by Madison Briggs

Created on: January 12, 2009

If you are experiencing drafty areas in your home, moisture on your windows, dry indoor air, cold floors or you notice your furnace or air conditioning seems to run continuously, it may be time for a home energy audit.

An energy audit is simply an analysis of problems that may exist that drive your heating and cooling costs up and your comfort level down. Homeowners or dwellers can hire professionals to perform this audit with special equipment or they can do the audit themselves using their hands, eyes and knees.

The main purpose of the energy audit is to discover potential air leaks inside and outside of your home. These leaks allow your heat to escape during cold weather and cool air to leak out during the summer. While it is recommended all houses have good air ventilation, too much ventilation through things such as outlets and plumbing fixtures only drive the cost of your energy bills through the roof.

If you go with a professional energy auditor, he or she will use special equipment to perform tests such as a blower door test. This involves mounting a powerful fan that pulls air out of the home to lower air pressure inside. Then the outside air pressure will enter your home and the auditor can use a smoke pencil to detect all the air leaks from nooks, crannies, outlets, windows, etc and advise you on the proper steps to take to fix the problems. He or she may also employ a thermo graphic scan to check your insulation and surface heat variations by using an infrared video camera.

Performing your own home energy audit is both enlightening and cost effective. The only tools involved are your eyes, hands and some bending of the knees and a few sticks of incense. Candles are not recommended. If you find leaks, which most everyone will have, caulk, weather stripping, duct tape, insulation and possibly plastic will come in very handy.

TIPS FOR HOME ENERGY AUDIT

* Make a list of problem areas you already know about. If your bathroom feels draftier than the rest of the house, make a note of that. If you have noticed condensation on the back bedroom windows, make a note. If snow on your roof disappears quicker than your neighbors, make a note.

* Start in one corner of your house and go room by room investigating probable air leaks. Light a stick incense and hold it close to outlets, windows, heat vents, air conditioning units, ceiling fans and light switches. Notice the smoke wavering for air leaks. You can also use your damp hand to check for cool air filtering in.

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