Did you perform a double take when you checked your last energy bill? While high energy bills can be the result of extreme weather conditions, repeatedly high bills can often indicate an inefficient HVAC system or your home is wasting energy through other means, such as drafty windows or poor insulation.

An easy way to determine whether your home is consuming too much energy is by hiring a home service professional 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 key elements.

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 may be losing or wasting energy. An inspector will review past energy bills during an energy audit to figure out where energy is being consumed and how much.

The general goal of an energy audit is to help homeowners save money on their energy bills by suggesting energy-efficient updates, which can include swapping out your current HVAC system, putting in new insulation, closing 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 determine if there are air leaks in your home. They’ll also check your home’s HVAC system, which also includes the ductwork, the water heater, and the insulation in your attic. Comprehensive assessments may also include inspecting 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 in comparison to other similar homes in their area. However, many energy companies often supply information about where your home stands in comparison to similar homes and whether it’s more efficient, about average, or inefficient versus your neighbors’ homes. This can be a useful starting point to determine if you need an energy audit completed.

Several of the benefits of a home energy audit include:

Recognizing How Efficient Your Home Is

It’s worthwhile to learn more about how efficient your home is and where you’re using up the most energy. For example, if your ducts are leaking air, it could lead to a sizable increase in your energy bills and additional 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 should expose where you need to make energy-efficient upgrades to conserve energy and decrease utility bills. This may include replacing old weatherstripping or buying a new energy-efficient furnace.

Enhancing Health and Safety

Permitting air to slip into your home via doors and windows, or as a result of a lack of insulation can cause extra moisture to form, which could negatively influence your home’s humidity levels or lead to mold. This can lead to health problems, especially for people dealing with asthma or allergies.

Adding to Your Home’s Retail Value

Energy-efficient homes are sought after by homebuyers. You can sell your home more quickly or for more money by demonstrating to potential buyers that it’s energy efficient.

How to Do an Energy Audit of Your Home

Although completing an energy audit by yourself might not be as comprehensive as choosing 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. Use this step-by-step checklist:

  • Review your HVAC system. Broken ducts can lose up to 20% of conditioned air, resulting in higher energy bills and greater wear and tear on HVAC equipment. If you find 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 considerable amount on your energy bills. In some cases, it might be better to hire a reputable HVAC company to inspect your system.
  • Watch for signs of air leaks. Air leaks on average can increase the energy bills by 10 to 20%. Inside, look for air leaks in areas where there could be a draft, including along the edge of flooring and along 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 ventilation. Check that all of your kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are spinning properly, and look for evidence of rot or moisture.

Contact JTech Mechanical for a Professional Energy Audit

If you are interested in professional help figuring out how energy efficient your heating and cooling equipment is, call the HVAC professionals at JTech Mechanical today. We’ve proudly supported the residents of Magnolia with quality home services for years. Contact us today to request an appointment.