Combustion Appliance Testing (CAZ)

Combustion Appliance Testing is just that.  We test your combustion appliances - heating system, water heater, oven, etc. - for purposes of efficiency, safety, and durability.  

Our Home Performance with ENERGY STAR audit includes testing that provides you with information about the condition of your combustion appliance and also about the combustion efficiency and combustion products/byproducts; this information can allow you to begin to diagnose problems and optimize the efficiency of your boiler, furnace, water heater, etc.  The heating (and hot water) distribution systems also play an important role in the overall system efficiency among other things.

Your Home Energy Audit includes:

Diagnostic Testing

All combustion testing includes ambient carbon monoxide monitoring.  Your energy auditor will be wearing a sensitive carbon monoxide testing device that measures as low as 1 PPM (part per million) of carbon monoxide in the air.  Your home should not have any ambient carbon monoxide, however, if the ambient carbon monoxide levels go above 35 PPM you need to be aware of this issue in your home.

Additionally, all combustion appliance testing includes gas leak detection.  If you have propane or natural gas appliances in your home you need to be certain that gas is not leaking out of the lines that lead to your appliances.  We use a combustible gas sniffer to check your gas lines for leaks.

Boilers, Furnaces, & Water Heaters

• Worst case depressurization

• Determine if your system can be backdrafted by the existing ventilation systems in your home and the likelyhood of this problem occuring in the future.

• Spillage testing

• Determine if your system spills deadly combustion gases out of the chimney and into the home

• Draft Testing

• Measure the magnitude of the draft pressure of the combustion gases leaving through the chimney

• Carbon monoxide testing

• Measure the amount of carbon monoxide in your combustion gases

• Efficiency testing

• Measure the steady state efficiency of your system

• General Observations

• Evaluate the area surrounding your heat/hot water systems for compatibility issues

Ovens

• Carbon monoxide testing

• Measure the amount of carbon monoxide being generated by your oven
• Note:  All gas ovens and ranges should have ventilation installed that exhausts to outdoors

If you are thinking about replacing your heating system you should have an energy audit done first, because problem areas that relate to a lack of insulation or a need for air sealing take priortity.  You can substantially reduce your heating load by making the necessary improvements to your building shell.  If your heating load is substantially reduced you will want to install a smaller heating system to avoid short cycling.  Are you ready to schedule your Home Energy Audit today and have combustion appliance testing done at your home?!