Did you perform a double take when you took a look at your last energy bill? While high energy bills can be the end result of severe weather conditions, repeatedly high bills can quickly signify an inefficient HVAC system or your home is misusing energy by other means, like drafty windows or insufficient insulation.

One of the easiest ways to identify whether your home is wasting energy is by calling a home service expert to carry out a home energy audit, also referred to as a home energy assessment. Keep reading to learn more about home energy audits, including what they are and their advantages.

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 might be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will take a look at older energy bills in the course of an energy audit to find out where energy is being used and how much.

The overall goal of an energy audit is to help homeowners save money on their energy bills by recommending energy-efficient renovations, which may include swapping out your current HVAC system, adding new insulation, sealing up leaks, or replacing drafty windows.

During the energy assessment, the auditor carries out an inspection of the outside and inside of your home. The auditor will perform a blower door test on doorways, windows and fireplaces to find out if there are air leaks in your home. They’ll also evaluate your home’s HVAC system, including the ductwork, the water heater, and the insulation in your attic. Exhaustive assessments might also include checking your current lighting system.

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

It can be hard for the ordinary homeowner to know for certain how efficient their home is versus other similar homes in their community. However, many energy companies often offer information about where your home is ranked when compared with similar homes and whether it’s more efficient, about average, or inefficient versus your neighbors’ homes. This could be a good starting point to determine if you need an energy audit performed.

Some of the benefits of a home energy audit include:

Recognizing How Efficient Your Home Is

It’s beneficial to learn more about how efficient your home is and where you’re using up the most energy. For example, if your ducts are leaking air, it could cause a large 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 Upgrades

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

Improving Health and Safety

Allowing air to seep into your home through doors and windows, or due to a lack of insulation can cause excessive moisture to form, which can negatively influence your home’s humidity levels or encourage mold. This can exacerbate health issues, especially for people suffering from asthma or allergies.

Increasing Your Home’s Retail Value

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

How to Do an Energy Audit of Your Home

Although completing an energy audit independently may not be as comprehensive as choosing a professional, it’ll offer you a generalized understanding of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t find any flaws during the DIY test, then you potentially don’t need to call in a professional. Follow this step-by-step checklist:

  • Examine your HVAC system. Damaged ducts can lose nearly 20% of conditioned air, leading to steeper energy bills and increased 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 significant amount on your energy bills. In some cases, it is better to hire a reputable HVAC company to inspect your system.
  • Watch for signs of air leaks. Air leaks on average can increase your energy bills by 10 to 20%. Inside, look for air leaks in areas where there is a draft, such as along the edge of flooring and along 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.
  • 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 ventilation. Make sure that all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are working properly, and check for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact Everest Heating & Cooling for a Professional Energy Audit

If you would like professional help finding out how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, call the HVAC pros at Everest Heating & Cooling today. We’ve proudly served the residents of Lansing with quality home services for many years. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.