Home Energy Audit in Elk Mills, MD – What you need to know

Conducting a Home Energy Audit is essential for creating a more energy-efficient home in Elk Mills, MD. It offers homeowners the information required for making calculated improvements, dodging upcoming challenges, and significantly boosting living comfort.

For those aiming to lessen their energy footprint, understanding your home’s energy use begins with a focus on the building envelope and ductwork. Considering HVAC systems make up about 40% of a home’s energy usage, they frequently become the main area of focus, particularly in older houses where improvements in efficiency can have the greatest effect.

When it’s time to get a home energy audit in Elk Mills, MD

Noticed your energy bills are higher than normal, or consistently going up? It’s probably time to consider a home energy audit. A home energy audit in Elk Mills, MD will provide a complete examination of your home’s energy efficiency, inspecting elements such as insulation, the HVAC system, and several other critical factors.

What are the benefits of conducting a home energy audit?

A home energy audit can also make your home a lot more comfortable. The comfort enhancement comes from the improved operation of your heating and cooling systems and from ensuring that the insulation in your home is up to standard. Consequently, you won’t have to deal with cold and hot spots or the inevitable drafts that are a common problem in older homes with outdated equipment.

You can also find problems early before they become more expensive and damaging to your home. Leaking ducts can introduce excess moisture, which could cause water damage. One of the biggest concerns is that, without an inspection, you might not know there’s a problem until it has already become a significant issue.

You can find duct leakages that are notorious for spreading toxic mold and other allergens throughout your home. Viewing the expenditure of time and money on an energy audit as an investment can help protect the value of your home and the safety of your family.

A home energy auditor will give you the full picture behind your home’s energy efficiencies. A thorough assessment of every aspect of your home requires the knowledge and use of advanced equipment by skilled professionals. Spotting the energy inefficiencies in your home without the necessary training and the use of expensive, specialized tools for an audit is virtually impossible.

Exploring the Unknown: What’s Behind Your Walls?

In a conventional energy audit, thermal imaging technology scans the walls, pinpointing hotspots that suggest air leakage and highlight possible energy-saving measures. They are indispensable in the inspection of your home’s insulation. Cold spots are indicative of cracks, allowing cold air in and causing your HVAC system to work excessively. As part of your home energy audit in Elk Mills, MD, there will be a meticulous physical inspection, with a focus on the seals of windows, doors, and other relevant areas of your home.

What is a blower door and duct leakage test?

A blower door test can tell you everything you need to know about air exchanges in your home. By setting your home’s pressure to 50 pascals below the outside pressure, it draws air through leaks, thereby enabling the calculation of the volume of untreated air entering the home.

A duct leakage test checks your ductwork, instead of your building envelope. By securing a duct blaster to an HVAC unit or main return and sealing the rest, an enclosed area is created, offering precise measurements of any leakages within the ductwork.

Conducting a home energy audit for an older home

If you have an older home in Elk Mills, MD, there’s a high chance there are energy inefficiencies like gaps in your insulation and broken seals. Evaluating the insulation of your attic and exploring more efficient insulation alternatives to save on energy bills are essential parts of a standard home energy audit.

WFinding out where you’re losing energy in an older home can be a tricky endeavor. By getting a home energy audit in Elk Mills, MD, you can uncover and isolate these issues, focusing your energy improvement efforts in the areas that need it the most. This demonstrates another avenue through which a home energy audit can reduce your expenses.

What do you do after your home energy audit?

The outcome of your home energy audit in Elk Mills, MD will provide you with three pieces of vital information: the level of energy efficiency in your home, the areas that demand attention, and the best strategies for improvement. In the endeavor to improve your home, this pivotal information will assist in making educated decisions, steering you towards the most advantageous scenarios with professional advice.

The professional auditor will guide you through possible home improvements and repairs, offering a concise understanding of the financial implications for each. You may qualify for certain benefits and incentives designed to boost your home’s energy efficiency, which can substantially lighten the financial load of these improvements.

The process of a home energy audit?

The diagnostic tools we use for a home energy audit are a blower door test and a thermal imager. Identifying leaks can be tricky, but once your home is depressurized using a blower door, the external air will enter more vigorously, making these leaks easier to spot. The sensation of air from leaky windows and doors will be evident. This is followed by a detailed walkthrough using a thermal imager to identify different temperature zones. This method facilitates the quick identification of problem areas in the home, enabling us to suggest corrective measures. A home energy audit can be completed in around two hours, yet its benefits for the homeowner are enduring and significant.

How much does a home energy audit cost?

A charge of $390 includes services such as a blower door test to lower home pressure, a thermal inspection to detect issues, and recommendations for problem resolution.

A duct leakage test can be added to your audit package for an incremental $250.

Get your home energy audit now

If you need a home energy audit, look no further! Local Energy Audits is a veteran-owned business that takes pride in offering customers quality care and full-service home energy inspections. Call us during our regular business hours or contact us online to schedule your appointment. We’d be delighted to enlighten you about the potential benefits of a home energy audit and the process it involves for your home.

Local Energy Audits: Your Building Efficiency Ally