Have you ever performed a double take when you viewed your last energy bill? Although high energy bills can be the result of extreme weather conditions, repeatedly high bills can quickly indicate an inefficient HVAC system or your home is wasting energy because of other means, like drafty windows or insufficient insulation.

One of the simplest ways to identify whether your home is wasting energy is by calling a home service specialist to carry out a home energy audit, also called a home energy assessment. Keep reading to find out more about home energy audits, including what they are and their benefits.

What Is a Home Energy Audit?

An energy audit is a thorough inspection of how much energy your home uses up and whether – and where – your home could be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will review past energy bills during an energy audit to figure out where energy is being wasted and how much.

The general goal of an energy audit is to help homeowners save money on their energy bills by identifying energy-efficient updates, which may include exchanging your current HVAC system, installing new insulation, sealing 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 completes a blower door test on doorways, windows and fireplaces to figure out if there are air leaks in your home. They’ll also check your home’s HVAC system, as well as the ductwork, the water heater, and the insulation in your attic. Exhaustive assessments might also include checking your current lighting system.

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

It can be difficult for the ordinary homeowner to know for sure how efficient their home is versus other similar homes in their neighborhood. However, local energy companies often supply information about where your home is ranked in comparison to similar homes and whether it’s more efficient, about average, or inefficient in contrast with your neighbors’ homes. This is a good starting point to determine if you need an energy audit completed.

Some of the benefits of a home energy audit include:

Learning How Efficient Your Home Is

It’s beneficial to learn more about how efficient your home is and where you’re consuming the most energy. For example, if your ducts are damaged, it can result in a large increase in your energy bills and additional wear and tear on your HVAC system as it has to run longer to completely heat or cool your home.

Making Energy-Efficient Improvements

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

Enhancing Health and Safety

Permitting air to leak into your home through doors and windows, or due to a lack of insulation can cause excessive moisture to appear, which may negatively influence your home’s humidity levels or lead to mold. This can lead to health problems, particularly for people who have asthma or allergies.

Raising Your Home’s Retail Value

Energy-efficient homes are sought after by homebuyers. You can sell your home sooner or for more money by demonstrating to potential buyers that it’s energy efficient.

How to Do an Energy Audit of Your Home

Although handling an energy audit by yourself will not be as thorough as calling a professional, it’ll offer a broad sense of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t find any flaws during the DIY test, then you potentially don’t need to call in a professional. Try this step-by-step checklist:

  • Inspect your HVAC system. Damaged ducts can lose up to 20% of conditioned air, contributing to higher energy bills and greater strain 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 considerable amount on your energy bills. In some cases, it might be better to contact a reputable HVAC company to inspect your system.
  • Watch for signs of air leaks. Air leaks on average can increase the energy bills by 10 to 20%. Inside, look for air leaks in areas where you can find a draft, like along the edge of flooring and near 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.
  • Inspect 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. Check that all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are functioning properly, and check for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact E.B. Air for a Professional Energy Audit

If you are interested in professional help figuring out how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, contact the HVAC pros at E.B. Air today. We’ve proudly serviced the residents of East Bernard with quality home services for years. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.