Have you ever performed a double take when you viewed your last energy bill? Although high energy bills can be the result of extreme weather conditions, persistently high bills can quickly indicate an inefficient HVAC system or your home is wasting energy through other means, including drafty windows or inadequate insulation.

One of the easiest ways to figure out whether your home is consuming too much energy is by calling a home service specialist to carry out a home energy audit, also referred to as 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 custom inspection of how much energy your home uses and whether – and where – your home might be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will take a look at previous energy bills while completing an energy audit to figure out where energy is being consumed and how much.

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

While completing the energy assessment, the auditor performs an inspection of the outside and inside of your home. The auditor completes 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 may also include checking your current lighting system.

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

It can be tough for the ordinary homeowner to be sure how efficient their home is compared to other similar homes in their area. However, many energy companies often provide information about where your home stands in comparison to similar homes and whether it’s more efficient, about average, or inefficient in contrast with your neighbors’ homes. This could be a great starting point to figure out 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 good to understand how efficient your home is and where you’re using the most energy. For example, if your ducts are leaking, it could lead to a sizable increase in your energy bills and excessive wear and tear on your HVAC system since it has to work longer to fully heat or cool your home.

Making Energy-Efficient Updates

An energy audit can reveal where you need to make energy-efficient changes to conserve energy and decrease utility bills. This may include replacing worn-down weatherstripping or buying a new energy-efficient furnace.

Enhancing Health and Safety

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

Increasing 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 prospective buyers that it’s energy efficient.

How to Do an Energy Audit of Your Home

Although completing an energy audit on your own may not be as thorough as calling a professional, it’ll give you a general idea of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t discover any problems during the DIY test, then you likely don’t need to call in a professional. Follow this step-by-step checklist:

  • Examine your HVAC system. Broken ducts can lose nearly 20% of conditioned air, resulting in higher energy bills and greater strain 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 substantial amount on your energy bills. In some cases, it can be better to hire a reputable HVAC company to inspect your system.
  • Watch for signs of air leaks. Air leaks on average can raise the energy bills by 10 to 20%. Inside, look for air leaks in areas where you can find a draft, such as along the edge of flooring and near 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.
  • 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. Make sure that all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are spinning properly, and inspect for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning for a Professional Energy Audit

If you would like professional help figuring out how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, call the HVAC professionals at Service Max Heating & Air Conditioning today. We’ve proudly serviced the residents of with quality home services for a long time. Contact us today to request an appointment.