Why Get an Energy Audit?

By Jim Cotter, a client of Accurate-Airtight Exteriors in 2018 and 2020

You may ask why you should spend money getting an energy audit. My experience as a customer of Accurate-Airtight Exteriors tells me that there are two reasons:

1. Lowering Your Utility Bills

After much insulation and air sealing work, my winter heating bill is much less. The natural gas therms (the amount of heating fuel I use) are, on average, cut in half. Summer air conditioning costs are also much lower. This was the result of following the recommendations of an energy audit performed by Accurate-Airtight. I didn’t just blow in a little extra insulation in the attic and let it go at that. I followed a number of recommendations from basement to attic. I am very happy with the results. 

2. Knowledge Is Power: Make Upgrades to Your Home the Smart Way

We see what we know. On a drive in the countryside, you might be able to identify the crops you see, or the weeds you see, or the cloud formations you see, or the makes of vehicles you see. Few of us will notice all of those things. 

In the same way, your house is a familiar place, and there may be many things that you don’t see just because you don’t know about it. An experienced energy audit company like Accurate-Airtight Exteriors can, with the help of thermal imaging pictures, actually show you cold spots and air leaks. The air pressure test can tell you how leaky your house is compared to the average home. An inspection by auditors can point out gas leaks or carbon monoxide problems, problems with soiled or wet insulation, or issues with ventilation. Auditors commonly find issues with rodents and water as well. Best of all, auditors can prescribe fixes for the problems! 

In my case, the audit pointed out the very leaky connection I had between my house and my garage addition. I also learned about all the heat I was losing where the front porch roof connects to the house. My audit recommended steps that I then addressed over a period of two years. These included:

• Air sealing the attic

• Blowing insulation into the attic

• Installing spray foam insulation on crawl space walls

• Installing spray foam insulation on knee-wall attic slopes

• Blowing dense-pack cellulose insulation into the walls

• Air sealing and insulating the top of the foundation wall

• Caulking and installing one-inch rigid foam insulation under new siding

See how your Madison, Wisconsin home could benefit from home improvement upgrades. Call 866.582.4320 or contact us today to schedule a home energy audit with Accurate-Airtight Exteriors.