Ever done a double take when you viewed your last energy bill? While high energy bills can be the consequence of extreme weather conditions, consistently high bills can also signify an inefficient HVAC system or your home is wasting energy through other means, like drafty windows or poor insulation.

One of the easiest ways to figure out whether your home is consuming too much energy is by calling a home service specialist to carry out a home energy audit, also called a home energy assessment. Keep reading to learn more about home energy audits, including what they are and their key elements.

What Is a Home Energy Audit?

An energy audit is a custom inspection of how much energy your home consumes and whether – and where – your home may be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will take a look at older energy bills while completing an energy audit to determine where energy is being wasted and how much.

The ultimate goal of an energy audit is to help homeowners save money on their energy bills by suggesting energy-efficient updates, which can include replacing your current HVAC system, installing new insulation, plugging up leaks, or replacing drafty windows.

Over the course of the energy assessment, the auditor also completes an inspection of the outside and inside of your home. The auditor performs a blower door test on doorways, windows and fireplaces to find out if there are air leaks in your home. They’ll also inspect your home’s HVAC system, which also includes the ductwork, the water heater, and the insulation in your attic. Exhaustive assessments may also include reviewing your current lighting system.

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

It can be hard for the typical homeowner to know for certain how efficient their home is in comparison to other similar homes in their neighborhood. However, local energy companies often offer information about where your home stands when compared with similar homes and whether it’s more efficient, about average, or inefficient in contrast with your neighbors’ homes. This can be a great starting point to decide if you need an energy audit scheduled.

Several of the benefits of a home energy audit include:

Understanding How Efficient Your Home Is

It’s worthwhile to learn more about how efficient your home is and where you’re consuming the most energy. For example, if your ducts are leaking air, it could cause a significant increase in your energy bills and increased wear and tear on your HVAC system since it has to stay on longer to properly heat or cool your home.

Making Energy-Efficient Improvements

An energy audit will outline where you need to make energy-efficient changes to cut back on energy and reduce utility bills. This can include replacing worn weatherstripping or buying a new energy-efficient furnace.

Improving Health and Safety

Permitting air to leak into your home through doors and windows, or as a result of a lack of insulation can cause extra moisture to appear, which may negatively affect your home’s humidity levels or produce mold. This can cause health problems, especially for people suffering from asthma or allergies.

Raising Your Home’s Retail Value

Energy-efficient homes are desired by homebuyers. You can sell your home much faster or for more money by telling possible buyers that it’s energy efficient.

How to Do an Energy Audit of Your Home

Although completing an energy audit on your own might not be as thorough as calling a professional, it’ll give you a general idea of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t find any problems during the DIY test, then you likely don’t need to hire a professional. Try this step-by-step checklist:

  • Review your HVAC system. Broken ducts can lose nearly 20% of conditioned air, contributing to steeper energy bills and greater wear and tear on HVAC equipment. If you find leaks, use duct tape to seal them. If your HVAC equipment is old and wearing down, upgrading to a new system can save you a substantial amount on your energy bills. In some cases, it might be better to hire a reputable HVAC company to inspect your system.
  • Check for air leaks. Air leaks on average can raise your energy bills by 10 to 20%. Inside, look for air leaks in areas where you can find a draft, including along the edge of flooring and along baseboards and electrical outlets. Outside, you can look for air leaks along the home’s foundation, siding and mortar. Plug, caulk or seal any air leaks to save money.
  • Examine insulation. If your home is older, it could mean your insulation is too. If you can see the joists, you likely need more insulation.
  • Check ventilation. Make sure that all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are functioning properly, and check for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact Edington Heating & Cooling Inc for a Professional Energy Audit

If you want professional help determining how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, call the HVAC pros at Edington Heating & Cooling Inc today. We’ve proudly supported the residents of Troy with quality home services for years. Contact us today to set up an appointment.