Home energy audit can find problems, save you money
Gary Schmidt wanted his rebuiltWorthington, Ohio, home to be more energy efficient than the one destroyed by a fire in 2010. After an analysis last year from his energy utility, Schmidt was surprised to find his heating and cooling bills were still higher than his neighbors even though their homes were older and about the same size and shape.
“It was confusing to me because we had the newest house on the street, and I was trying to make it more energy efficient,” Schmidt said.
So Schmidt hired a professional energy auditor to provide a detailed assessment of where his home was losing energy.
A thorough home audit should include three steps, said Rod Geisler of Home Energy Doctors, which services parts of Dallas and FortWorth. The first step should include a questionand- answer session between the homeowner and auditor to determine potential issues and the homeowner’s goals. The second step should be a visual inspection by the auditor with the homeowner in attendance. Last come tests, which can include blower door tests to determine air leakage, examination of ductwork, humidity level checks, and thermal imaging to determine how much insulation remains in attics and walls.
“We bring all those elements together and put them in a computer program so we can analyze it and look at it versus what an Energy Star or efficient home should be,” Geisler said. “We then bring a full, five- to- seven page report back to the homeowner that says, ‘ Here are the issues you need to be addressing and the order that those issues should be addressed.’”
In Schmidt’s case, the main culprit of the high energy bills was a hatch in his crawlspace he believed was left open during the final inspection after the home was rebuilt.
After closing the hatch and incorporating some other small suggestions — correcting an improperly vented dryer vent and switching to energy- saving light bulbs — Schmidt estimated he has saved 15 percent on his monthly energy bills since, essentially recouping the cost of the audit and then some.
“It was worth it,” Schmidt said. “We were losing tons of heat there. It was one of those things that was really easy to find but made a big difference.”
Geisler said he often finds surprises during his audits, including one home with contamination in the ductwork and another that was backdrafting poisonous carbon monoxide gas into the home.
“That’s not what the homeowner had us there for, but we were able to discover that,” Geisler said.
Homeowners need to exercise caution when seeking out an energy auditor. Some auditors offer to sell the products and services that will resolve the issues they find.
“A good auditor is there not to sell a product, but to find a problem,” Geisler said.
Look at the auditor’s past history, ask for references and check certifications to ensure they’re properly trained to identify energy- efficiency problems.
Geisler is certified to perform energy audits on existing homes by the Building Performance Institute. There are other accreditations, and some states offer their own certifications.
A home energy audit can encompass anything from a basic visual assessment to the more detailed testing. Expect the auditor to be in the home at least a couple of hours. Cost can range from $ 100 to several hundred dollars, depending on the size of the home and scope of testing.
Many utilities offer free or reduced- cost energy assessments and incentives for audits. Check with your local provider for more information. While the original energy assessment from his utility company didn’t find all Schmidt’s problems, if your utility company offers a free audit, it could be a good first step.
If you’re having a home energy audit:
The auditor should do a room- by- room examination, as well as a thorough check of past utility bills.
Following an energy audit, a good auditor will give you a list of recommendations for cost- effective energy improvements and enhanced comfort and safety.
Some common recommendations include sealing air leaks, sealing ductwork and adding insulation.
You might be advised to upgrade lighting and appliances, or a simple remedy such as weather stripping.
Although a home energy audit’s scope depends on the age, size and design of the house, a typical professional audit takes three to four hours. Check with your energy company to see if it offers free audits.
It’s a good idea to be there at the time of the audit. Make a list of any existing problems for the auditor, such as condensation and uncomfortable or drafty rooms.
Walk through your home with the auditor and ask questions.
Angie Hicks is the founder of Angie’s List, the nation’s most trusted resource for local consumer reviews on everything from home repair to health care.