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Home Energy Audit Services

Reviewed 2026-07-30

A home energy audit shows where a house loses heated and cooled air. It measures air leaks, insulation gaps, duct leakage, and inefficient equipment, then ranks the fixes by payback.

Symptoms home energy audit solves

  • Energy bills are high relative to home size and local climate
  • Some rooms are consistently too hot or too cold
  • Drafts are noticeable near windows, doors, or outlets
  • Ice dams form on the roof in winter
  • The house feels stuffy or has poor air circulation
  • You're planning insulation, window, or HVAC upgrades and want to prioritize spending
  • Utility company rebates require a certified audit before upgrades qualify

When to book home energy audit

  • Before any major insulation, window, or HVAC investment, to target the highest-impact fixes first
  • When utility bills rise without a corresponding increase in usage
  • After noticing ice dams, drafts, or persistent room-to-room temperature differences
  • When applying for ENERGY STAR or utility efficiency rebate programs that require audit documentation

What happens during home energy audit

  1. Auditor reviews 12 months of utility bills to establish a baseline energy use pattern
  2. A blower door test depressurizes the house to measure total air leakage in CFM50 and identify leak locations
  3. Infrared thermal imaging scans walls, ceilings, and floors to find missing or compressed insulation
  4. Duct leakage is tested if forced-air HVAC is present
  5. Combustion appliances are tested for safe operation and backdrafting risk
  6. Auditor delivers a written report ranking recommended upgrades by cost and projected energy savings

Home Energy Audit methods and approaches

Blower door test

A calibrated fan mounted in an exterior door depressurizes the house to 50 pascals, measuring total air leakage (CFM50) — the industry-standard quantitative measure used by RESNET and BPI-certified auditors.

Infrared thermography

A thermal camera visualizes temperature differences across surfaces during the blower door test, pinpointing exact locations of missing insulation or air leaks that aren't visible to the eye.

Combustion safety and duct testing

Testing gas appliances for backdrafting and spillage under depressurization, and duct blaster testing to quantify HVAC duct leakage — both required components of a BPI-standard comprehensive audit.

What drives home energy audit pricing

  • House size and number of stories
  • Whether a comprehensive audit (blower door + infrared + duct test) or a basic visual audit is performed
  • Utility rebate programs that subsidize part of the cost
  • Combustion safety testing for gas appliances, if applicable
  • Whether the auditor is BPI or RESNET certified (certification affects rebate eligibility)
  • Region and local labor rates

See the full cost guide →

Questions to ask your certified home energy auditor (bpi or resnet)

  • Are you BPI or RESNET certified?
  • Does the audit include a blower door test and infrared imaging, or just a visual walkthrough?
  • Will the report rank recommended upgrades by cost-effectiveness?
  • Does this audit qualify me for utility or federal energy efficiency rebates?
  • Will you test combustion safety on my gas furnace and water heater?
  • Can you quantify my current air leakage number (CFM50) for before/after comparison?

Home Energy Audit safety and licensing

  • Combustion safety testing during the audit is critical — depressurizing a house can cause gas appliances to backdraft carbon monoxide into living space if venting is marginal.
  • Don't attempt a DIY blower door test; calibrated equipment and trained interpretation are needed to get an accurate, actionable leakage number.
  • If the audit finds a cracked heat exchanger or CO risk during appliance testing, address it before any air-sealing work, since sealing a house tighter increases CO risk from unsafe appliances.

Home Energy Audit questions homeowners ask

How long does a home energy audit take?

A comprehensive audit including a blower door test, thermal imaging, and duct testing typically takes 2-4 hours for an average-size home.

Do energy audits qualify for rebates or tax credits?

Many utility companies and the federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit require a qualified audit before certain upgrades are eligible — check with your auditor about current program requirements.

What's a good blower door test result?

Results are compared to house volume and climate zone rather than a single universal number, but auditors typically target a meaningful reduction from the pre-audit baseline after air-sealing work.

Problems that lead to home energy audit

Sources for this home energy audit guide

  • U.S. Department of Energy home energy audit guidance
  • Building Performance Institute (BPI) standards
  • RESNET home energy rating standards