In past posts, other Hohm bloggers have discussed what consumers should expect from a professional home energy audit. There’s no doubt that if you’re looking for comprehensive and evidence-based recommendations on home energy improvements, the professional audit is the cat’s pajamas. Professional auditors have plenty of tools in the old tool belt to help you save energy, from thermal imagery systems that map heat loss to blower door tests that find air leaks.

But all that energy-testing gadgetry isn’t free, and it may be that your budget just doesn’t have the capacity to pay an auditor and start making those much needed efficiency improvements. If you find yourself in this predicament, you do have options. You can undertake a Do-It-Yourself home energy audit that won’t be as comprehensive, but will at least get you on the right track to making your home more air tight and cutting back on your utility bills.

So what will your DIY home energy audit entail? To get the most bang for the least buck, you’re going to focus on two areas – insulation and air sealing. With insulation in hand, you’ll mainly be focused on your attic (since it can be difficult and expensive to add insulation to existing walls). When it comes to air sealing, you’ll have two main concerns – finding all the places where outside air is sneaking in and finding all the places where inside air is sneaking out. Air sneaking in might happen around windows, doors or electrical outlets. Air sneaking out might happen around vent pipes, lighting fixtures and attic entries. All told, there are plenty of opportunities for a determined homeowner armed with a caulk gun to fight the good fight against that sneaky air. Energy Star even has a handy guide – with pictures and everything! – that can help. In a pinch, you can even use a candle or incense stick to find air leaks. Flickering flames or drifting smoke are a dead giveaway.

Once your DIY improvements start paying off in energy savings, you’ll be able to set aside those savings towards a more professional version of your DIY audit. Before you know it, you’ll be able to pay for audit without ever having to mess with your budget.

Amy Foster Parish is on staff with the Washington State University Extension Energy Program. In her spare time, she enjoys conducting stealthy DIY energy audits during dinner parties.