Trusted Home Energy Audit for Burbank Homeowners
A Home Energy Audit in Burbank typically costs $350-$650 for a comprehensive assessment and takes 2-4 hours to complete. Most homeowners receive their written report within 48 hours, including prioritized recommendations and before-and-after projections.
We’ve sealed and insulated over 9,000 homes since 2016, and every one started with either a full energy audit or a targeted blower-door test. In Burbank, we regularly see the same pattern: 1950s ranch homes in the Rancho area with original single-pane windows and unsealed top plates, or newer construction in Magnolia Park where the attic insulation was blown in before the electrical penetrations were sealed. Either way, conditioned air escapes through gaps you can’t see until someone runs the right diagnostics. Our crews are background-checked and uniformed, and a live person answers calls 24/7 at (213) 816-1699. Same-day scheduling is often available for audits in Burbank, our Home Energy Audit in Glendale, and the surrounding San Fernando Valley.
What Our Home Energy Audit Service Includes
Blower Door Test
The blower-door test is a pressurization reading that shows, in one number, how much air your building envelope is losing. We depressurize your home with a calibrated fan mounted in an exterior doorway, then measure the airflow required to maintain that pressure difference, expressed in CFM50 - cubic feet per minute at 50 Pascals of pressure. In Burbank’s climate, where summer cooling loads dominate, a reading above 3,000 CFM50 on a 1,500-square-foot home usually means you’re paying to air-condition your attic and crawl space. We publish before-and-after blower-door numbers on every applicable job, so you can verify the air-sealing result in writing.
Thermal Imaging Inspection
Thermal imaging, or infrared thermography, reveals surface temperature differences that indicate missing insulation, air leaks, or moisture intrusion. Our FLIR cameras pick up what you can’t see: the gap above a dropped soffit in a Burbank bungalow, the thermal bypass around a chimney chase in a hillside home above Glenoaks Boulevard, or the saturated insulation from a slow roof leak that hasn’t reached the ceiling yet. We document every thermal image in your photo record, with annotations explaining what the color gradient means and what we recommend doing about it. This isn’t guesswork. It’s a visual record you can compare against after any work is completed.
Insulation Inspection
We inspect every accessible insulation surface for depth, density, condition, and installation quality. In Burbank, we commonly find fiberglass batts installed upside-down (vapor barrier on the wrong side), blown-in cellulose settled below the top of ceiling joists, or spray foam with shrinkage gaps at the rim joist. We measure R-values against current California Title 24 requirements and flag any insulation that was installed over unsealed air leaks - a violation of the sequence we follow on every job. You’ll get a written assessment of whether your existing insulation can be supplemented or needs removal and replacement, with specific product recommendations from Owens Corning, Johns Manville, Knauf, or GreenFiber based on your assembly type.
Duct Leakage Test
The duct leakage test pressurizes your HVAC duct system and measures how much air escapes to unconditioned spaces. In Burbank’s older neighborhoods, we frequently find sheet-metal ducts with separated seams, flex duct crushed behind insulation, or panned joist bays that were never properly sealed. A typical home loses 20-30% of conditioned air to the attic before it reaches the registers. We test to SMACNA standards and quantify both total leakage and leakage to outside, so you know whether the problem is duct repair, replacement, or simply better sealing at the boots and returns. This test is especially valuable if your summer Pacific Gas & Electric bills spike despite moderate thermostat settings.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Signs You Need Home Energy Audit Right Now
- Rooms that never reach the thermostat setpoint. If your west-facing bedroom in Burbank stays five degrees hotter than the hallway all summer, the problem could be duct leakage, missing insulation, or thermal bypass through an unsealed partition wall. An energy audit isolates which factor is dominant.
- Energy bills that climbed without rate increases. Pacific Gas & Electric’s baseline rates haven’t changed dramatically year-over-year, so a 20% bill jump usually means your home’s envelope performance has degraded. Settled insulation, failed weatherstripping, or a new roof penetration that was never sealed are common culprits we find in Burbank audits.
- Dusty rooms after the HVAC runs. If your supply registers blow visible dust, your return ductwork may be pulling attic air through leaks. That attic air in Burbank contains cellulose fibers, rodent droppings, and pollen - and your filter isn’t designed to catch it all. A duct leakage test pinpoints where the bypass is occurring.
- Ice dams or hot roof sheathing in winter. Even Burbank’s mild winters can produce ice dams on north-facing eaves if warm attic air melts roof snow that refreezes at the gutter. Thermal imaging reveals where insulation gaps or air leaks are delivering that heat to the roof deck.
- You’re considering solar panels or a heat pump. Installing a 5-ton heat pump on a home leaking 4,500 CFM50 is like pouring water into a cracked bucket. An energy audit gives you the envelope data to right-size your HVAC upgrade and may qualify you for additional rebates through the home energy improvement programs.
Before
AfterOur Home Energy Audit Process - Step by Step
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Schedule and confirm. Call (213) 816-1699 and a live person will book your audit, typically within 48 hours in Burbank. You’ll receive a text with your technician’s name and photo the morning of the appointment, plus another when they’re en route. Under Haven Standard: Arrive on schedule, you get a named technician and a text when they are on the way.
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Walkthrough and interview. Your technician asks about comfort complaints, recent utility bills, and any prior insulation or HVAC work. In Burbank, we specifically ask about earthquake retrofitting, since the bolting process often disturbs top-plate sealing and creates new air leaks between conditioned space and the crawl space or attic.
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Diagnostic testing. We run the blower-door test, thermal imaging survey, insulation inspection, and duct leakage test in sequence. The blower door goes in first so we can use the pressure differential to make air leaks visible on the thermal camera. Each test is documented with time-stamped readings and photos.
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Written findings and pricing. Before anyone leaves, you receive a written report with prioritized recommendations, projected savings, and a flat price for any work we propose. Haven Standard Clause 1: flat price, written scope, written warranty before anyone lifts a tool. No work starts without it.
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Documented photo record delivery. Within 48 hours, you receive a digital folder with all thermal images, blower-door readings, duct test results, and annotated photos of problem areas. If you proceed with work, this becomes your baseline; if you don’t, it’s still yours to keep and compare against future estimates.
How Much Does Home Energy Audit Cost in Burbank?
A comprehensive home energy audit in Burbank typically runs $350-$650 for a single-family home up to 2,500 square feet - see how much Home Energy Audit costs and what drives the price. The price depends on four factors: the number of HVAC zones we need to test, accessibility of the attic and crawl space, whether you want the full four-test package or a targeted blower-door assessment, and whether you’re combining the audit with a free estimate for recommended work.
A standalone blower-door test, useful if you already suspect air leakage is your primary problem, usually costs $180-$280 in Burbank. Adding thermal imaging adds $75-$125. Duct leakage testing, which requires sealing all registers and setting up a second fan, typically runs $150-$250 as a standalone service. Most homeowners choose the full package because the integrated data tells a clearer story than any single test alone.
What affects the price: homes with multiple attic hatches, finished basements, or complex rooflines take longer to test thoroughly. Homes built before 1960 in Burbank’s flatland neighborhoods often have plaster-and-lath walls and irregular framing that complicate thermal imaging interpretation. We price for the time required, not the home’s market value.
How to avoid overpaying: some utilities and municipalities offer subsidized audits, but these often come with contractor restrictions and limited scope. Our audit is comprehensive and independent - we don’t accept referral fees from HVAC companies or insulation manufacturers, so our recommendations are based solely on your test results. Bring us any competing written estimate and we’ll provide a Home Energy Audit in Burbank second opinion at no charge.
What’s included in our free estimate: if the audit reveals work we can perform, we’ll itemize the scope, materials, labor, and timeline in writing before you decide. The audit fee is credited toward any envelope work you hire us to complete within 90 days.
Home Energy Audit Near Burbank - Our Service Area
We perform energy audits throughout the San Fernando Valley and adjacent communities, with typical response times of same-day to 48 hours in Burbank, Glendale, Home Energy Audit in La Cañada Flintridge, and Pasadena. West Hollywood and Beverly Hills homes, often with flat roofs and limited attic access, require slightly longer scheduling to ensure we bring the right equipment. For Alhambra, South Pasadena, and Altadena, we usually book within three business days. Culver City and central Los Angeles fall within our regular service rotation. If you’re unsure whether your address is covered, call (213) 816-1699 and we’ll confirm availability.
Serving Burbank, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Burbank area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Home Energy Audit in Burbank
A home energy audit is a systematic diagnostic evaluation of your building envelope, insulation, and HVAC distribution system using calibrated testing equipment. It produces a written report with measured data - blower-door CFM50, duct leakage percentages, thermal images, and insulation R-values - plus prioritized recommendations for improvement. At Topside Attic Insulation Burbank, every audit includes a Documented Photo Record and, if work follows, before-and-after blower-door numbers so you can verify results.
A comprehensive four-test audit takes 2-4 hours in a typical Burbank single-family home, depending on square footage and accessibility. A standalone blower-door test takes 45-60 minutes. We schedule audits with a two-hour arrival window and text you when the technician is en route, so you’re not waiting around. Call (213) 816-1699 for availability - same-day booking is often possible.
Most comprehensive audits in Burbank run $350-$650, with standalone tests starting at $180 for a blower-door assessment. The price varies by home size, number of HVAC zones, and test complexity. We provide a written price before any work starts, always, and the audit fee applies toward envelope work completed within 90 days. Call (213) 816-1699 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Yes. We’ve inspected, supplemented, and replaced Owens Corning fiberglass batts and blown-in systems in hundreds of Burbank homes, and we’ve worked with Johns Manville formaldehyde-free batts in sensitive-occupancy renovations. We also service Knauf and GreenFiber installations. Whether your home has one of these brands or an unidentified product from a previous owner, we can assess its condition and recommend appropriate next steps.
We don’t classify energy audits as emergency services, but we do answer calls 24/7 and can often schedule within 24-48 hours if you’re facing an urgent situation - for example, a sudden spike in your Pacific Gas & Electric bill after a roof repair, or pre-purchase due diligence with a closing deadline. For immediate safety concerns like gas leaks or electrical hazards, contact your utility or fire department first, then call us for the envelope assessment.
The audit itself is a diagnostic service, so it carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise on the accuracy of measurements and clarity of documentation. If any test reading is later questioned, we’ll re-test at no charge. Any subsequent work we perform - air sealing, insulation, duct repair - is covered by the same 365-Day Done Right Promise and a written warranty delivered before work begins, per Haven Standard Clause 1.
Close all windows and exterior doors at least two hours before we arrive, and avoid operating fireplaces or wood stoves for 24 hours prior. Make sure we have clear access to the attic hatch, crawl space entry, and electrical panel. Gather 12 months of utility bills if you want us to correlate consumption patterns with our test results. We’ll handle the rest, including temporary sealing of fireplaces and closing of interior doors as the tests require.
Schedule Your Home Energy Audit Service in Burbank Today
Call (213) 816-1699 to book your home energy audit in Burbank. A live person answers 24/7, and we typically schedule within 48 hours. You’ll receive a written price before any work starts, a named technician with text notifications, and a Documented Photo Record of every test. If you’re comparing estimates, bring us any competing written quote - we offer a Free Second Opinion on any written estimate. Under The Haven Standard since 2016: flat price, written scope, written warranty, every time.
Written by Wes Okafor, Owner at Topside Attic Insulation Burbank, serving Burbank since 2016.