Ever done a double take when you took a look at your last energy bill? While high energy bills can be the end result of extreme weather events, consistently high bills can also indicate 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 determine whether your home is wasting energy is by calling a home service professional 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 key elements.

What Is a Home Energy Audit?

An energy audit is a comprehensive inspection of how much energy your home consumes and whether – and where – your home might be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will go through previous energy bills while completing an energy audit to find 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 recommending energy-efficient improvements, which can include exchanging your existing HVAC system, adding 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 determine if there are air leaks in your home. They’ll also inspect your home’s HVAC system, including the ductwork, the water heater, and the insulation in your attic. Comprehensive assessments could also include inspecting 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, lots of energy companies often provide information about where your home stands when compared with similar homes and whether it’s more efficient, about average, or inefficient versus your neighbors’ homes. This is a good starting point to decide if you need an energy audit completed.

Some of the benefits of a home energy audit include:

Recognizing How Efficient Your Home Is

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

Making Energy-Efficient Improvements

An energy audit can expose where you need to make energy-efficient improvements to save on energy and reduce utility bills. This can include replacing worn weatherstripping or installing a new energy-efficient furnace.

Enhancing Health and Safety

Allowing air to seep into your home through doors and windows, or because of a lack of insulation can cause excessive moisture to build up, which could negatively influence your home’s humidity levels or lead to mold. This can cause health problems, particularly for people who have asthma or allergies.

Increasing Your Home’s Retail Value

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

How to Complete an Energy Audit of Your Home

Although completing an energy audit independently will not be as thorough as choosing a professional, it’ll offer you a generalized idea of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t find any flaws during the DIY test, then you probably don’t need to hire a professional. Try this step-by-step checklist:

  • Inspect your HVAC system. Leaky ducts can lose up to 20% of conditioned air, resulting in more expensive energy bills and increased strain on HVAC equipment. If you find 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 contact a reputable HVAC company to inspect your system.
  • Watch for signs of air leaks. Air leaks on average can increase monthly energy bills by 10 to 20%. Inside, look for air leaks in areas where there could be 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.
  • 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 the ventilation. Check that all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are spinning properly, and look for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact Dearing's Service & Solutions for a Professional Energy Audit

If you want professional help determining how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, call the HVAC professionals at Dearing's Service & Solutions today. We’ve proudly supported the residents of with quality home services for a long time. Contact us today to set up an appointment.