Energy efficiency comes into consideration for most homeowners only after a power bill comes with a list of things they weren’t expecting. By then, the heat has already escaped, and the money has already been expended. A house energy audit does just the opposite. Before paying another cent of energy costs, you get a clear picture of where your home is losing energy and a response to a bill.
Whether you’re looking for a house audit Melbourne homeowners can rely on, or trying to determine if it’s worth the cost, this guide takes you through what an audit entails, the amount it tends to cost, and how the fix that you’re most likely to overlook makes such a difference to the floor under your feet!
What Really Happens in an Energy Audit
It is assumed that an energy audit is just a stroll with a clipboard. It is a detailed assessment that includes reviewing insulation in the entire house, including the roof, walls, and floor; air leaks around doors, windows, and vents; heating and cooling system performance; and temperature control throughout the day. Some assessors also use thermal imaging to identify heat loss through cracks that you won’t be able to see normally. The result is a report that tells you in plain terms what is wrong in your home, and what your house will achieve if you make the repairs, not a list of vague repairs, but a list of the best repairs, based on your house.
The price of a home energy audit in Melbourne depends on the specific services being offered. The cost of home efficiency audits in Melbourne depends on the services provided.
This is typically the first question anyone would ask, and it’s not wrong to ask. The cost of an assessment for home energy efficiency depends on the size of the home, the age of the home and the level of detail included in the assessment. A basic visual audit on a typical 3-bedroom house sits at the lower end; a full assessment, which includes thermal imaging and a written efficiency report, is more expensive but provides more to work with.
Benefits Homeowners Notice First
After an audit and the needed work is completed, changes are likely to be more visible than they were anticipated.
Winters are less harsh since summer’s heat is not being sent through the ceiling or floor. Summers are more comfortable as well, because a well-insulated building will not absorb heat during the day. Your heating and cooling system will not be losing the battle against gaps and thin insulation, which usually results in a decrease in your power bill, often dramatically. The temperature in the rooms is more even, no more warm lounge room and cold hallway. And for those who want to sell, a home that has been documented for energy efficiency is more attractive to buyers who are concerned with running expenses.
Home Energy Efficiency Audit Price: What Melbourne Homeowners Should Expect
Roof insulation is rightly the focus of attention, as heat rises, and if it is not well insulated, it is an obvious problem. But for older weatherboard and timber-floor homes, which are prevalent throughout the suburbs, underfloor insulation Melbourne properties often lack is just as vital.
Cold air doesn’t simply vent up through the ceiling. Cold air is directly under the living areas in homes on stumps or with a ventilated subfloor, and draws warmth down through the floorboards. It’s a cold floor even after the heater has been on for an hour. This is typically identified quickly after an energy audit, as it is one of the more common and fixable issues in older Melbourne homes.
When to Patch Up Insulation vs Start Fresh
Often, not all homes require a complete insulation replacement, which is where an audit comes in handy. In many places, the insulation is working fine, but in certain areas it has become thin, moved, or affected due to various issues, such as downlights, old plumbing, or pest nesting. In such instances, a patch-up insulation method is used only in the compromised areas and is much faster and more affordable than a complete demolition project.
Other times, though, the insulation is actually past the end of its useful life due to sagging, being damp, or just not being the best fit for your home’s current requirements. An audit will give you a straight answer on your predicament, not guessing the worst (or best) without checking.
The Draft Test You Can Try Tonight
There is one simple check that you can do before booking an audit that helps you to get an idea of where your home is losing heat. On a cool evening, walk the house slowly with the back of your hand to window frames, door edges, skirting boards, and to any place of access to the ceiling, while turning off the heat. When it is cooler than it is at any of these locations, it is a sure sign that air is flowing through a hole or void that is not supposed to be there.
It will not be a substitute for a proper audit, but it will give you a heads-up idea of the areas that may be problematic and that you can discuss with your auditor when you book one, which is when you are about to find out anyway!
Selecting the Best Team for your audit
Not all suppliers that make a “home energy check” can provide you with a useful result. Look for an assessor who will give you a detailed analysis of what is going on in terms that you can understand, instead of technical “jargon” that you can write down and keep for future reference, and who will tell you what steps you need to take, not some sort of “add more insulation somewhere” recommendation. From a good audit, you should have a clear idea of what to fix first, the order in which to fix it, and a sense of the impact of each fix.
Want to save your hard-earned money?
If you notice that your home is not getting as cool or warm as it should, we suggest getting your home audited, as it is the easiest and fastest way to find out why. Contact us now to schedule a detailed house energy audit, and we will provide you with a clear and honest report on what is actually going on in your home, where your home is losing energy, and what is needed to address those issues properly.