If your home is drafty, has irregular temperatures, or high energy bills, then there may be issues with its building envelope. With air leaks, broken windows, and other home energy issues, not only will your home no longer feel like a sanctuary, but these problems can go on to cause even more damage, including increased indoor moisture, pest infestation, mold growth, and more. With a home energy audit, you can effectively pinpoint even the most obscure of home energy issues and develop solutions to solve them - but we'll tell you where to start.
1. Air Leaks
During the summer heat will move into the home through cracks in your home's building envelope. In the winter, treated air will flow out of the house through these same gaps. Not only will reducing air leaks result in a more energy-efficient and comfortable home overall, but it can also prevent other issues like increased indoor moisture, pest infestations, mold growth, and more.
With a home energy audit and blower door testing, a specialist can diagnose your home's building envelope and pinpoint areas where air is leaking. With those results, they will develop a custom plan for sealing your home, which, according to the Department of Energy, may include:
- Doors & windows
- Pipe & wiring openings
- Dropped ceilings & soffits
- Leaky ductwork
- Outlets & switch plates
- Leaky chimneys, furnaces, & gas-fired water heater vents
- And more!
2. Insufficient Home Insulation
From sagging crawl space insulation to thinning fiberglass in the attic, these gaps in your home's building envelope can lower your home's energy efficiency and comfort. But, installing and upgrading insulation can get confusing. Figuring out where you need insulation upgrades and what materials to use can make all the difference.
While your home's building envelope is being tested with a comprehensive energy audit, they will also be able to tell areas of your home where insulation is failing or needed and recommend solutions like:
- Cellulose attic insulation
- Spray foam air sealing
- Rigid foam crawl space insulation
- Moisture-proof basement insulation
- Garage insulation
- Soundproofing rockwool insulation
- And more!
3. Energy-draining Heating And Cooling
Did you know that outdated HVAC systems could end up doing more harm to your home than good? Not only will these heating and cooling units waste more energy to run, but, because they often breakdown or require constant repairs, you will also spend more to keep them operational. Some other signs of an inefficient HVAC system include:
- Rooms that are too hot or cold
- Excessive indoor humidity & dust
- Frequent repairs
- Unusually high energy bills
- Equipment that is more than 10 years old
Luckily, a home energy specialist will also diagnose your HVAC unit during their comprehensive audit and recommend whether repairing or replacing is the smartest choice.
4. Faulty Lighting
If you often leave lights on after you've left the room or use incandescent lighting, then you are probably wasting money on your energy bill. According to the Department of Energy, 90 percent of the power emitted in energy-wasting lighting is heat, resulting in excess costs. Switching to more energy-efficient solutions could help you save up to $45 annually, which
includes:
- Halogen incandescent lighting
- Compact fluorescent lamps
- Light-emitting diodes or LED lightbulbs
5. Leaving Electronics & Appliances Running
Similar to leaving the lights on, homeowners often leave computers, TVs, air conditioning, as well as other electronics and appliances powered on long after being used. This continuous energy usage can cause unnecessary spikes in utility costs.
One way to avoid unnecessary energy usage is to make sure all your electronics and appliances are turned off or unplugged when not in use. If your electronics and appliances come with any power-saving capabilities, then it is also smart to implement those as well.
Improve Your Home's Comfort & Energy Efficiency
When you're ready to create a more comfortable and energy-efficient home overall, contact a HomePro Match energy specialist to expertly diagnose your home's building envelop. Through a comprehensive home energy audit and blower door testing, they can pinpoint areas where your home is losing money and develop a custom solution based on those results.
