Home Energy Audits in Holly Springs & the Triangle
If your home is uncomfortable — rooms that won't stay cool, drafts you can't find, or an HVAC that runs all day — a home energy audit tells you exactly why. We use blower door testing, thermal imaging, and airflow analysis to pinpoint the problems, so you know what to fix to make your home more comfortable and more efficient.
What Is a Home Energy Audit?
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A home energy audit is a systematic assessment of how your home uses energy — and where it wastes it. Using diagnostic tools like a blower door, thermal camera, and duct blaster, we measure air leakage, insulation performance, duct losses, and HVAC airflow to build a complete picture of what's actually happening inside your home.
Most homeowners call us because of comfort problems first — rooms that are too hot in summer, too cold in winter, or humidity that never feels right. Energy savings come along with fixing those problems, but comfort is usually what pushes people to finally get it done. An audit tells you exactly why your home feels the way it does and what it will take to fix it.
Most homes in Wake County — especially those built in the 1990s and 2000s — have significant energy waste that homeowners don't realize. Common findings include under-insulated attics, leaky ductwork, unsealed crawl spaces, and air leaks around plumbing and electrical penetrations.
Signs Your Home Needs an Energy Audit
- High energy bills — especially bills that keep climbing without an obvious cause
- Uneven temperatures — rooms that are always too hot in summer or too cold in winter
- HVAC running constantly — the system works overtime because the home can't hold conditioned air
- Drafts near windows or outlets — air leaks are pulling unconditioned air into living spaces
- Humidity problems — musty odors, condensation on windows, or a damp-feeling home
- An older home you've never tested — homes built before 2010 rarely meet current energy code standards
If two or more of these apply, an audit will identify the root causes and help you prioritize the fixes with the highest return.
What's Included in a Peak Energy Audit
Our audits go beyond a visual walkthrough. We use professional-grade diagnostic equipment to measure exactly what's happening inside your walls, attic, crawl space, and ductwork — because guessing doesn't cut it. HVAC contractors and code inspectors call us when they need this work done. Every audit is also tailored to your home and your specific concerns — we focus on what matters most to you, not a fixed checklist.
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Blower Door Testing
A calibrated fan mounted in your front door depressurizes the house, measuring exactly how much air leaks through the building envelope. This gives us a CFM50 number — the total cubic feet per minute of air leakage at 50 pascals of pressure. We use this to calculate ACH50 (air changes per hour), which tells you how tight or leaky your home is compared to code standards. NC code for new construction is ≤5 ACH50.
Thermal Imaging
With the blower door running, we scan walls, ceilings, and floors with an infrared camera. Cold spots and temperature variations reveal exactly where insulation is missing, thin, or bypassed by air leaks. This is how we find problems hidden inside finished walls that no visual inspection can detect.
Duct Leakage Testing
Using a duct blaster, we pressurize your HVAC duct system and measure how much conditioned air escapes before it reaches the rooms. Leaky ducts are one of the most common energy wasters in Triangle homes — many systems lose 20–30% of their airflow through gaps at connections, boots, and the air handler. NC code for new ducts is ≤4 CFM25 per 100 square feet of conditioned floor area.
HVAC Airflow Testing
We measure supply, return, and exhaust airflow at individual registers using a flow hood. This identifies rooms that are under-served by the HVAC system, imbalanced returns that create pressure differences, and exhaust fans that aren't moving enough air to meet code.
Attic and Crawl Space Inspection
We physically inspect the attic and crawl space — measuring insulation depth, checking for moisture damage, evaluating vapor barriers, and identifying pest or mold issues. This is where we find the problems that drive recommendations for attic insulation upgrades, crawl space encapsulation, or dehumidifier installation.
Walk-Through Discussion
We explain everything as we go, walking you through the house together. You'll see exactly what we're finding in real time — take notes, take pictures, ask questions. By the time we leave, you'll know precisely what's wrong and what to do about it. No waiting on a report.
What Happens After the Audit
We don't just walk out the door and leave you on your own. Once you know what the audit found, we help you figure out the next steps — who to call, what to prioritize, and what questions to ask contractors.
Some items we can handle directly. Crawl space encapsulation, dehumidifier installation, and energy monitoring are services we perform ourselves. For other improvements like duct sealing or attic insulation, we can point you toward the right contractor and help you understand what the work should actually involve.
The goal is that you leave the audit with a clear picture of your home and a real plan — not just a list of problems.
How Much Does a Home Energy Audit Cost?
| Service | Typical Price |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive audit (blower door + thermal imaging + walk-through) | $300–$500 |
| Duct leakage testing | $200 per system |
| HVAC airflow testing | $200 |
| Complete HVAC design and analysis | $500+ |
| Duration | 2–4 hours on-site |
Pricing above reflects our typical rates. The final cost depends on the size of your home and the scope of testing needed — every home is a little different.
The audit is a standalone diagnostic service. The cost is not credited toward any subsequent improvement work, but the value is in what it reveals: you'll know exactly where to spend your money and what results to expect before any work begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a home energy audit cost in the Raleigh area?
A comprehensive energy audit in the Triangle typically costs $300–$500 depending on home size and scope. Additional testing like duct leakage or airflow testing is priced separately. Pricing can vary based on the size of your home and what you need.
How long does a home energy audit take?
A full audit takes 2–4 hours for a typical Wake County home. This includes blower door testing, thermal imaging, duct leakage testing, and a walkthrough of the attic, crawl space, and HVAC system. Larger homes or complex systems may take longer.
What does a home energy audit include?
A standard Peak Energy audit includes a blower door test, thermal imaging, and a visual walk-through of your home. We discuss all findings with you as we go so you leave with a clear picture of what's happening. Duct leakage testing and HVAC airflow testing are available as add-ons.
Is a home energy audit worth it?
Yes — and for most homeowners, the biggest payoff is comfort, not just lower bills. When you fix the real problems, your rooms stay at the temperature you set, drafts disappear, and your HVAC stops fighting a losing battle. Individual rooms that have always been too hot or too cold often become noticeably more comfortable after the right improvements are made. On top of that, most homeowners who act on audit findings see meaningful reductions in their energy bills. The audit tells you exactly where to spend your money to get both.
Do I need to be home during the energy audit?
Yes. We need access to the thermostat, HVAC system, attic, crawl space, and all rooms. The blower door test requires all exterior doors and windows closed. We walk through findings with you at the end so you understand the results and next steps.
A home energy audit tells you exactly why your home feels the way it does — and what it will take to fix it. Better comfort and lower bills start with knowing the truth about your home.