Home Energy Audit Tips: Where Should I Start?
According to the US Department of Energy, 56% of energy usage revolves around heating and cooling. Efficient home
heating and cooling devices can save a homeowner several dollars per month. However, experts estimate that 30% of heating expenses at homes occur due to air leakage. To correct such appliance inefficiencies, learning and implementing few home energy audit tips is a must.
Here are some Home Energy Audit tips that can ensure you a healthier home with vastly improved air quality:
Know your energy bills thoroughly: It is recommended that you compare your heating and cooling expenses month by month and look out for changes in trends. Are there any discrepancies?
Do you remember how they came about? Note the kilowatt hours (KWH) as well as the rate per KWH. This will help you understand your most expensive utility items. If you have not saved your utility bills, you can procure the duplicate version by simply calling the customer service.
Locate air leaks: The US Department of Energy claims that even the simplest of leaks can drain energy efficiency by 5-30% a year. Here are some steps to locate and eliminate air leaks:
Look closely at places where two building materials meet, including corners, chimneys, and places where the pipes and wire exit
Ensure that the seals around the doors and windows are in good condition, and that there are no mortar cracks. If you find any gaps or holes, plug or caulk them.
Use incense test to check air leakage. While moving a lighted stick along the walls, be careful to avoid drapes or flammables. You would know whether there is a leakage if the smoke wavers at any point.
Ensure that the attic floor is insulated and that the material is not crumbling. Check the basement ceiling and walls. Hot water pipelines and furnace ducts must also be insulated.
Examine your heating and cooling appliances: Check whether the furnace filter appears dirty. You can consider investing on electrostatic permanent filter which reduces waste and electricity costs. You must also vacuum clean the coils of the air conditioning system and examine duct work for streaks of dirt.
After preforming the home energy audit tips, now is the time to check your energy bills thoroughly. To make sure how much money you have saved it is recommended that you compare your heating and cooling expenses to these from the past.
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