Home Fan Installation Tips

Posted by: Jeffrey Ahbe

Most fans used in heating, ventilating and air conditioning installations are powered by electric motors. Because of the small sizes of most home fans, the majority are equipped with direct-connected motors. A V-belt drive arrangement is used with larger fans, particularly centrifugal fans used in forced warm-air furnaces or the larger ventilating units found in commercial and industrial installations.

The following are tips and recommendations for proper fan installation in your home.  Home fans help circulate and vent the air in your house.

1. When possible, install an exhaust fan or air outlet on the leeward side so that the air leaves with the prevailing winds.
2. Install the fan and air intake openings at opposite ends of the enclosure so that the intake air passes lengthwise through the area being ventilated.
3. Provide a net intake area at least 30 percent greater than the exhaust fan opening.
4. When possible, install ventilation (supply) fans or air intakes on he windward side so that the entering air utilizes pressure produced by prevailing winds.
5. When a filter is used, increase the net intake area to allow minimum pressure loss from the resistance of the filter.
6. An explosion-proof motor with a spark-proof fan should be used when the exhaust air is hazardous.
7. Steam, heat or odors should be exhausted by fans using totally enclosed motors mounted near the ceiling. The air intakes should be located near the floor.
8. Spring-mount fans and connect them to the wall opening by a canvas boot when extremely quiet operation is required.

If you are unsure if your home is ventilated properly, you can have a blower door test completed that tests the air flow of your home.  This is also a great way to find out if your home has other air leaks outside of your hvac system.  Here is a great video showing the Home blower door test at work!

If you are interested in a home energy audit, contact REenergizeCO (720) 530-5259 for a free in home estimate.

Combustion Appliance Zone Testing

Combustion Appliance Zone testing, or CAZ testing, is an important piece of a complete Home Energy Audit. Denver Energy Audit specialists performing a complete Home Energy Audit will perform CAZ testing on your appliances. CAZ testing is important because the health and safety of your family depends on these appliances working properly. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that can kill people and other animals. Infants and the elderly are most susceptible to CO poisoning however it can also affect a healthy individual. In the United States, there are over 400 deaths per year attributed to CO poisoning. Tests of appliances in the combustion zone check to see that there is no leakage of flammable fuel or gases into the living space. CAZ testing should be performed before and after weatherizing a home.

There can be many problems with appliances in existing homes, especially older homes. Older homes typically have older combustible appliances and ventilation systems that may not be up to the current standards for safety and performance. Appliances that most typically cause CO leaks are fuel-burning furnaces, boilers, and water heaters, space heaters, fireplaces and gas ranges and ovens. All of these appliances must be tested during CAZ testing.

Tips on Attic Insulation

Adequate insulation and air sealing of your attic will help lower energy bills for homeowners. Attics are the most cost effective place in the home to insulate. Insulating an attic will immediately raise the comfort level of your home and reduce energy consumption. Attic insulation helps keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

No matter what type of insulation you currently have in your attic, the quickest way to determine if you need more is to use a tape measure. Start by surveying your attic, if the insulation level is level with or below your floor joists you'll need to add more insulation. If you cannot see the floor joists and can stand on them while the insulation reaches past your knees the insulation levels are most likely sufficient. Insulation should be evenly distributed with now parts of the ceiling showing. Sometimes contractors will move insulation to make improvements and repairs, if they don't replace the insulation when they are finished your insulation will become ineffective.

Save With An Home Energy Audit

By James G Williams 
Who needs a home energy audit? The energy efficiency of a home in terms of heating and cooling can be determined with an energy audit and suggestions can then be made to save on electricity. Saving energy and money by quantifying the buildings thermal performance is the goal. A written report based on the orientation towards the sun, climate conditions and thermostat settings may be part the audit.

An energy audit will point out the areas where the most energy is wasted and being aware of it will enable you to employ some measurements on the suggested areas. This will save you the trouble of insulation the whole building. For instance insulating your geyser with an insulation blanket purchased at the local hardware store can on its own make a huge difference in that local area.
Excessive energy loss true the ceiling can be picked up with an energy audit. Putting your own insulation in on the ceiling is not as hard as it may sound and it will be a very rewarding DIY project. You will also be able to do it for a a lot less than a contractor will charge you.
The air leaks in the window seals and doors are one more area where one can make a big difference. Fixing that up is not difficult but it can save you a lot of energy and money in heating up a house in winter.

Energy Efficiency in Homes

By George Scott

 Building energy efficient homes and improving energy efficiency in our homes can increase their value.

Over the past few years, there has been a ground swell of Green building interest by home buyers and builders. In response to the growing demand to conserve energy in our homes, there are several new mortgage programs that allow home buyers to finance the cost of energy improvements into their mortgage, to increase their loan-to-value, or improve their qualifying ratios. Some of the more common improvements that are used to make homes more energy efficient include the addition of new windows, high efficiency heating/cooling systems, and improved insulation. All of these contribute to reduced energy use, and also to making homes quieter, more comfortable, and more desirable. 
Mortgage Programs 
These programs allow buyers to purchase a more expensive home that has a lower cost of ownership to offset the larger mortgage payment. There are 2 types of financing options available that cover a variety of scenarios for energy efficient homes.

o Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM's) allow borrowers to qualify for a larger loan, using expanded income ratios, sometimes with the same down payment.

o Energy Improvement Mortgages (EIM's) allow borrowers to include in the mortgage the cost of making an existing home more energy efficient, when they refinance or purchase the home. 
These products are available through your local mortgage brokers and banks using FNMA, FHLMC, FHA, and VA guidelines.