Have you ever performed a double take when you viewed your last energy bill? While high energy bills can be the consequence of intense weather events, consistently high bills can also signify an inefficient HVAC system or your home is misusing energy through other means, such as drafty windows or poor insulation.

One of the simplest ways to identify whether your home is using too much energy is by hiring a home service specialist to complete 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 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 past energy bills during an energy audit to figure 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 recommending energy-efficient improvements, which may include replacing your existing HVAC system, adding new insulation, plugging up leaks, or replacing loose windows.

While completing the energy assessment, the auditor also completes 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 inspect your home’s HVAC system, as well as the ductwork, the water heater, and the insulation in your attic. Comprehensive assessments might also include inspecting your current lighting system.

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

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

Some of the benefits of a home energy audit include:

Understanding How Efficient Your Home Is

It’s worthwhile to understand how efficient your home is and where you’re using the most energy. For example, if your ducts are leaking, it can lead to a large increase in your energy bills and excessive wear and tear on your HVAC system because it has to work longer to fully heat or cool your home.

Making Energy-Efficient Improvements

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

Improving Health and Safety

Permitting air to seep into your home via doors and windows, or due to a lack of insulation can cause extra moisture to form, which can negatively impact your home’s humidity levels or produce mold. This can cause health problems, especially for people suffering from 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 showing possible buyers that it’s energy efficient.

How to Complete an Energy Audit of Your Home

Although handling an energy audit independently might not be as detailed as choosing a professional, it’ll give you a general understanding of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t discover any issues during the DIY test, then you likely don’t need to bring in a professional. Use this step-by-step checklist:

  • Examine your HVAC system. Broken ducts can lose nearly 20% of conditioned air, resulting in higher energy bills and excess wear and tear on HVAC equipment. If you discover leaks, use duct tape to plug 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 call a reputable HVAC company to inspect your system.
  • Look for air leaks. Air leaks on average can raise your energy bills by 10 to 20%. Inside, look for air leaks in areas where there is a draft, including along the edge of flooring and near 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.
  • Examine 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 functioning properly, and inspect for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning 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 experts at Allstar Heating & Air Conditioning today. We’ve proudly serviced the residents of Buellton with quality home services for years. Contact us today to set up an appointment.