How Do I Know if My House Is Energy Efficient?

Ensuring your home is energy efficient can be crucial to maintaining an optimal indoor temperature for your home at the lowest possible price. Neglecting your HVAC upkeep can quickly create an uncomfortable home environment while surging your energy bills. That said, many homeowners aren’t familiar with the common methods for measuring their home’s energy efficiency.

Professional vs. Independent Energy Audit

Hiring a professional who has the experience and expertise to perform a home energy assessment, where they can accurately discern your home’s energy rating and usage, is often the ideal option for homeowners. Trained and certified experts, like those at Tom’s Mechanical Inc., will have the tools to identify areas where your home is wasting energy and can give you customized solutions tailored to your specific needs.

Although less accurate, there are some ways you can make informal, preliminary determinations on your own. This is a good first step that will help you decide whether you should schedule an OptiHome Performance Evaluation with Tom’s Mechanical.

How to Determine Your Home Energy Efficiency

• Check Your Insulation: Inspect the insulation where accessible and visible, like in your attic. Proper insulation can prevent heat transfer and energy loss, keeping your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter without overworking your HVAC system and increasing its risk of premature failure. You may be able to tell whether the insulation in your home has settled or compressed, is discolored, has been water damaged or shows signs of mold or pest infestation. Any of those signs warrant a professional inspection.

• Inspect Windows and Doors: Drafty windows and doors with substantial gaps between frames and the door or window, or failed weatherstripping, are common culprits when it comes to energy inefficiency in Arlington homes. A sturdier, long-term solution is to invest in energy-efficient windows. Improved windows make it easier for your HVAC system to maintain an ideal temperature indoors with minimal energy usage. It’s highly recommended if your windows are older or the glazing putty has broken down.

• Optimize Your Thermostat: Installing a smart thermostat can allow homeowners to set temperature schedules that align with their and other occupants’ routines. This can ensure that your HVAC system is only running when needed, minimizing unnecessary energy usage.

• Reevaluate Your Lighting: Replace incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs, which consume less energy and have a longer lifespan so homeowners can save on energy while reducing waste. Alternatively, if possible, maximize your home’s natural lighting to reduce the need to spend energy on lighting during the day.

• Review Overall Appliance Efficiency: Unplug some devices or appliances, like coffee makers, blenders or toaster ovens, when not in use to reduce your energy consumption and, if possible, switch to Energy Star-rated appliances, which consume less energy than standard appliances. For HVAC units, examine its SEER (“Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio”) rating – the higher the SEER, EER or HSPF rating, the more energy-efficient the unit. The minimum SEER rating required in Texas is 15, but finding a higher rating can yield great benefits.

• Check Your Water Heater: Verify that your water heater is properly insulated to limit heat loss. There are also more energy-efficient water heaters, including tankless versions, that can help homeowners save significantly more on energy usage.

• Look for Air Leaks: Seal any leaks in your home. There could be an air leak anywhere in your building envelope, from the roof and walls to the foundation, that could be siphoning your HVAC system’s output and surging your energy consumption. That said, you should also confirm that your home has adequate ventilation to release hot air naturally. Without proper ventilation, you could elevate your indoor humidity levels and exacerbate your risk of mold and mildew growth.

• Evaluate Your HVAC System: Your HVAC system tends to eat up a majority of homeowners’ energy spending. Ensure your unit is running optimally by hiring a skilled technician to conduct routine maintenance and perform repairs when needed. At Tom's Mechanical Inc., we’ve been providing Arlington homeowners with comprehensive HVAC maintenance and repair services for over 60 years thanks to our proven diligence and dedication. We know how to keep your system in premium condition for as long as possible.

• Review Your Utility Bill: Even if nothing seems amiss, numbers don’t lie. Go over your utility bills to confirm that there aren’t any spikes escaping your notice. If you find one, review the steps listed above or call a professional to help you determine the source.

Hire Trusted Arlington HVAC Specialists to Assist in Maximizing Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

The certified specialists at Tom’s Mechanical Inc. will help lower your energy bills while keeping your home comfortable. Our OptiHome solutions offer comprehensive testing and evaluation on your entire home and provide personalized, long-term solutions that will help you save money and live more comfortably.

Whether you want to learn more about how to optimize your energy spending or require 24/7 emergency air conditioner repair services, we’re ready to help. Schedule a free home inspection today by calling (817) 277-4493.