Why Get a Home Energy Audit?
You’ve installed a smart thermostat and some more of the most up-to-date HVAC technology, hoping that those utility bills will finally become less daunting. Then those bills come in, and they aren’t as low as you anticipated they would be. What do you do? Fancy HVAC technology may be a great start to raising efficiency in your Mount Pleasant, Texas, home, but it isn’t always enough to solve all of your energy-loss problems. A home energy audit, conducted by licensed HVAC professionals, will identify sources of energy loss, allowing you to get at the root of the issue.
What Is a Home Energy Audit?
Most people, especially if they have a foot in the business world, might tremble at the sound of the word “audit,” but these energy auditors aren’t coming to slash budgets or cut jobs. Instead, their purpose is to help you save money next month and every month after.
During a home energy audit, auditors inspect everything from insulation, to doors, to windows, to the roof, and anywhere else that may be allowing air to escape. In addition to looking at inefficient parts of your home, auditors will also keep an eye out for inefficient habits that you may have developed, such as leaving lights on all day or leaving a window open with the AC blasting. Finally, auditors will check a summary of your utility bills over the past 12 months to identify trends where energy loss may be more prevalent. All this inspection will help the auditor find sources of energy loss.
Why Do I Need an Audit?
But is an energy audit worth paying for? As much as you may be trying to save money, and as much as the thought of spending outside your budget sends chills up your spine, you’re actually more likely to save more following an audit than the amount you spent to have it conducted.
There are likely many sources of energy loss throughout your home that you are not aware of. A leak in your duct network, invisible to you, may as well be letting dollar bills escape through the cracks. Certain rooms in your home may not be as well insulated as they should be, which makes those areas the perfect place for air inside your home to seep out and outside air to enter and interfere with your comfort. If you have one, your attic may be a hot spot of energy loss, since many attics are not properly insulated or sealed.
And as much as you may hate to admit it, even with all the technology you’ve installed, your HVAC system may just be deteriorating. All the maintenance in the world won’t make an HVAC system last forever. By being audited, you can find every corner of your home that may be contributing to higher utility costs. Then, you can get at the root of the problem rather than spending money on technology that may not do so. Plus, as efficiency begins to rise, your home will become more comfortable and healthy, as well.
What Next?
You call an auditor, and they come tell you where your issues lie. What happens next? Do the auditors just throw a friendly wave and leave you to deal with it on your own? Our team at Wood Air Conditioning & Plumbing would never do such a thing. Instead, following an energy audit, we will make recommendations as to how you can finally bring your energy efficiency to that level you’ve always wanted. Recommendations can include new installations (with the right technology), changes in behavior, maintenance, and more.
In addition to all recommendations, we offer a payback analysis, which tells you how quickly your more efficient installations will pay themselves off with the money you save.
If you’re tired of hiked-up utility bills and feeling like those numbers just won’t go down, then it’s time to consider a home energy audit. Once we’re finished, you’ll have a healthier, more comfortable, and more efficient home. To see one of Wood Air Conditioning & Plumbing’s energy efficiency auditors in action, call us today at 903-285-6550 .
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