With the end of winter (finally!) in sight, now is the perfect time to check your home for issues that could be driving up your utility bills and making your home less comfortable.
Our step-by-step guide will help you identify any problem areas and tackle them so your home is ready for warmer days ahead.
1. Inspect and Seal Gaps Insulation plays a crucial role in keeping your home energy efficient. Gaps allow heat to escape in winter and cool air to leak out in summer—and that means increased energy use and higher cooling bills. Take these steps to check for air leaks around your home and seal them up:
• Inspect key areas: Look for gaps around doors and windows. Use caulk to seal small gaps around window and door frames and weatherstripping for larger gaps.
• Check for drafts: Do one of these home energy tests to identify drafty spaces around your home.
• Check the attic: Your attic can be a major source of air leaks. Check it thoroughly to make sure you have enough insulation in place and that gaps are sealed—this guide explains how.
2. Tune Up Ceiling Fans Ceiling fans can help reduce energy costs by circulating air efficiently, but they require seasonal adjustments. Follow these steps to optimize them:
• Reverse fan direction: Set your ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise in the spring and summer so cool air is pushed downward and into your rooms.
• Dust and clean blades: Dust buildup doesn’t just spread dust all around your rooms, it can actually reduce the efficiency of your ceiling fans. Wipe the fan blades clean—an easy trick to make this messy job a little neater is to slip a pillowcase over each fan blade, then gently press and pull it back to trap dust inside.
• Check for wobbling: Make sure all screws on the fan and mounting bracket are secure to prevent unnecessary vibrations.
3. Check and Seal Leaky Ducts Gaps in ductwork can lead to significant energy loss, forcing your HVAC system to work harder and driving up your utility bills. Check these to-dos off your list to keep heated or cooled air from escaping:
• Inspect ductwork: Look for visible gaps, holes, or loose connections in exposed ductwork.
• Use the smoke test: Light an incense stick near duct joints. If the smoke wavers or gets pulled into a gap, you’ve found a leak.
• Seal with duct wrap: Wrap ducts with Frost King’s Foil and Fiberglass Duct Wrap to insulate against heat loss in winter and cooling loss in summer.
4. Maintain Your HVAC System Spring is the time to prepare your HVAC system for increased usage in the summer. This simple maintenance can boost your HVAC’s efficiency:
• Replace air filters: Dirty filters reduce airflow and force your system to work harder. Typically, fiberglass filters should be replaced every month while pleated air filters last three to six months.
• Clean vents and registers: Clean dust and debris from air vents to improve air circulation; you may want to add Heat and Air Deflectors to vents to direct air in the room where you want it to go.
• Check the outdoor unit: Clear leaves, dirt, and debris from around the outdoor condenser unit to improve airflow.
• Schedule a professional tune-up: If your HVAC system is older or hasn’t been serviced in a while, have a professional come in to inspect it and make any necessary tune ups.
5. Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Lighting Lighting accounts for approximately 6% of home energy use. These little changes can cut your energy costs and save you some money:
• Replace incandescent bulbs: Switch to LED bulbs, which use up to 75% less energy and last significantly longer.
• Install dimmer switches: A dimmer lets you adjust lighting levels so you can save energy while creating a nice ambiance.
• Use smart lighting controls: Motion sensors and timers can help reduce energy waste in unoccupied rooms.
6. Inspect and Clean Windows Windows play a major role in maintaining indoor temperatures. Taking these steps to clean and maintain them can help improve energy efficiency:
• Replace old weatherstripping: If the weatherstripping around windows is worn, replace it to prevent drafts.
• Clean window tracks: Dirt and debris can prevent windows from closing properly and give heated or cooled air an easy escape route. This step-by-step guide explains how to clean the tracks (and get window glass sparkling clean, too!).
7. Service Water Heaters and Plumbing Fixtures Hot water heaters and leaky faucets can contribute to unnecessary energy and water waste. Do these four easy things to help:
• Lower water heater temperature: Set your water heater to 120°F to prevent overheating and reduce energy consumption. If you have an older hot water tank, you should wrap it with an insulation blanket to make the unit more efficient.
• Drain sediment buildup: Flush your water heater annually to remove sediment and improve efficiency.
• Check for leaks: Fix any dripping faucets or leaking pipes to prevent water waste.
• Insulate hot water pipes: Wrapping pipes with foam insulation can reduce heat loss and improve efficiency.
These simple DIY projects will get your home ready for warmer weather and make it more sustainable. Start your checklist today and enjoy a more energy-efficient home all year round!
