Ever done a double take when you took a look at your last energy bill? While high energy bills can be the end result of severe weather conditions, consistently high bills can often signify an inefficient HVAC system or your home is misusing energy because of other means, like drafty windows or poor insulation.

One of the easiest ways to identify whether your home is consuming too much energy is by getting a home service specialist to carry out a home energy audit, also referred to as a home energy assessment. Keep reading to find out more about home energy audits, including what they are and their benefits.

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 could be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will go through past energy bills during an energy audit to figure out where energy is being used and how much.

The general 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, closing up leaks, or replacing drafty 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 inspect 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 hard for the average homeowner to know for certain how efficient their home is in comparison to other similar homes in their community. However, many energy companies often provide information about where your home is ranked in comparison to similar homes and whether it’s more efficient, about average, or inefficient versus your neighbors’ homes. This can be a good 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 worthwhile to understand how efficient your home is and where you’re using up the most energy. For example, if your ducts are damaged, it can lead to a large increase in your energy bills and increased wear and tear on your HVAC system since it has to work longer to completely heat or cool your home.

Making Energy-Efficient Improvements

An energy audit should expose where you need to make energy-efficient changes to save on energy and decrease utility bills. This can include replacing old weatherstripping or getting a new energy-efficient furnace.

Enhancing Health and Safety

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

Adding to 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 Do an Energy Audit of Your Home

Although performing an energy audit by yourself may not be as comprehensive as choosing a professional, it’ll offer you a broad idea of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t find any issues during the DIY test, then you probably don’t need to bring in a professional. Use this step-by-step checklist:

  • Inspect your HVAC system. Broken ducts can lose as much as 20% of conditioned air, leading to higher energy bills and excess wear and tear on HVAC equipment. If you discover 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 can be better to hire a reputable HVAC company to inspect your system.
  • Look for air leaks. Air leaks on average can raise your 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 along 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 spinning properly, and look for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact Titan Heating & Air Conditioning for a Professional Energy Audit

If you want professional help finding out how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, contact the HVAC pros at Titan Heating & Air Conditioning today. We’ve proudly supported the residents of Central Point with quality home services for many years. Contact us today to request an appointment.