When Was the Last Time You Performed an Energy Audit?

While some people really stay on top of all the upkeep that comes with a home, some people just kind of go with the flow until something happens to change that. That's the thing, if the flow of the energy isn't efficient, you may be losing out. That's why energy audits are so important. So, when was the last time you performed an energy audit ? If you can't remember when the last time was, or know that you've never done one at all, it may be time. Usually, energy audits are done every couple of years or with any significant change to the home, like an addition, for example. These audits are important to do to make sure that you are getting the most for your money and also to make sure you and your family can remain comfortable while not wasting any energy in the process.

What is An Energy Audit?

An energy audit may sound like a serious term. However, it's really more like a test to see how efficient your home is using energy. It is twofold as well. It is an inspection survey, but it's also an analysis of the way energy actually flows in the building. This will give an accurate picture of the home's energy use. There are several areas of the home and several systems that are checked. These include: 

• Heating and cooling systems
• Inspections of the insulation of the home and the sealing
• Consideration of the loss of electricity or energy

Appliances will be reviewed and even things such as the windows, walls, heating elements. Questions may be asked to find out more information about how the house is used at certain times of the day, how often you run your washer and dishwasher, and things of this nature.

Why Perform an Energy Audit?

Energy audits are another important maintenance task to keep your home working as efficiently as possible. It also keeps peace of mind. If you get an energy audit and everything is working great already, you have peace of mind that all is good and nothing is going to waste. However, if you get one done and there are several things that can be fixed to help you save money, you will have peace of mind knowing that you now know what you need to do. Furthermore, there's the safety aspect of it. Sometimes these inspections can reveal faulty heating and cooling systems that may even be a hazard to you and your family. It's really better to be safe than sorry. You may also be happy to know that you can hire someone to do this for you, or you can do it yourself. Of course, there are some really great DIYer's that love a challenge, but if you prefer just having someone else do it for you, that's definitely an option as well.

Can I Perform My Own Energy Audit At Home? 

While you can, technically, perform your own audit yourself, it's probably best to hire a professional. The exception is if you are the handy type, and have some tools of the trade, Of course, anyone can go around their home and check for leaking faucets and windows that won't shut all the way. Just about anybody can find some lightbulbs that use less energy and figure out basic things like that. However, if you want the most accurate depiction of what's really going on, hire a pro. The pros have the perfect tools for measuring the real time temperatures of different rooms and they have heat and air sensors and just all kinds of cool gadgets that the average person never even thinks of. Also, when or if they do find some ways for you to save energy, they may have more practical and surprising ideas that you wouldn't even know exist. So, while it may be possible to do a sort of amateur's energy audit, you won't really know for sure if you have found it all without a professional. Either way you go, any energy audit is better than no audit at all.