Ever done a double take when you took a look at your last energy bill? Even though high energy bills can be the result of extreme weather conditions, consistently high bills can quickly indicate an inefficient HVAC system or your home is using too much energy by other means, like drafty windows or insufficient insulation.

One of the simplest ways to identify whether your home is consuming too much energy is by hiring a home service professional to carry out 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 thorough inspection of how much energy your home uses up and whether – and where – your home may be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will take a look at past energy bills while completing an energy audit to find out 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 recommending energy-efficient improvements, which may include replacing your current HVAC system, installing new insulation, plugging up leaks, or replacing loose windows.

While completing 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 determine if there are air leaks in your home. They’ll also inspect your home’s HVAC system, including the ductwork, the water heater, and the insulation in your attic. Comprehensive assessments may also include inspecting your current lighting system.

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

It can be tough for the average homeowner to know for certain how efficient their home is in comparison to other similar homes in their community. However, local energy companies often provide information about where your home ranks in comparison to similar homes and whether it’s more efficient, about average, or inefficient compared to your neighbors’ homes. This can be a useful starting point to figure out if you need an energy audit completed.

A few of the benefits of a home energy audit include:

Learning How Efficient Your Home Is

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

Making Energy-Efficient Updates

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

Improving Health and Safety

Enabling air to leak into your home via doors and windows, or because of a lack of insulation can cause excessive moisture to appear, which can negatively impact your home’s humidity levels or produce mold. This can cause health issues, especially for people suffering from asthma or allergies.

Adding to Your Home’s Retail Value

Energy-efficient homes are desired by homebuyers. You can sell your home more quickly 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 on your own may not be as detailed as calling a professional, it’ll offer you a generalized sense of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t discover any problems during the DIY test, then you potentially don’t need to bring in a professional. Try this step-by-step checklist:

• Examine your HVAC system. Leaky ducts can lose as much as 20% of conditioned air, resulting in higher energy bills and greater strain on HVAC equipment. If you find leaks, use duct tape to plug them. If your HVAC equipment is old and wearing down, upgrading to a new system can save you a significant amount on your energy bills. In some cases, it might be better to call a reputable HVAC company to inspect your system.
• Watch for signs of 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 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 Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning for a Professional Energy Audit

If you want professional help determining how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, contact the HVAC experts at Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning today. We’ve proudly serviced the residents of with quality home services for a long time. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.