How to do Energy Audit - Phase 2

Second Phase: Checking Sealing and Insulation

Sealing and insulation of your home can augment your cost per year due to cooling inefficiency and heat loss. Therefore, you must check your home for potential insulation gaps and poor sealing. Check the following common areas for heat loss and energy waste during your energy audit:

• Check uninsulated spaces: Gaps in your insulation allow airflow from outside, which causes heat loss. Examine air leaks wherever two different building materials meet and at the intersection between walls, floors and ceilings. Electrical outlets, light switches and plumbing fixtures can also allow cold air if not sealed appropriately.

• Examine your attic insulation: Now a days, the standards for insulation are high than several decades ago. Older homes often had insufficient insulation, which can significantly expand your energy use. Check insulation gaps around pipes, chimneys, ducts and entrances or hatches. Seal the empty spaces by using expanding foam.

• Wall insulation checking: Examining the insulation in your walls is difficult to do without professional thermal imaging equipment. Drilling a small hole is one option to check for insulation, or you could investigate through the holes behind electric sockets just be sure to turn off the electricity for safety. Use a crochet hook, a long stick, or a screwdriver to check if you can pull any insulation. This will help you to determine if insulation exists, but it won’t tell you if the insulation has settled or if the whole wall is insulated.

• Floor insulation: Any home with uninsulated basements or crawlspaces is suggested for floor insulation. See if your floors are protected effectively against heat loss with a minimum insulation rating.

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