Have you ever performed a double take when you viewed your last energy bill? Although high energy bills can be the result of severe weather events, consistently high bills can often indicate an inefficient HVAC system or your home is using too much energy because of other means, such as drafty windows or insufficient insulation.

An easy way to figure out whether your home is using too much energy is by hiring a home service professional to complete a home energy audit, also known as a home energy assessment. Keep reading to learn all 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 and whether – and where – your home might be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will go through older energy bills during an energy audit to find out where energy is being used and how much.

The ultimate goal of an energy audit is to help homeowners save money on their energy bills by recommending energy-efficient updates, which may include exchanging your current HVAC system, adding new insulation, sealing up leaks, or replacing old windows.

Over the course of the energy assessment, the auditor performs 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 evaluate your home’s HVAC system, including the ductwork, the water heater, and the insulation in your attic. Exhaustive assessments may also include inspecting your current lighting system.

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

It can be difficult for the average homeowner to know for sure how efficient their home is in comparison to other similar homes in their community. However, many energy companies often supply information about where your home ranks when compared with 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 completed.

Some of the benefits of a home energy audit include:

Learning How Efficient Your Home Is

It’s beneficial to know how efficient your home is and where you’re using up the most energy. For example, if your ducts are leaking air, it can lead to a significant increase in your energy bills and additional wear and tear on your HVAC system since it has to stay on longer to fully heat or cool your home.

Making Energy-Efficient Improvements

An energy audit can outline where you need to make energy-efficient improvements to conserve energy and reduce utility bills. This may include replacing worn weatherstripping or buying a new energy-efficient furnace.

Enhancing Health and Safety

Permitting air to leak into your home through doors and windows, or because of a lack of insulation can cause unwanted moisture to build up, which can negatively affect 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 desired by homebuyers. You can sell your home much faster or for more money by demonstrating to possible buyers that it’s energy efficient.

How to Perform an Energy Audit of Your Home

Although performing 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 find any flaws during the DIY test, then you potentially don’t need to hire a professional. Follow this step-by-step checklist:

  • Examine your HVAC system. Damaged ducts can lose up to 20% of conditioned air, leading to higher energy bills and increased wear and tear on HVAC equipment. If you discover leaks, use duct tape to close 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 can be better to contact a reputable HVAC company to inspect your system.
  • Check for 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, like along the edge of flooring and near baseboards and electrical outlets. Outside, you can look 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 the ventilation. Ensure that all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are functioning properly, and look for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact Air Current AC & Heat for a Professional Energy Audit

If you want professional help figuring out how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, contact the HVAC pros at Air Current AC & Heat today. We’ve proudly supported the residents of Houston with quality home services for a long time. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.