What is a Home Energy Audit?

Despite how new your home is or how well it was constructed, there’s always the chance that it is suffering from poor energy-efficiency. Many homeowners are completely unaware of the money they are wasting on their heating and cooling bills because of inadequate insulation, poor-quality windows and doors, and HVAC system air leaks.

This is why every home needs to have an energy audit conducted.

The purpose of the audit is to assess and detect potential problem areas, and ultimately remedy them. They can either be performed by your utility company (many offer the service free of charge) or by a local heating and cooling contractor.

At any rate and given the seriousness of the matter, you want to make sure the technician carrying out the inspection has a valid license, insurance, and sufficient experience with energy audits in particular.

An audit is a comprehensive measure intended to keep your home intact, so this means the technician shouldn’t skip key areas or take shortcuts while on-site.

What are the benefits of scheduling an energy audit?

It’s widely understood that saving money is the leading advantage of having an energy audit performed on your property. Everything from drafty windows and doors to air leaks in ductwork serve to waste hundreds of dollars in heating and cooling bills each year per household.

An audit (which is free most of the time) can very well save you thousands in energy costs, so could prove to be foolhardy not to get one.

Moisture problems are also highly prevalent in many homes that suffer from air leaks. Humidity levels need to be properly maintained at all times to prevent the growth of mold and mildew, as well as many other harmful contaminants that hinder indoor air quality. It can be very expensive to hire a mold remediation specialist, not to mention you are putting your family in harm’s way by letting your home be a breeding ground for these nasty pathogens.

Another issue that energy audits resolve is the presence of unnecessary and uncomfortable hot and cold spots. Properties that are sealed tight have an even temperature distribution, so this is one of the things the technician will check for when conducting the inspection.