Do I Need a Home Energy Audit?

As explained by the United States Department of Energy, a home energy audit is the first step to learning how much energy your home consumes and evaluating what steps you can take to make your home more energy efficient. When you perform a home energy assessment, you’ll learn what parts of your home are the most and the least energy efficient, and where you can make improvements that will ultimately cut costs over time, and improve your carbon footprint.

Professional vs. Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits

The best type of a home energy audit is one that is conducted by a professional. A professional will not only know what parts of the home to analyze, but will also have the tools and resources available to take proper measurements and make informed suggestions.

However, if you don’t want to invest in a home energy audit conducted by a professional, you can perform a do-it-yourself version. Energy.gov suggests checking the following when performing a do-it-yourself home energy audit:

• Locate and seal air leaks;
• Learn more about proper ventilation and backdrafts;
• Be aware of heating loss through your home and check your insulation;
• Inspect your heating and cooling equipment;
• Examine lightbulbs and consider replacing them with more energy-efficient bulbs; and
• Upgrade appliances and electronics (or use less often or unplug when not in use).

The Department also suggests creating a “whole-house plan” that is centered on the answers to questions about your home energy use, such as: How much do I spend on maintenance and repairs? Where are my greatest energy losses? How much money do I spend on energy?

Improve Energy Efficiency with HVAC Repairs Today

At Van Drunen Heating & Air Conditioning, we recognize that one of the biggest energy users in your home is your HVAC system, which is why if it’s not performing at optimal efficiency, you should consider repairing it or replacing it. When you call our team, we can assess your heating and air conditioning system to determine areas of energy loss and inefficiency, and provide you with the HVAC repairs and other services you’re looking for. To get a quote today, please call us at 708-339-6444, or send us a message using the intake form on our website.