There’s no bad time to make your home more efficient, but with summer on the way, Georgia residents have a particularly good opportunity to start saving before hot weather hits. A good first step is a do-it-yourself energy audit, a simple but thorough check of the key areas in your home to see where you can save.

There are several areas a homeowner can check themselves when they’re conducting an energy audit. Below are a handful of issues to look for:

Air leaks

Locating and sealing air leaks can save you 5 to 30 percent of your energy costs, depending on how severe the problem is. Leaks can be sealed with caulk, spray foam and weather stripping, and they are commonly found in these areas:

• Junctures of walls and ceilings
• Windows and doors
• Baseboards
• Wall and window-mounted air conditioners
• Electrical outlets and switch plates
• Vents, hatches and any place where pipes or wires enter your home

Insulation

Insufficient insulation in walls and ceilings can be a major year-round source of energy loss. Insulation is especially important in your attic, so check to see that the ceiling between your attic and the floor below is well insulated, as well as your attic hatch.

You can also check the insulation in walls throughout your home by looking into the wall cavity through an electrical outlet. First, turn off the circuit breaker to the area, then plug in a functioning appliance to make sure power to the outlet is off. Unscrew the outlet plate and use a flashlight to see how your walls are insulated.

Heating and cooling

• Have your heating and cooling system serviced annually by a certified technician, ideally right before the period of highest use.
• Change your air filters every one to three months, or whenever they get dirty.
• Consider replacing your HVAC if it is more than 15 years old.

Lighting

If you are still using incandescent light bulbs, consider switching to fluorescents. They last longer, use less energy and produce less heat.

To learn more about performing a DIY energy audit to make your home more efficient, contact Powers Heating & Air. We provide year-round home heating and cooling service in the Peachtree City, Tyrone, Sharpsburg & Senoia areas.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about energy audits and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Powers Heating & Air serves Peachtree, GA and the surrounding areas.  Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!