When it’s time for an energy audit, what do you do? An auditor wants you to be home, ready and prepared before the time of arrival. Here are a few ways you can prepare for your home energy audit so you’ll be ready when the visit comes.
1). Make a List of Energy Problems
If you want to get the most out of your energy audit, make a basic list of problems like the condensation, drafty room, or any discomfort you feel. Take out your home’s energy bills for the year to show the auditor. When the auditor arrives, he or she will look at the house’s size and the features on it such as the number, size of the windows, and wall area. The auditor will then assess how many people live in the house, whether every room is being used, and the typical thermostat settings for winter and summer.
Finding out the answers to these questions can help you walk with your auditor as they go through your home. They may even pull out cameras, efficiency meters, surface thermometers, and blower door tests to do the trick. At the end of the day, it’s better to be next to your auditor as much as possible so you can give them pointers as they work.
2). Select the Right Energy Auditor
Where can you locate the best professional auditor? For one, you can contact your local or state government’s weatherization or energy office and find a local company, or find an organization that gives good audits. You can also use your gas or electric utility to perform energy assessments residentially. You can also look up “Energy” in the telephone directory to find a company with a residential energy assessment. And for a really comprehensive look, refer to the Residential Energy Services Network for a listing of energy raters that are certified.
3). Check References Before Contacting
Before you contact a company for auditing energy, make sure you get the best references they have and actually call them. When you call, ask them if they felt good about the work they did. Then, give a call to the Better Business Bureau to check and see what complaints, if any, are directed towards the company and make especially certain that your auditor employs a blower door that is well-calibrated or does thermographic inspections themselves.
4). Prepare a Few Items
Prior to your auditor arriving, you’ll want to prepare a few items to be ready for the audit. Windows and doors must be latched and closed with blinds raised or curtains open. Make sure you cover the ashes in your fireplace or woodstove using wet newspapers or something similar to keep them from blowing out during the blower door test. Take away any belongings in the attic to clear the way for ladder access in hatches or make way for the drop-down staircase. Make sure your auditor can get into any crawlspace, knee wall, or access hatch. Clear the way for any propane, gas, boiler, hot water heater, or oil-fired furnace, and monitor small children.
Having an energy auditor take a look at all your devices makes sure they’re all on the up-and-up. Once you get an energy assessment done professionally, you’ll be ready for the long winter.
H&H Heating and Air is a world-class provider of air conditioning and heating services in the DFW area for over twenty years. The family-owned business is one of the best in class, treating their customers like family. Trained, insured, and licensed technicians inspect your HVAC’s cooling, heating, and ventilation with the utmost care, and can install HVAC units by themselves. When you choose H&H, you’ll get free inspections and estimates, extended warranties, and enjoy a comfortable, cool environment.
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