February 20, 2018
Wouldn’t it be great if you could feel comfortable at home, without having to worry about making your energy bills skyrocket? Fortunately, you can — when you invest in the right home upgrades, that is.
Improving home efficiency doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, air sealing, insulation, and duct sealing are three of the most affordable upgrades you can make for a healthier, cozier, and more energy efficient home.
Duct Sealing
One highly effective and affordable home upgrade that homeowners often overlook is duct sealing. Many homes here in the Austin area have duct systems which are riddled with holes and leaks. This not only is a waste of energy and but also forces heating and cooling equipment to work harder to regulate indoor temperatures.
Air Sealing
Before you start throwing insulation up into the attic, you should know that air sealing is really the first step towards a more energy efficient home. Even if your attic is perfectly insulated, air leaks in your building envelope and throughout your home are going to undermine home comfort and shorten the life of your insulation.
For a home that is draft-free and consistently comfortable, be sure to have an insulation expert seal gaps around light fixtures, plumbing penetrations, attic access points, and other holes and cracks throughout the home. When done right, air sealing will prevent indoor air from escaping and outdoor air from entering, reducing the workload of your heating and cooling systems and lowering your energy bills.
Floor & Attic Insulation
Your roof and floors make up your building envelope or the physical barrier between the interior or exterior of your home. The better insulated your building envelope is, the more resilient your home will be against extreme outdoor temperatures.
So, if you are looking to make your home more efficient and comfortable while on a budget, it’s a good idea to prioritize insulating these key areas. Insulation is especially important in the attic. Without it, heat will accumulate in the attic and escape through the roof during the winter, while in the summer, heat will enter the attic and seep into your living spaces.
If you have a forced air system in your home, consider having a professional inspect your ductwork and then seal and insulate it to prevent energy loss. You could increase the efficiency of your HVAC systems by 20%.