Ever done a double take when you took a look at your last energy bill? Although high energy bills can be the end result of severe weather events, persistently high bills can often signify an inefficient HVAC system or your home is using too much energy through 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 specialist to perform a home energy audit, also known as 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 could be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will go through older energy bills during an energy audit to determine where energy is being wasted and how much.
The general goal of an energy audit is to help homeowners save money on their energy bills by identifying energy-efficient renovations, which may include exchanging your existing HVAC system, putting in new insulation, closing up leaks, or replacing old windows.
While completing 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 figure out if there are air leaks in your home. They’ll also inspect your home’s HVAC system, which also includes the ductwork, the water heater, and the insulation in your attic. Comprehensive assessments might also include checking 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 offer 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 determine if you need an energy audit performed.
Several of the benefits of a home energy audit include:
Understanding How Efficient Your Home Is
It’s worthwhile to know how efficient your home is and where you’re consuming the most energy. For example, if your ducts are leaking, it will lead to a sizable increase in your energy bills and excessive wear and tear on your HVAC system because it has to run longer to fully heat or cool your home.
Making Energy-Efficient Updates
An energy audit will expose where you need to make energy-efficient changes to save on energy and lower utility bills. This may include replacing worn-down weatherstripping or getting a new energy-efficient furnace.
Improving Health and Safety
Enabling air to seep into your home through doors and windows, or due to a lack of insulation can cause unwanted moisture to form, which may negatively affect your home’s humidity levels or produce mold. This can exacerbate health conditions, especially for people suffering from asthma or allergies.
Adding to Your Home’s Retail Value
Energy-efficient homes are sought after by homebuyers. You can sell your home sooner or for more money by telling potential buyers that it’s energy efficient.
How to Perform an Energy Audit of Your Home
Although performing an energy audit by yourself may not be as comprehensive as hiring a professional, it’ll offer a broad sense of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t find any problems during the DIY test, then you probably don’t need to bring in a professional. Use this step-by-step checklist:
- Review your HVAC system. Damaged ducts can lose nearly 20% of conditioned air, contributing to more expensive energy bills and greater wear and tear on HVAC equipment. If you notice leaks, use duct tape to eliminate 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 might be better to call a reputable HVAC company in Hodgenville 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, including along the edge of flooring and near 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 ventilation. Ensure that all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are functioning properly, and check for evidence of rot or moisture.
Contact Phelps Heating & Cooling for a Professional Energy Audit
If you are interested in professional help determining how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, call the HVAC professionals at Phelps Heating & Cooling today. We’ve proudly served the residents of Hodgenville with quality home services for years. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.