Weatherization for Your Energy Efficient Home

Useful Tips from your HVAC Specialists in Easton PA 

Keeping your home at the right temperature throughout the year is not just about switching between your furnace and air conditioner, or changing settings on your thermostat. In fact, relying entirely on your HVAC system could spike your utility bills. However, with careful planning and proper weatherization, you can limit your home’s energy consumption and maintain the desired in-home temperatures, without compromising on comfort. 

The experienced HVAC professionals at Comfort Solutions offer some useful suggestions in this context.

Understanding the What, Why and How of Weatherization

What is Weatherization? Weatherization is about protecting your home from the elements, without reducing its energy efficiency. By its very nature, warmer air is always seeking out cooler air. Which means, in the hotter months, warmer air from outside tries to penetrate your home, reducing the impact of your conditioned and cooled air. Similarly, in winter, when you furnace is on, warm air tries to escape outdoors through the paths of least resistance, such as unheated attics or crawl spaces.

Why is Weatherization Important? Curtailing air penetration and leaks will help in:

• Reducing the load on your HVAC system, which means, greater system lifespan, and lower monthly utility bills 
• Decreasing your carbon footprint, and making a positive impact on the environment
• Improving the comfort of your home
• Increasing the life and safety of your home by arresting issues related to excessive moisture, poor venting, or improper combustion.

Top 7 Tips for Energy-Saving Weatherization: It may not always be feasible to undertake major changes for sealing your home’s foundation or perimeters. However, a few minor projects could significantly boost the energy efficiency of your living spaces. 

1. Seal the Doors and Windows: Use caulking, weatherstripping or silicon products to seal the air leaks commonly found in doors and windows. Most products are inexpensive and easy to apply. For worn, cracked or damaged weatherstripping, remove the old one and reinstall new material.

1. Use Draft Stoppers: Seal the gap underneath closed doors and window ledges, especially in basements, attics and garages with draft stoppers. Seal irregular cracks with weatherstripping. 
2. Seal the Fireplace: Close the damper on the fireplace when the unit is not in use. If you do not plan to use the fireplace throughout the winter months, seal off the flue with a fireplace plug to curb air leaks.
3. Invest in a Water Heater Blanket: Your water heater usually accounts for about 25% of your annual utility bill. Adding an insulating jacket will help retain the heat inside the storage tank, in turn reducing the energy consumption of your unit.
4. Increase Insulation for Attic Access: If your attic access is made from a bare piece of drywall, add insulation to it. Insulation comes in many forms, such as blanket, loose-fill, or foam. Depending on the location where you are adding insulation, choose the right type of material, and pay attention to the recommended R-Value.
5. Seal the Ducts: Homes built before the 2000s may have unsealed ductwork, which can negatively impact health, comfort and energy efficiency. Call your HVAC professionals for sealing such leaky ducts in your home. 
6. Seal Other Leaks: Besides the doors, windows, ducts and attics, look for air leaks in your vents, flooring, and electrical switches and outlets. Insulate the floorboards, and close other air gaps with caulk. 

Replacing or cleaning the air-filters of your HVAC system will also go a long way in improving the efficiency of your unit. Remember to schedule a timely tune-up service to ensure that your furnace and air-conditioning system run smoothly and efficiently, when you need them the most. At Comfort Solutions HVAC, we offer comprehensive and affordable air-conditioning and furnace maintenance programs that extend the lifespan of your HVAC system, and optimize the energy efficiency of your home. We also offer numerous heating and cooling solutions that cater to a wide range of home comfort requirements and budget.

Residents throughout Easton, PA and the surrounding areas of NJ rely on our team of licensed and certified technicians for HVAC installations, tune-ups and repairs. 

Meet your home’s energy efficiency goals for 2020 with help from the experts at Comfort Solutions HVAC. Call us at 610-438-9300 or contact us online to know more.