Have you ever performed a double take when you took a look at your last energy bill? While high energy bills can be the consequence of extreme weather events, consistently high bills can also signify an inefficient HVAC system or your home is wasting energy because of other means, including drafty windows or inadequate insulation.

One of the simplest ways to identify whether your home is using too much energy is by getting a home service expert 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 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 previous energy bills while completing an energy audit to determine 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 identifying energy-efficient updates, which may include replacing your existing HVAC system, adding new insulation, closing up leaks, or replacing loose windows.

Over the course of 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 inspect your home’s HVAC system, as well as the ductwork, the water heater, and the insulation in your attic. Comprehensive assessments could also include checking your current lighting system.

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

It can be hard for the average homeowner to know for certain how efficient their home is versus other similar homes in their area. However, many energy companies often offer information about where your home stands when compared with similar homes and whether it’s more efficient, about average, or inefficient versus your neighbors’ homes. This can be a great starting point to determine if you need an energy audit scheduled.

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

Understanding 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 damaged, it can lead to a large increase in your energy bills and excessive wear and tear on your HVAC system as it has to run longer to properly heat or cool your home.

Making Energy-Efficient Upgrades

An energy audit can expose where you need to make energy-efficient improvements to cut back on energy and decrease utility bills. This might include replacing worn-down weatherstripping or buying a new energy-efficient furnace.

Improving Health and Safety

Enabling air to seep into your home via doors and windows, or due to a lack of insulation can cause excessive moisture to build up, which could negatively influence your home’s humidity levels or encourage mold. This can lead to health conditions, particularly for people dealing with asthma or allergies.

Increasing Your Home’s Retail Value

Energy-efficient homes are sought after 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 may not be as detailed as choosing a professional, it’ll offer a general understanding of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t find any issues during the DIY test, then you likely don’t need to bring in a professional. Use this step-by-step checklist:

  • Inspect your HVAC system. Broken ducts can lose nearly 20% of conditioned air, leading to steeper energy bills and increased 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 considerable amount on your energy bills. In some cases, it can be better to call 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 you can find a draft, including along the edge of flooring and close to 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.
  • 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. Check that all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are spinning properly, and check for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact Forster Heating for a Professional Energy Audit

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