When you spend a few hours performing an energy evaluation of your home, you pay yourself back with long-term energy savings. Once you identify where your home is leaking air or lacks proper insulation, and give your cooling or heating equipment the attention it demands, you have a road map to higher indoor energy efficiency.
Air Infiltration
Air leaks in your home make heating and cooling more difficult. An effective way to find air leaks is to draw a simple floor plan of your home, close all the windows and exterior doors, and then shut off all gas appliances. Turn on the kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans and walk through your home with a lighted stick of incense. Mark on the floor plan where the smoke from the incense wavers, signaling air movement.
After you're done, investigate the places on the floor plan that indicate possible points of air leakage. Use caulk, expanding foam or weather-stripping to seal the leaks. Pay attention to windows, exterior doors, and electrical switches or outlets on exterior walls, as likely spots for air leaks.
Insulation
Home energy evaluations often show that the attic insulation is inadequate. Adding more can be an easy and affordable project. If you can't tell if you need more, take a sample or a photo to a home improvement center and ask the staff. More insulation lowers your energy bills year-round and can also help soundproof your home.
HVAC Equipment
Check the filter for your air handler or air conditioner. If it's dirty, clean or change it. A dirty filter contributes to high energy costs with forced air systems because the dirt slows the passage of air. Your cooling or heating system has to run longer, and too much dirt on the internal components can cause parts failure.
Comfort Services can help you with energy evaluations by inspecting, servicing and maintaining your HVAC equipment, extending its life and lowering its operational costs. We've been providing HVAC services in South Carolina's Midlands since 1976.
May
24
2012
