Your Guide To A Home Energy Audit

Homes use a lot of energy to keep you comfortable, but if your energy bills seem to keep rising, there may be some changes you can make. If you want to cut your monthly energy expenses, a home energy audit can help. If you would like to know more, keep reading.

Who Can Benefit from a Home Energy Audit?

Just about any homeowner can benefit from a home energy audit. Plus, they are incredibly affordable but can find many sources of energy waste/loss. On average, you'll pay between $208 and $675 for an audit.

If your energy bills keep rising, an audit can help you identify what appliance or problem is the main source of the energy leak. However, even if your energy bills have stayed level, an audit may find problems you've had all along.

You may also benefit from an audit if you suspect you have a problem. For example, if you look in the attic and see inadequate insulation, your home will naturally lose and gain more heat, increasing energy bills. Unfortunately, most energy problems are not as easy to spot.

What Happens During an Audit?

For starters, the technician audits your appliance, including:

• HVAC system
• Water heater
• Washer/dryer
• Refrigerator
• Stove/oven

Ultimately, every appliance that uses a lot of energy should be inspected for unnecessary energy loss or inefficiency. They also check for any safety concerns with appliances. While inspecting your appliances, technicians look at:

• Age
• Condition
• HVAC system size
• HVAC ductwork

Besides appliances, the technician will look for any air leaks. Air leaks are common around doors and windows, but they may also develop where anything passes through the home's exterior walls. They are often hard to spot, but they can easily be sealed to prevent energy loss and pests.

What Can You Do if You're Wasting Energy?

The auditor will tell you what should be fixed and how to fix it. Depending on the age of the HVAC system, you may need to replace it, but a younger system may benefit from service and ductwork cleaning/maintenance. You can also replace older appliances with modern Energy Star-certified appliances.

If your home has leaks, it's easy to reseal the holes, but depending on the situation, you may also want to:

• Upgrade to energy-efficient windows
• Consider new siding
• Adding more insulation

If you want to reduce your energy consumption and lower your energy bills, a good home energy audit can help. Even if you don't realize your home is wasting energy, it could be draining your bank account. If you would like to know more, contact a home energy audit service today.