Did you perform 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, consistently high bills can often indicate an inefficient HVAC system or your home is misusing energy by other means, including drafty windows or poor insulation.

An easy way to figure out whether your home is using too much energy is by calling a home service specialist to perform a home energy audit, also called 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 consumes and whether – and where – your home might be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will go through past energy bills in the course of an energy audit to figure out 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 suggesting energy-efficient renovations, which can include exchanging your existing HVAC system, installing new insulation, sealing up leaks, or replacing old windows.

During 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 figure out if there are air leaks in your home. They’ll also check your home’s HVAC system, including 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 hard for the average homeowner to be sure how efficient their home is versus other similar homes in their community. However, many energy companies often supply information about where your home stands in comparison to similar homes and whether it’s more efficient, about average, or inefficient versus your neighbors’ homes. This is a useful starting point to decide if you need an energy audit performed.

Several of the benefits of a home energy audit include:

Learning How Efficient Your Home Is

It’s beneficial to learn more about how efficient your home is and where you’re consuming the most energy. For example, if your ducts are damaged, it will cause a significant increase in your energy bills and excessive wear and tear on your HVAC system as it has to work longer to fully heat or cool your home.

Making Energy-Efficient Upgrades

An energy audit will reveal where you need to make energy-efficient changes to conserve energy and reduce utility bills. This may include replacing old weatherstripping or buying a new energy-efficient furnace.

Enhancing Health and Safety

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

Raising 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 potential buyers that it’s energy efficient.

How to Perform an Energy Audit of Your Home

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

• Examine your HVAC system. Damaged ducts can lose up to 20% of conditioned air, resulting in steeper energy bills and excess strain on HVAC equipment. If you find leaks, use duct tape to eliminate 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 might be better to contact a reputable HVAC company to inspect your system.
• Look for air leaks. Air leaks on average can increase the energy bills by 10 to 20%. Inside, look for air leaks in areas where there could be a draft, like along the edge of flooring and close to baseboards and electrical outlets. Outside, you can inspect 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. Check that all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are working properly, and check for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact Gilray Heating and Cooling 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 Gilray Heating and Cooling today. We’ve proudly served the residents of with quality home services for years. Contact us today to set up an appointment.

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