Conducting Your Own Energy Audit – Part 2

In part one of Conducting Your Own Energy Audit, we went over why you should conduct your own energy audit, ways to conduct a home audit, and what to check for during your home energy audit.  In part two this week, we'll be going over how to spot common energy leaks so you can get the most of your DIY Home Energy Audit. 

How to spot common energy leaks in your home:

* Test your home's exterior.  Check doors, roof, windows, and walls that are exposed to outside air.  You can easily do this by holding a candle or incense stick near doors, electrical outlets, windows, plumbing fixtures, range hoods, ceiling fans in the bath area, attic hatches, and other ceiling fixtures.  If the flame from the candle or smoke from the incense blows, you've got a draft problem that needs to be sealed with caulking, insulation or weather stripping. 

* Check your home's insulation thickness or R-Value.  In the attic, around ducts, in an unfinished basement, and around water heaters, where the insulation is exposed, use a ruler to measure the thickness of the insulation. The Department of Energy has an insulation calculator on their website.  You can enter your zip code to see exactly how thick your insulation should be for your region. 

* Look for stains on exposed insulation.  This will often indicate air leaks from exterior holes or cracks in the wall. 

* Examine exposed ducts.  Your ducts may not work efficiently if they are dirty or clogged, have tiny holes, or if they pass through unfinished portions of the home that are not insulated.  Look for holes and make sure connections of duct tape are joined properly.  Because ducts are made of thin metal, they can easily lose 10% to 30% of energy due to poorly insulated or uninsulated conditions. 

When to use a professional:

The Department of Energy recommends calling on a professional before you consider adding insulation to ducts in crawlspaces or basements.  Sometimes, adding insulation to ducts in these areas can make these spaces cooler, which could impact other home systems like your water pipes.  And these ducts could release noxious air.  You should also hire a professional to clean your ducts annually or bi-annually.

A DIY home energy audit helps you get your home more energy efficient, which is an excellent selling point when you are ready to sell your current home and buy a new home.  You will also know what to look for when you buy a new home if you are concerned about its energy efficiency.