Ever done a double take when you viewed your last energy bill? Even though high energy bills can be the consequence of extreme weather conditions, repeatedly high bills can often indicate an inefficient HVAC system or your home is misusing energy by other means, such as drafty windows or poor insulation.

An easy way to figure out whether your home is consuming too much energy is by calling a home service expert 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 consumes and whether – and where – your home may be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will review past energy bills while completing an energy audit to figure out where energy is being wasted and how much.

The ultimate goal of an energy audit is to help homeowners save money on their energy bills by suggesting energy-efficient updates, which might include exchanging your current HVAC system, adding new insulation, closing 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 performs a blower door test on doorways, windows and fireplaces to determine 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. Some assessments could also include reviewing your current lighting system.

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

It can be difficult for the ordinary homeowner to be sure how efficient their home is versus other similar homes in their neighborhood. However, many energy companies often supply 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 can be a good 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 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 could cause a large increase in your energy bills and excessive wear and tear on your HVAC system since it has to stay on longer to fully heat or cool your home.

Making Energy-Efficient Improvements

An energy audit will outline where you need to make energy-efficient improvements to conserve energy and reduce utility bills. This might include replacing old weatherstripping or installing a new energy-efficient furnace.

Enhancing Health and Safety

Enabling air to seep into your home via doors and windows, or due to a lack of insulation can cause extra moisture to form, which could negatively impact your home’s humidity levels or produce mold. This can lead to health conditions, especially for people dealing with asthma or allergies.

Adding to 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 Do an Energy Audit of Your Home

Although handling an energy audit on your own may not be as thorough as choosing a professional, it’ll offer a broad idea of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t find any issues during the DIY test, then you probably don’t need to bring in a professional. Use this step-by-step checklist:

• Examine your HVAC system. Broken ducts can lose up to 20% of conditioned air, resulting in more expensive energy bills and greater wear and tear on HVAC equipment. If you notice leaks, use duct tape to close them. If your HVAC equipment is old and inefficient, upgrading to a new system can save you a substantial amount on your energy bills. In some cases, it can be better to call a reputable HVAC company to inspect your system.
• Check 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, like along the edge of flooring and close to baseboards and electrical outlets. Outside, you can inspect for air leaks around 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 check for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact Giordanos Heating and Air Conditioning for a Professional Energy Audit

If you are interested in professional help figuring out how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, call the HVAC pros at Giordanos Heating and Air Conditioning today. We’ve proudly served the residents of with quality home services for many years. Contact us today to request an appointment.

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