Improve Your Home’s Comfort & Efficiency
Are you feeling off-balance from the ups and downs of Hill Country weather? One week you’re enjoying the mild winter sun and the next, temperatures plummet. Your dormant furnace won’t come on and you’re forced to call for heating repair in Austin, TX. In a few days, temperatures are in the 80s. You crank up the air, only to spike your utility bill and crash your budget.
You can’t control the weather, but you can get a handle on utility costs by performing a home energy audit. If you are considering an upcoming home sale, hiring a professional will produce a Home Energy Score—a benchmark created by the U.S. Department of Energy and its national laboratories—that could be a desirable selling point. Most homeowners can perform a DIY energy audit to determine what home improvements or maintenance tasks will save the most energy dollars. To conduct your own energy use assessment, follow these suggestions from the DOE and our pros in AC and heating repair in Round Rock, TX.
Home Energy Audit Checklist
The purpose of an energy audit is to identify areas where heating or cooling is lost and electricity is wasted. Start with a walk around your home, inside and out.
- Stop air leaks. Look and feel for drafts, cracked and broken caulking, damaged weather-stripping and other places where outside air enters your home. Pay attention to areas where siding and flashing are attached and where cutouts exist for pipes, cables and electrical outlets. Repairing air leaks can save 10 to 20 percent of wasted energy, according to the Department of Energy.
- If you have a gas furnace, water heater or stove, check with an HVAC professional about leaving adequate ventilation for safe operation of these appliances.
- Check attic insulation. If batt insulation does not entirely cover the attic floor, you may be losing lots of energy. Consult an insulation professional to check R-values—the measure of how well layers of insulation resist the flow of heat—and discuss options for boosting inadequate insulation.
- Inspect your AC, heat pump, furnace and ventilation ductwork. Dirty filters, debris around the outside unit and ductwork leaks reduce output and efficiency. Be sure to clean or replace filters frequently and perform seasonal maintenance. To ensure your HVAC system is in top form, sign up for a Cool Experts maintenance agreement or request heating repair in Austin, TX.
- Be smart about lighting, electronics and appliances. When replacing bulbs or appliances, look for more energy-efficient choices like LED lighting and ENERGY STAR® appliance models. Use dimmers and sensors to reduce lighting costs. You also can avoid “phantom” energy waste by unplugging unused electronics and appliances.
Cool Experts Blown Insulation Cuts Energy Costs
If a home energy audit finds your house short on insulation, Cool Experts has a solution to save money and improve year-round comfort. More airtight than other types of insulation, blown-in insulation seals around pipes and beams and fills even the smallest cracks. Your home will stay cleaner, quieter and more comfortable when Austin’s fickle weather changes.
When cold weather catches you off-guard and you need heating repair in Round Rock, TX, call Cool Experts at 512.790.5715 or schedule service with our newly launched online appointment app. Every day, we’re making it easier for you to care for your Austin-area home!