Have you ever performed a double take when you viewed your last energy bill? Although high energy bills can be the end result of extreme weather conditions, persistently high bills can also indicate an inefficient HVAC system or your home is misusing energy because of other means, such as drafty windows or poor insulation.

An easy way to determine whether your home is using too much energy is by hiring a home service expert to complete 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 take a look at previous energy bills during an energy audit to find out where energy is being wasted and how much.

The overall goal of an energy audit is to help homeowners save money on their energy bills by identifying energy-efficient updates, which might include replacing your current HVAC system, adding new insulation, plugging up leaks, or replacing loose windows.

During the energy assessment, the auditor carries out 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 check your home’s HVAC system, including the ductwork, the water heater, and the insulation in your attic. Exhaustive assessments could also include reviewing your current lighting system.

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

It can be hard for the average homeowner to be sure how efficient their home is versus other similar homes in their community. However, lots of energy companies often provide information about where your home is ranked in comparison to similar homes and whether it’s more efficient, about average, or inefficient compared to your neighbors’ homes. This could be a good starting point to decide if you need an energy audit performed.

A few 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 using up the most energy. For example, if your ducts are damaged, it can lead to a large increase in your energy bills and excessive wear and tear on your HVAC system as it has to run longer to fully heat or cool your home.

Making Energy-Efficient Improvements

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

Enhancing Health and Safety

Allowing air to slip into your home through doors and windows, or as a result of a lack of insulation can cause extra moisture to build up, which can negatively affect your home’s humidity levels or produce mold. This can exacerbate health issues, 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 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 performing an energy audit independently might not be as detailed 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 probably don’t need to bring in a professional. Try this step-by-step checklist:

  • Inspect your HVAC system. Damaged ducts can lose nearly 20% of conditioned air, leading to more expensive energy bills and excess strain on HVAC equipment. If you discover leaks, use duct tape to plug them. If your HVAC equipment is old and wearing down, upgrading to a new system can save you a significant amount on your energy bills. In some cases, it is better to contact a reputable HVAC company to inspect your system.
  • Look for air leaks. Air leaks on average can raise monthly energy bills by 10 to 20%. Inside, look for air leaks in areas where there is a draft, like along the edge of flooring and close to baseboards and electrical outlets. Outside, you can inspect 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. Make sure that all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are functioning properly, and check for evidence of rot or moisture.

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

If you are interested in professional help finding out how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, contact the HVAC pros at Dearing's Service & Solutions today. We’ve proudly serviced the residents of Huntingburg with quality home services for years. Contact us today to request an appointment.