Professional Or DIY Enthusiast - Learn How to Conduct an Energy Audit

By A. Shon

Having the basic knowledge of how to conduct an energy audit will help to determine the amount of energy your home uses and will teach you what steps to take and make your home energy efficient. An energy audit will surely save you money. Home energy audit can be done by a professional auditor, or you can choose to conduct it in the DIY way. Home energy audit is an essential tool to help you decries daily home expenses. Here are points to stress how to conduct an energy audit:

How to Conduct an Energy Audit by Professional Auditor

A professional audit begins with understanding the usage pattern of the family that leaves in the house. After that will come a thorough examination of the exterior of the house: number of windows and their corresponding sizes, wall area and the house size. A professional auditor will ask questions relating to the number of people residing in the house, the amount of time family members spend in the house, the average thermostat setting and the amount of time each room each room is been used.

The first test is a blower door test, it will reveal. How airtight is your home? He will use a fan that mounts into the frame of an exterior door and pulls air out of the house. This lowers the inside air pressure and causes the outside air flows in through any cracks or openings that are not properly sealed.

A thorough thermo-graphic inspection is another impotent test worth doing. They are done by infrared video and still cameras that measure surface temperatures. Insulation test can be done either from the interior or exterior, the norm is the interior inspection. The results will show the auditor the places in the house more insulation is needed. PFT measurement is the final test that some auditors may decide to perform. It will help to determine the air infiltration rate and can also detect radon gas.

How to Conduct an Energy Audit by DIY Homeowner

DIY enthusiasts should use a check up list and walk with it through the house it will help you to highlight any problem areas. Begin looking for air leaks inside the house. Check for cracks along the ceiling and walls. More air leaks can be found around electrical outlets, light switch plates, window frames, doors, fireplace dampers, and window or wall air conditioners.

Examine windows and doors, area around pipes, foundation seals, and electrical outlets. If you see daylight around a door or window frame that means air leaks exists. Then move outside and check exterior corners, roof, and the point where siding and the chimney meet. To prevent leaks use weather stripping or caulking.

The following Free Guide will help you to learn more information about How to Conduct an Energy Audit it includes a check list that will walk you through the process.

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