How to Maximize the Energy Efficiency of Your Home

As the winter approaches in Denver, local residents are looking for ways to enhance the energy efficiency of their homes. This year, the US Department of Energy expects the cost of heating homes with oil will rise by 19.5 percent over last year. This could make a significant mark on the average family’s budget.

Many homeowners are concerned that their hard-earned dollars will be wasted by inefficient heating and cooling. Rise Heating and Air Conditioning LLC shares the ways in which homeowners can ensure that their homes are energy-efficient for this coming winter. Many of these tips are also useful for summer use, since insulated homes stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Insulation

It is crucial to make sure that your home is well-insulated. Insulation is your first line of defense against losing heated or cooled air from your home. Choices in insulation include fiberglass and blown-in foam. Whichever form of insulation you choose, make sure that the walls, floors, and attic or crawl space are fully insulated. Check your insulation each heating season to make sure it does not need to be repaired or updated.

Weatherizing

In addition to insulation, you can significantly reduce your energy consumption by properly weatherizing your home. In many homes, you can increase your energy efficiency by 30 percent or more by using simple and inexpensive weatherizing techniques.

A large fraction of home energy loss occurs around doors and windows and is caused by improperly sealed openings. Using caulk around windows and doors can reduce heat and cold transfer from outside and keep your warmed or cooled air inside.

Make sure that your windows and doors are in good repair and use insulated drapes over your windows and patio doors. This can prevent heat loss in winter and excessive solar heating in summer. Wrap your home hot water heater with insulated padding. This can help you save significantly on the cost of heating water, and the padding will quickly pay for itself.

You should pay careful attention to the access hatches for unheated attics or crawl spaces. Weather-strip these areas and make sure the doors are insulated. Another little-known area that causes a small yet noticeable heating loss is the electrical outlets and switches in your home. These outlets should be insulated with foam gaskets.

Seal the cracks around the floorboards and baseboards of your home using caulk. Many homes lose a lot of heat around the floors. Use carpets or rugs to help prevent the transfer of heat or cold through the floor.

Fireplaces

A fireplace is a beautiful addition to your home, but it can cause significant loss of heated or cooled air. If you have a fireplace, make sure that the dampers are well sealed. To check this, close the flue and light a piece of paper in your fireplace. If the smoke goes up into the flue, you have an air leak.

Exteriors

Make sure that you remove all window air conditioning units. If they are not removable, use caulk to seal the unit. You can also use an insulating blanket to keep the heat in.

All exterior holes for vents, pipes, and ducts can cause a great deal of heat loss. Make sure to fill these holes with foam insulation. When you weatherize these openings in your home, you will notice the change in comfort and the lower heating bill.

Energy Efficiency

Homeowners in Denver should be able to use these simple tips to make sure their homes are ready for the coming winter season. Make sure that you follow these recommendations as you prepare your home for the colder months. In the mountains of Colorado, the winter nights are as cold as anywhere. You will appreciate your newly weatherized home when your first heating bills of the season arrive.