Having a Home Energy Assessment performed on your home can be a great way to learn about multiple important but overlooked areas of your home. You can view it like a checkup with a doctor but for your home. You want to know how well your home is performing, standing up against the elements (those bullies), and how efficient (think utilities) your home is.

The assessment takes around 2 hours depending on the size of the home. The Energy Auditor performs a series of diagnostic tests including: infrared imaging, blower door tests, combustion gas analysis, and gas leak testing.

What are the benefits of a home energy assessment?

1. Get to know your home.

The Home Energy Assessment, for many home owners, is about receiving the inspection and check up on their home. The process starts with a thorough interview about your home and its history. At this point of the process you can ask any questions or express any concerns you may have with the Energy Auditor. The most frequently asked questions include: Why are there icicles on my roof? Where are the drafts coming from? Why does the temperature and humidity vary from room to room or areas of the house?

It is the Energy Auditors number one goal to answer any and all questions as well as get to the bottom of any issues or problematic areas of the home.

2. Energy efficiency (Home Performance) is comfortable

Often, keeping utility costs down equates to turning down the thermostat in the Winter and leaving it set higher in the Summer. Many home owners resort to putting plastic film on their windows or masking tape on gaps around trim. At Comfort 1st, we believe that you deserve to be comfortable and save money on your utilities. We will get to the root of your comfort issues, and provide you with a more comfortable and energy efficient home.

3. Lower your heating and cooling bills

Home owners who make energy improvements typically see a yearly savings of 20% to 30%, depending on the improvements. Those savings which start immediately will last for the life of the home. That adds up to thousands of dollars in savings that could be spent else where.

4. Increase the durability of your home

When your home uses less energy, your Heating and Cooling equipment won’t have to work as hard to keep up; as a result they will last longer and require less maintenance. When your attic is properly ventilated the shingles and roof deck will last longer. In addition, adding properly installed insulation will eliminate ice dams (learn All About Ice Dams). Your roof will thank you for it! Lastly, Air sealing will greatly reduce moisture migration into the building envelope, which can create mold and destroy building materials.

5. Increase and certify the Air Quality (level of pollutants)

“According to the EPA, “Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.”

Traditionally, homes in the past were built leaky; they relied on passive ventilation to bring in dirty air from gaps, and cracks in the building envelope. At Comfort 1st Insulation, we put you in control of your air quality. First, we find and seal energy/air leaks, and then we certify your air quality by installing a Fresh Air Ventilation System. Say goodbye to pollen!

6. Improve the safety of your home

While in your home we will check to make sure that your furnace, water heater are operating safely and exhausting dangerous flue gasses outside. In addition, we will perform a comprehensive gas leak check.

7. Qualify for sponsored energy savings programs (pay less!)

An Energy Assessment is the first step toward qualifying your home for utility sponsored energy saving programs and instant insulation incentives. Taking advantage of these programs is a win-win in terms of comfort and energy efficiency.

8. Get accurate results of how well your home is doing (Home Energy Score)

Developed by the DOE and its national laboratories, the Home Energy Score provides home owners, buyers, and renters directly comparable and credible information about a home’s energy use. Like a miles-per-gallon rating for a car, the Home Energy Score is based on a standard assessment of energy-related assets to easily compare energy use across the housing market.

In need of an insulation contractor to provide a Home Energy Assessment or answer any other questions? give Comfort 1st Insulation a call (833) 244-7283, email info@comfort1stinsulation.com or fill out our contact form. We’re certified and accredited professionals with the experience and knowledge to provide the best Insulation System tailored to your needs.

Home Energy Score before (3) and after (7) with how much they saved