Four Energy Saving Tips for Your Home

With rates for electricity, gas, and heating oil increasing, homeowners should routinely conduct an energy audit to make sure that they are not wasting money needlessly. There are many things that the average homeowner can do to ensure that their homes are not wasting their hard-earned money.

1.  First, examine your utility bills.

Your bill should show you how much you used this month and compare it to how much you used last month or the same month last year. Your utility company should be able to provide you with this information if you no longer have your older bills. Many utility companies have additional information about your bill available on their websites. This information can tell you why your bill is higher or lower this month compared to last month. There are many reasons for your bill being more or less than the previous month that could have nothing to do with whether or not your home is wasting energy. These include having a longer or shorter billing period, the weather being warmer or colder than the previous month, or that there has been a rate increase. Their website could also show you how your usage compared to other homes of similar size in the area. So, before you start panicking, check out your bill.

2.  Understand why your bill might be high.

If it is winter and the weather has been warmer than usual, but your bill is higher, then you could have a problem. Even after you have identified all of your problems and fixed them, it is still a good idea to keep an eye on your bills to make sure that your usage is staying where it should. If they are still more than they should be, then you obviously haven’t found all of your problems.

The easiest thing to do is to make sure that you change your furnace or heat pump filters every month. A clogged filter will make the system work harder, costing you money. It will also add additional wear and tear to the system causing it to wear out faster.

3.  Check for leaks around your home.

You will need to check for leaks in all areas of your home where there is a break in the outside wall. This will include doors, windows, and electrical outlets on outside walls, dryer vents, your range hood, and any pipes to the outside. To test for leaks in these areas, make sure that all doors and windows are firmly closed, then using a damp hand, lighted match or incense stick, go around to every door, window, and electrical outlet. If there is a leak, then the match or incense stick flame will waiver. If you are using a damp hand, then your hand will feel cooler. Make a note of the areas where you noted the problems.

For leaks coming from your electrical outlets, you can buy insulating pads that are easy to install behind the faceplate. These pads are inexpensive to purchase and do not require much skill to install.

For leaks around your doors and windows, you will need to check to see if you need to replace the weather stripping or add additional sealant or caulking.

For pipes and vents that pierce the outside wall, you will need to use caulk or spray foam insulation.

4.  Check your attic and crawl spaces.

Do not forget to check your attic when doing your audit. Your attic insulation should cover the tops of the joist by several inches. If you are not sure, then take pictures and show them to an employee at your local home improvement center. They can advise you on how much insulation you need for your area of the country, the best insulation to use for your home, and instruct you on the best way to install it.

If you have a crawl space, don’t forget to check it. If your ductwork runs underneath the house, you might wish to consider adding insulation to them. By insulating the ductwork, even if it is in the attic, you will cut you energy bills significantly as uninsulated, or poorly insulated ducts can lose 10% to 30% of the energy used to heat and cool your home.

About the Author
Aaron Garcia is a homeowner and DIY expert with many ideas on how to boost your home’s curb appeal. He has replaced many items on his home including exterior vinyl shutters and aluminum carports.

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