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 extreme weather conditions, persistently high bills can also suggest an inefficient HVAC system or your home is wasting energy by other means, like drafty windows or insufficient insulation.

An easy way to figure out whether your home is consuming too much energy is by hiring a home service professional 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 advantages.

What Is a Home Energy Audit?

An energy audit is a comprehensive inspection of how much energy your home uses up and whether – and where – your home could be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will go through previous energy bills while completing an energy audit to determine where energy is being consumed and how much.

The overall 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, putting in new insulation, sealing up leaks, or replacing loose windows.

While completing the energy assessment, the auditor performs an inspection of the outside and inside of your home. The auditor will perform 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, which also includes the ductwork, the water heater, and the insulation in your attic. Exhaustive assessments could also include inspecting your current lighting system.

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

It can be difficult for the typical homeowner to know for certain how efficient their home is in comparison to other similar homes in their community. However, local energy companies often supply information about where your home stands when compared with similar homes and whether it’s more efficient, about average, or inefficient compared to your neighbors’ homes. This can be a great starting point to decide if you need an energy audit performed.

Several 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 the most energy. For example, if your ducts are leaking air, it could result in a significant increase in your energy bills and increased wear and tear on your HVAC system as it has to work longer to properly heat or cool your home.

Making Energy-Efficient Upgrades

An energy audit should outline where you need to make energy-efficient improvements to save on energy and decrease utility bills. This might include replacing worn weatherstripping or getting a new energy-efficient furnace.

Improving Health and Safety

Allowing air to slip into your home through doors and windows, or because of a lack of insulation can cause excessive moisture to appear, which may negatively influence your home’s humidity levels or lead to mold. This can cause health issues, particularly for people who have asthma or allergies.

Adding to Your Home’s Retail Value

Energy-efficient homes are desired by homebuyers. You can sell your home much faster or for more money by showing potential buyers that it’s energy efficient.

How to Perform an Energy Audit of Your Home

Although completing an energy audit on your own might not be as thorough as hiring a professional, it’ll offer you a broad idea of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t find any problems during the DIY test, then you potentially don’t need to hire a professional. Follow this step-by-step checklist:

  • Review your HVAC system. Broken ducts can lose nearly 20% of conditioned air, resulting in more expensive energy bills and excess strain on HVAC equipment. If you find leaks, use duct tape to plug them. If your HVAC equipment is old and inefficient, upgrading to a new system can save you a considerable 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 the 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 along 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 the ventilation. Ensure that all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are working properly, and inspect for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact Gilray Heating and Cooling for a Professional Energy Audit

If you want professional help finding out how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, contact the HVAC experts at Gilray Heating and Cooling today. We’ve proudly served the residents of with quality home services for many years. Contact us today to request an appointment.