All homeowners want an energy efficient home. As the cold winter months pass by and the warm weather arrives, it is important to do a few things to achieve a home that uses less energy. We want to point out that heating and cooling makes up for over half of domestic energy consumption.
What does this mean for you? It means you can save a lot of cash in the long run, as well as the short run by making improvements around the home. In this article, we will explore ways that homeowners can make a huge difference on their energy bills.
The only way you’ll make your home truly energy efficient is if you know where your energy is being wasted. For example, around 25% of energy is wasted via gaps and holes around door frames and windows. When cold air leaves the home, then warm air makes its way inside. This means that the cooling system has to work much harder. Remember, 25% of the cold air that escapes will get replaced with warmer air. In turn, the air conditioner will have to cool down that air. These gaps and holes can lead to uneven temperatures throughout the home. Therefore, the overall comfort level can decrease. Not only that, but your monthly energy bills will start to increase.
If you want to detect drafts and air leaks in your home, then hire a professional HVAC contractor. The sooner you detect and seal leaks, the sooner you can start to lower cooling costs. Contractors have the experience, tools, and equipment to help them find air leaks. However, if you don’t want to hire a contractor, then there are a few DIY options at your disposal.
An incense stick is all you need to detect air leaks. Simply light it up and bring it around to the high risk areas in your home. These areas include door frames and windows, as well as other outlets. If everything is fine, then the smoke should go upwards and disperse as it reaches the ceiling. However, if the smoke goes inwards then there’s a chance you have an air leak somewhere in that area. To make things easier on yourself, mark the areas that have leaks and after you’re done with your inspection, then you can go back and seal them up.
Look for cobwebs too. Spiders like to be near areas where there is a little bit of air flow. If there are cobwebs present, then you probably have an air leak nearby. Don’t forget to mark the areas where there are suspected leaks and then go back to seal them.
There’s a number of ways to seal leaks. You can use weather stripping, spray foam, or caulking. Feel free to use the cheapest material you can find or the one that is easily available to you. If you are not comfortable or confident in your ability to seal leaks, then don’t hesitant to hire a professional. A contractor can inspect your entire home and then seal areas where there is a leak present. You can save money by sealing leaks, so it is worth hiring a professional HVAC contractor. Plus, they will get the job done right the first time around and they will get things done fast.
After you remove drafts in your home, you should still call a heating and cooling contractor. They can inspect your air conditioning system and perform an AC tune-up. This, too, will improve the energy efficiency in your home and lower cooling costs. Give Ace-Robbins a call today and let our NATE certified HVAC contractors perform the work your AC system needs. Call now to speak with one of our home comfort specialists.
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