Have you ever performed a double take when you viewed your last energy bill? While high energy bills can be the end result of severe weather conditions, persistently high bills can quickly signify an inefficient HVAC system or your home is wasting energy because of other means, such as drafty windows or inadequate insulation.

One of the simplest ways to figure out whether your home is wasting energy is by calling a home service professional to carry out a home energy audit, also known as a home energy assessment. Keep reading to find out more about home energy audits, including what they are and their advantages.

What Is a Home Energy Audit?

An energy audit is a comprehensive inspection of how much energy your home uses and whether – and where – your home could be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will take a look at previous energy bills in the course of an energy audit to find out where energy is being consumed and how much.

The overall goal of an energy audit is to help homeowners save money on their energy bills by recommending energy-efficient improvements, which can include swapping out your current HVAC system, putting in new insulation, plugging up leaks, or replacing old windows.

Over the course of the energy assessment, the auditor performs an inspection of the outside and inside of your home. The auditor will perform 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, which also includes the ductwork, the water heater, and the insulation in your attic. Exhaustive assessments could also include checking your current lighting system.

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

It can be hard for the average homeowner to know for certain how efficient their home is versus other similar homes in their area. However, lots of energy companies often provide information about where your home ranks 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 figure out if you need an energy audit completed.

Several of the benefits of a home energy audit include:

Recognizing How Efficient Your Home Is

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

Making Energy-Efficient Updates

An energy audit will reveal where you need to make energy-efficient improvements to save on energy and lower utility bills. This may include replacing worn weatherstripping or getting a new energy-efficient furnace.

Improving Health and Safety

Enabling air to leak into your home through doors and windows, or because of a lack of insulation can cause excessive moisture to appear, which can negatively affect your home’s humidity levels or encourage mold. This can lead to health problems, especially for people who have asthma or allergies.

Increasing Your Home’s Retail Value

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

How to Perform an Energy Audit of Your Home

Although completing an energy audit on your own will not be as thorough as choosing a professional, it’ll offer a general sense of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t discover any issues 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. Leaky ducts can lose nearly 20% of conditioned air, leading to steeper energy bills and increased strain on HVAC equipment. If you discover leaks, use duct tape to close 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 call a reputable HVAC company to inspect your system.
  • Watch for signs of air leaks. Air leaks on average can raise your energy bills by 10 to 20%. Inside, look for air leaks in areas where there is a draft, including along the edge of flooring and close to 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 Brookwood Inc for a Professional Energy Audit

If you want professional help figuring out how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, contact the HVAC experts at Brookwood Inc today. We’ve proudly served the residents of Newton with quality home services for a long time. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.