Controlled Air, Inc. - Kingsport, TN

HVAC, Plumbing & Mechanical Contracting Services

Energy Audit

An energy audit is the first step in assessing how much energy your home uses to heat and/or cool its indoor climate. The audit will help you evaluate & determine measure you can take to make your home more energy efficient, thus saving you money.

How do you perform an energy audit?

You can perform a simple energy audit yourself, or have a professional energy auditor carry out a more thorough audit.

What to look for during an energy audit.

  1. Look for and list any obvious air leaks (drafts). The potential energy savings draft reduction may range from 5% to 30% per year.
  2. Check to see if air can flow through electrical outlets, switch plates, window frames, baseboards, weather-stripping around doors, fireplace dampers, attic hatches, and wall- or window-mounted air conditioners.
  3. Check to see if the caulking and weather-stripping are applied properly (no gaps or cracks), and are in good condition.
  4. Inspect windows and doors for air leaks. See if you can rattle them, since movement means possible air leaks. If you can see daylight around door and window frames, then the door or window leaks. Check the storm windows to see if they fit and are not broken. You can usually seal these types of leaks by caulking or weather stripping them.
  5. On the outside of your house, inspect all areas where two different building materials meet. For example: inspect all exterior corners; where siding and chimneys meet; and areas where the foundation and the bottom of exterior brick or siding meet. You should plug and caulk holes or penetrations for faucets, pipes, electric outlets, and wiring. Look for cracks and holes in the mortar, foundation, and siding, and seal them with the appropriate material.
  6. Check insulation: Heat loss through the ceiling and walls in your home could be very large if the insulation levels are less than the recommended minimum. You should check to see if the level of the attic and wall insulation of your home is at least at the minimum recommended amount. When your house was built, the insulation recommended at that time was installed, especially if you have an older home. In 1997, the U.S. Department of Energy updated its recommended insulation R-Values. Reference Insulation Fact Sheet
  7. Inspect heating and cooling equipment annually, or as recommended by the manufacturer. If you have a forced air furnace, check your filters and replace them as needed. Generally they should be changed about once every month or two, especially during periods of high usage. Have a professional check and clean your equipment once a year. If the unit is more than 15 years old, you should consider replacing it with one of the newer, energy-efficient units.
  8. Energy for lighting accounts for about 10% of your electric bill. Examine the wattage size of the light bulbs in your house. You may have 100 watt (or larger) bulbs where 60 or 75 watts would do. You should also consider compact fluorescent lamps for areas where lights are on for hours at a time.

CAUTION: When sealing any home, you must always be aware of the danger of indoor air pollution and combustion appliance “backdrafts.” Backdrafting is when various combustion appliances and exhaust fans in the home compete for air. An exhaust fan may pull the combustion gases back into the living space. This can create a very dangerous and unhealthy situation in the home. In homes where a fuel is burned (i.e., natural gas, fuel oil, propane, or wood) for heating, be certain the appliance has an adequate air supply. Generally one square inch of vent opening is required for each 1,000 Btu of appliance input heat. When in doubt, contact your local utility company or Controlled Air, Inc. technician at 800-789-4480.