Did you perform a double take when you took a look at your last energy bill? Although high energy bills can be the consequence of intense weather conditions, repeatedly high bills can often signify 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 expert to carry out a home energy audit, also called a home energy assessment. Keep reading to learn all about home energy audits, including what they are and their benefits.

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 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 consumed and how much.

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

While completing the energy assessment, the auditor carries out 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 inspect your home’s HVAC system, which also includes the ductwork, the water heater, and the insulation in your attic. Some assessments might also include checking your current lighting system.

Benefits of a Home Energy Audit

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

Several of the benefits of a home energy audit include:

Learning How Efficient Your Home Is

It’s good to learn more about how efficient your home is and where you’re using the most energy. For example, if your ducts are leaking, it can result in a sizable increase in your energy bills and excessive wear and tear on your HVAC system because it has to work longer to properly heat or cool your home.

Making Energy-Efficient Improvements

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

Enhancing Health and Safety

Allowing air to slip into your home via doors and windows, or because of a lack of insulation can cause extra moisture to build up, which could negatively influence your home’s humidity levels or encourage mold. This can lead to health issues, 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 sooner or for more money by demonstrating to possible buyers that it’s energy efficient.

How to Do an Energy Audit of Your Home

Although performing an energy audit by yourself will not be as thorough as choosing a professional, it’ll offer you a generalized idea of how energy efficient your home is. If you don’t discover any flaws during the DIY test, then you probably don’t need to hire a professional. Try this step-by-step checklist:

  • Review your HVAC system. Leaky ducts can lose as much as 20% of conditioned air, contributing to higher energy bills and increased strain on HVAC equipment. If you find leaks, use duct tape to eliminate 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.
  • Watch for signs of 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 inspect for air leaks around 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. Make sure that all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are spinning properly, and look for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact Redhawk 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 experts at Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning today. We’ve proudly serviced the residents of Odessa with quality home services for a long time. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.