Home Energy Audit - Make A Start

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A home energy audit will reveal a lot about how your home is using up energy. You can even do a basic audit yourself though it is best to have one done by a professional as well. You can do a walk through carefully noting your findings so that at the end you have organized information to make decisions.

To get started on the home energy audit you can begin by checking for air leaks. This can give you significant energy savings and when you fix the problems that you identify the home will be more comfortable to live in as well. There are many places where you should check for potential air leaks. Some examples are switch plates, electrical outlets and window frames. Generally speaking any feature of the house where there is an opening in the wall and proper insulation is required to keep the room sealed. Either gaps or cracks in these places will lead to air leaks and therefore need to be taken care of properly.

A key feature to check for air leaks are the windows. If they are not fixed properly and rattle it is an indication that there are gaps and the air may be leaking. These leaks once identified are relatively easy to fix and you will be able to get benefit in terms of a more energy efficient home quickly.

A slightly more advanced method is to conduct a pressurization test. You should close all windows and doors and all appliances in the house. Then you should turn on the largest exhaust fan you have in the house. This will cause air to rush in faster from the leaks and so should make them easy to detect. You can use an incense stick or a damp hand to detect air flow. The moving air should be visible when the smoke from the incense stick will move with it. And if your damp hand encounters an air flow it should begin to feel cooler.

With a little effort you will have a good idea how well insulated your home is and therefore how energy efficient it is. If several problem areas turn up then you should get a professional home energy audit done. You can know more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com

About the Author:
Larry Gordon has over 15 years experience in the home energy industry. His experience includes residential HVAC & home performance systems. In the past, Mr. Gordon has focused on providing turn-key solutions for creating energy efficient homes. He is a strong advocate of providing a home energy audit then undertaking projects that minimize the energy usage, while maintaining comfort levels. You can learn more at www.advancedhomeenergy.com



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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