion devices like furnaces, fireplaces, and water heaters.

If you are looking for an Oregon duct sealing contractor, please call us today at (503) 640-1700 or complete our online request form.