Have you ever performed a double take when you took a look at your last energy bill? While high energy bills can be the result of severe weather conditions, consistently high bills can also indicate an inefficient HVAC system or your home is wasting energy through other means, like drafty windows or inadequate insulation.

One of the easiest ways to figure out 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 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 uses and whether – and where – your home could be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will take a look at older energy bills in the course of an energy audit to figure out where energy is being used and how much.

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

During the energy assessment, the auditor performs an inspection of the outside and inside of your home. The auditor completes a blower door test on doorways, windows and fireplaces to determine if there are air leaks in your home. They’ll also inspect your home’s HVAC system, as well as 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 typical homeowner to know for sure how efficient their home is in comparison to other similar homes in their neighborhood. However, local energy companies often provide information about where your home stands in comparison to similar homes and whether it’s more efficient, about average, or inefficient in contrast with your neighbors’ homes. This could be a great starting point to determine if you need an energy audit completed.

Several of the benefits of a home energy audit include:

Learning How Efficient Your Home Is

It’s good to know how efficient your home is and where you’re using up the most energy. For example, if your ducts are leaking, it can cause a sizable increase in your energy bills and increased wear and tear on your HVAC system because it has to stay on longer to completely heat or cool your home.

Making Energy-Efficient Upgrades

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

Improving Health and Safety

Permitting air to seep into your home through doors and windows, or due to a lack of insulation can cause unwanted moisture to appear, which may negatively influence your home’s humidity levels or lead to mold. This can exacerbate health problems, especially for people suffering from asthma or allergies.

Adding to Your Home’s Retail Value

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

How to Perform an Energy Audit of Your Home

Although completing an energy audit on your own may not be as detailed as hiring a professional, it’ll offer a general understanding of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t discover any flaws during the DIY test, then you likely don’t need to call in a professional. Use this step-by-step checklist:

  • Review your HVAC system. Leaky ducts can lose as much as 20% of conditioned air, leading to higher energy bills and increased strain on HVAC equipment. If you discover leaks, use duct tape to eliminate 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.
  • Look for air leaks. Air leaks on average can increase monthly energy bills by 10 to 20%. Inside, look for air leaks in areas where you can find a draft, such as along the edge of flooring and close to baseboards and electrical outlets. Outside, you can look for air leaks in 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 the ventilation. Ensure that all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are working properly, and look for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact Forster Heating for a Professional Energy Audit

If you want professional help finding out how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, contact the HVAC experts at Forster Heating today. We’ve proudly served the residents of Auburn with quality home services for many years. Contact us today to set up an appointment.