Our recent weeks of frigid temps delivered power bill sticker shock for many local residents!

Whether you’re battling a polar vortex or sweltering in a heatwave, extreme temperatures can send your power bills soaring. Keeping your home comfortable shouldn’t mean breaking the bank. 

Here are five practical tips to help you save energy and money, no matter how extreme the temperature gets.

1) Seal the deal (and the drafts, too)

Air leaks are a major culprit for energy waste. In cold weather, they let precious heat escape, forcing your heating system to work harder. In hot weather, they allow cool air to leak out, making your air conditioner struggle.

This means your HVAC system runs longer, consuming more energy and driving up your bills. Think of it like trying to heat or cool a house with the windows open – inefficient and expensive!

Don’t forget about checking the attic access hatch and any other less obvious areas. A little effort in sealing can make a big difference in your energy bill.

Pay close attention to these common problem areas:

• Windows and Doors: Check for gaps around the frames.
• Pipes and Wiring: Look where pipes and wires enter your home.
• Attic Access Hatch or Retractable Ladder: This can be a major source of air leakage.
• Fireplace Damper: Ensure it’s closed tightly when not in use.
• Baseboards and Trim: Gaps can exist along these areas.
• Outlets and Switches: Believe it or not, air can leak through these!

Do you have a retractable attic ladder? These can suck the heat right out of the room! Click here to check out an economical, zip-up attic ladder cover. 

Here’s the fix:

• Weather Stripping: Apply weather stripping around doors and windows to create a seal.
• Caulk: Use caulk to fill gaps and cracks around windows, pipes, and other openings. Choose a caulk appropriate for the material (e.g., silicone for bathrooms).
• Expanding Foam: For larger gaps where pipes enter the home, expanding foam can be very effective. Be careful not to over-apply as it can swell alarmingly!
• Door Sweeps: Install door sweeps at the bottom of exterior doors to prevent drafts.
• Electrical outlet and Switch Sealers: These inexpensive foam gaskets can be placed behind outlet and switch covers to reduce airflow.

Pro Tip: Do a “home energy audit” by checking for drafts on a windy day. Hold a lit candle or a piece of tissue paper near windows, doors, and other openings. If the flame flickers or the tissue moves, you have an air leak. 

WARNING: Be sure not to set your curtains on fire if you’re using the candle method.

2) Smart thermostat, smarter savings!

A programmable or smart thermostat is a game-changer for energy efficiency. It allows you to set temperature schedules based on your daily routine, automatically adjusting the temperature when you’re away at work or asleep. This prevents your heating or cooling system from running unnecessarily, saving you energy and money.

Here’s how to keep your cool (or your warmth):

• Programmable Thermostats: These allow you to set different temperatures for different times of day. For example, you can set the thermostat to a lower temperature when you’re at work and a comfortable temperature for when you’re home.
• Smart Thermostats: These take it a step further by learning your preferences over time. They can even adjust the temperature based on weather forecasts and your location. Some models have apps for smartphone connectivity, giving you even more flexibility.

Choosing the right thermostat: Consider features like Wi-Fi connectivity, learning capabilities, and compatibility with your HVAC system. For most homeowners, your best bet would be to make an appointment with your HVAC company to choose the right model and perform the installation.

Click here for a Consumer Reports comparison of smart and programmable thermostats.

3) Layer up (or down) for energy savings

This might seem obvious, but it’s worth repeating: personal comfort adjustments can significantly impact your energy usage.

• Cold Weather: Embrace layers of clothing to stay warm without relying solely on your heating system. Think cozy sweaters, warm socks, thermal underwear, and even a blanket while watching TV. Lowering your thermostat by a few degrees and layering up can make a noticeable difference in your energy bill.
• Hot Weather: Opt for lightweight, breathable fabrics like cotton and linen. Use fans to circulate air, making the room feel cooler and allowing you to set your AC a few degrees higher. Fans use significantly less energy than air conditioners.

4) Window wisdom: Harness (or block) the sun

Your windows can be a major source of heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter.

Managing sunlight effectively is crucial for energy savings. Hear are a few tips:

• Winter: Maximize natural light during the colder months. Keep curtains and blinds open during the day to allow the sun to warm your home. When the sun goes down, close them to insulate your windows and prevent heat from escaping.
• Summer: Do the opposite. Close curtains and blinds, especially on south- and west-facing windows, during the hottest part of the day to block out the sun’s rays and keep your home cooler.
• Window Treatments: Consider investing in thermal curtains or window films for added insulation. These can significantly reduce heat transfer through your windows.
• Planting Trees: Planting trees around your home can provide shade in the summer and reduce wind exposure in the winter, further improving energy efficiency.

5) HVAC Checkup: An ounce of prevention

Regular maintenance of your heating and cooling system is crucial for efficiency and longevity. Trying to save pennies on regular maintenance can cost you mega bucks if your system fails. Here’s how to keep your HVAC system humming:

• Annual Check-ups: Schedule annual check-ups with a qualified HVAC technician. They can identify potential problems, clean coils, check refrigerant levels, and ensure proper airflow. Preventative maintenance can catch small issues before they become major (and expensive) repairs.
• Filter Changes: Don’t forget to change your air filters regularly! A dirty filter restricts airflow, making your system work harder and less efficiently. Check your filters monthly and replace them as needed (usually every 1-3 months).
• DIY Maintenance: In addition to professional check-ups, there are some things you can do yourself. Keep vents and registers clear of obstructions, and occasionally check your exterior HVAC unit, making sure it is free of encroaching shrubs, or other obstructions.

By implementing these five tips, you can exercise some control over your energy consumption and significantly reduce your power bills, no matter how extreme the weather outside. A little planning and effort can go a long way in keeping your home comfortable and your wallet happy.

Buying or selling a home in Western North Carolina?

Avoid unpleasant surprises! Contact Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young before signing any contracts. Call (828) 808-4980, or click here to make an appointment.

The post Five ways to save on your power bills in extreme weather appeared first on Peter Young Home Inspections.

By now you must have noticed that the price of almost everything is rising. Some things you have little control over. Food prices are one example, although you could try eating less, or you can build a backyard garden to raise your own veggies. The cost of energy is on the rise, as well. That’s mostly beyond your control, but there are still some things you can do to conserve energy (and money) around your home. 

There are two major reasons for conserving energy at home. The first is to save money on your utility bills, and the second is to do your part to protect the environment. Using less electricity, gas, and heating oil are beneficial to your wallet as well as being beneficial for our planet. 

Let’s look at some simple, inexpensive ways you can save energy in your home.

A bright idea

One of the easiest ways to save energy in your home is to replace those old-fashioned , inefficient incandescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent lights and LED bulbs use considerably less energy, with LEDs being the most efficient. How much energy do they save? According to the EPA, if every household in the US swapped just one incandescent bulb with an LED, we’d save about $600 million annually. That’s enough to power 3 million homes for a year.

Energy efficient bulbs cost more off the shelf, but their reduced energy usage and longer expected life spans will save money in the long run. And don’t forget to turn off the lights each time you leave a room. 

Speaking of light, reducing energy costs by using natural sunlight is almost a no-brainer. If you are about to build a home, north and south facing windows are better than east and west. It allows for more glancing light, meaning more heat and less harsh light in the winter.  

Another way to use natural light is to install skylights or “solar tubes” in your home. Skylights are windows in the roof that let in light. Solar tubes (also called sun tunnels) look like fluorescent lights, but they direct sunlight through mirrors into rooms where they are installed. A word of caution about either of these options: Have them installed by a licensed roofer to avoid water leaks.

In hot water

Your hot water heater is a major energy hog, using about 17% of the power in your home. Since most people are not likely to replace a functioning water heater with a new Energy Star model, there are a few ways to save on your water heating bill.

The first way is to use less hot water. Start by washing your clothes in cold or warm water, rather than hot. If you have a cooler setting on your dishwasher, start using it. Try cutting a few minutes off your shower, and make it just a little cooler, if you can. And install low-flow shower heads. The less water that passes through the fixture, the less water you will need to be heating.

Next, you can turn down the thermostat on your hot water heater. Many are preset to 140º F, but that is hotter than it needs to be and can be a scalding risk. Some folks go as low as 120º, while others like 130º. You may find that you like it somewhere in between. 

Another energy saving trick is to get an insulation blanket for your water heater. You can find them at most home supply stores. They keep the water in your tank warmer, so you don’t spend as much keeping it up to your desired temperature.

Baby, it’s cold inside!

It may seem counterintuitive to set your thermostat lower during the cold months, but doing so will help save on your home’s heating cost. Stay warmer by wearing more clothes indoors. Your heat pump won’t work as hard and your wallet will be a bit fatter. Do the reverse in the warmer months. Wear shorts and t-shirts indoors, and keep the AC set just a bit warmer.

Another way to save is to replenish caulk around windows and doors, and install weather stripping in areas where you feel a draft. This will help you in both winter and summer. If you are not sure how to do this, hire a professional. The savings will likely make up for installation costs.

Let it flow

This one is a “blinding flash of the obvious!” Replace your HVAC filters regularly. Change them at least every three months, and sooner if you see signs of dust and dirt on them. With clean filters, your system doesn’t have to work as hard. Not only does this save energy in your home, but it can help extend the life of your HVAC unit. 

We’ve explored simple, inexpensive ways to reduce your power bills. If you’re looking to make some real changes, replace old, inefficient appliances (even your heat pump) with Energy Star models. The costs of such replacement may be high, but they might be recouped in just a few energy-saving years.

Buying or selling a home in or near Asheville?

Avoid unpleasant surprises! Contact Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young before signing any contracts. Call (828) 808-4980, or click here to make an appointment.

The post Simple, inexpensive ways to save energy and money in your home appeared first on Peter Young Home Inspections.

Can’t you just hear that old reminder from Mom or Dad? “Turn out the lights! We don’t work for the electric company.” Did you read that in your mother’s voice? Turns out Mom was right. Power bills aren’t cheap, and as the cost keeps rising, they don’t look poised to get lower any time soon.  

It’s not just the lights that cost you. There’s the AC in summer, the furnace in winter, and the hot water heater. Throw in your appliances and electronics, and the utility bill adds up. The US Department of Energy estimates that power bills for most homes can top $1,8000 yearly. That’s not exactly chump change! 

Here are some tips and tricks for lowering your bill by up to 25%. None of them are hard to do.

Water water everywhere

Let’s start with water-related bills. Even if you’re on a well and don’t pay for water, keep in mind that you’re burning electricity whenever your well pump is running.

Replace your old appliances with energy-efficient models. Older dishwashers used about 10 gallons of water per cycle. The newer, Energy Star models use only 3.5 gallons of water, and they get the job done even better. As your appliances exceed their expected lifespan, replace them by order of priority with more efficient models. Hint: If your old water heater is way past its prime, think about replacing that one first. Don’t wait until it’s leaking. Speaking of water heaters, a tankless, on-demand model will save even more energy. 

Fix leaky faucets. It’s bad enough that the constant drip, drip, drip is driving you bonkers. The hard truth is that it’s wasting many gallons of water. If you’re handy, this can be an easy fix. There are plenty of videos on YouTube about fixing a leaky faucet. Click here for an example. Just remember to shut of the water first at the cut-off under the sink. 

Adjust your water heater thermostat. Typically, the default setting on your water heater is 140 degrees. Dropping that down to 130 degrees can save up to 5% on your water heating bill. 

Take shorter showers. Trim just two minutes off your shower time and save about five gallons of water. 

Get a new showerhead. Find one with a WaterSense label, which meets efficiency standards of the EPA, and you can save up to 2,700 gallons in a year. 

Wash your clothes in cold water. You’ll cut your per-load energy usage in half. Use warm if you must, but don’t wash clothes in hot water.

Feeling hot hot hot and keeping your cool

Where bloated utility bills are concerned, home heating and cooling are the worst offenders. Fortunately, they are a great place to utilize cost-cutting measures.

When seals go bad. We’re don’t mean the slinky circus critters, but the seals around your home. Check the seals on your refrigerator and freezer doors for mold and cracks. You want to keep the cold air inside, where it belongs. It’s an easy fix. Click here for a how-to video.

Also check the seals around doors and windows. If cool leaks out in summer and warm leaks out in winter, chances are good your wallet is leaking, too. 

Fix leaky ductwork. When your HVAC ducts are leaking into the attic, you might as well just be burning money. Seal up those ducts for noticeable savings. Ask your HVAC company to check for and repair any leaks. 

Tweak that thermostat. Bump your thermostat back a few degrees while you sleep in wintertime. If you’re going away, set it back at least ten to 15 degrees. In the summer, if you can stand it, make it a few degrees warmer. There’s a definite cost savings if your summer thermostat is set at 75, rather than 72. 

Speaking of thermostats, also adjust the temperature in your freezer and fridge. The freezer should be between 0 and 5 degrees. Set the refrigerator at 38 to keep your food fresh without overworking to maintain a colder temperature.

Power to change

Lights and electronics take about 11% of your home’s energy annually. Here are some tips to lower your bills.

Install dimmer switches. Not only can you set the brightness in the room to suit your preferences, but you’ll also save energy. Installing a dimmer is amazingly easy to do. Click here for a video that shows you how.

Changing your bulbs is a bright idea. If you swap out the incandescent bulbs in your home’s five most-used light fixtures for LEDs or compact flourescents, you can save about $75 per year. Better yet, swap out all the bulbs in your home and save even more. NOTE: If you’re using dimmers, be sure you buy bulbs that are dimmable.

Smart power strips are pretty smart. A lot of your electronic gear never really turns off. Some of these have remote controls or clocks, and they remain on standby power. That’s not a lot of power, but add up the number of devices and factor in 24/7 for a year, and you’re using noticeable power. Smart power strips will cut off the current automatically when the devices are sitting idle. 

The key to home energy savings is to be proactive. Also, admit that Mom was right! Take the steps outlined here, and you’ll see a noticeable reduction in your bills each month.

The post Saving money on your home power bills is a lot easier than you’d think appeared first on Peter Young Home Inspections.

Every job has its quirks, but sometimes there’s nothing quirkier than the life of a home inspector. You just never know what could be hiding in a house. This month we’ll take a look at some real clunkers. Some are funny. Some are just plain weird. But a few are dangerous.

These are just a few of the many that pop up on a typical home inspection day.

Plumber or sculptor? You decide!

American architect Louis Sullivan taught us “form ever follows function.” 

Maybe that’s what this do-it-yourself plumber was thinking when he concocted this drain sculpture beneath a bathroom sink. 

Or maybe he was drunk!

Clothes smelling odd lately?

This dryer vent is hooked into the sewer line and held in place with duct tape.   Hopefully those fuzzy dryer sheets can take out some really serious odors. If you ask me, this whole situation just stinks! 

Dirty tricks

The builder left a huge pile of dirt and junk in the basement of a brand new house. Now the only way to get it out would be with a shovel and wheelbarrow.   The owners decided instead to seal off the area. Now would be a good time for them to give us the “dirt” on the builder! 

Doing their part for cleaner air

Here’s a vacuum cleaner tube being used as a plumbing vent extension. Perhaps the homeowner was concerned about air pollution and was ready to vacuum the sky.   Maybe if all homes had this, we could reduce greenhouse gases significantly. Or maybe not. 

On the rocks!

Here’s a “tiny house” being supported on a pile of rocks. It’s only a matter of time until the house starts slipping and sliding. 

There are right ways and wrong ways to support structures. This is the quintessential example of the absolute wrong way!

It’s in the can!

Those can lights come in cans for a reason. Here’s a can light without the can. This leaves wiring exposed and subjects nearby insulation to heat – both potential fire hazards.

This is a perfect example of when NOT to kick the can down the road!

It’s a gas, gas, gas!

This is an unsafe way to run a gas line, as the concrete block may damage the line causing a leak.  Gas lines should be run through a PVC pipe at the foundation.

Gas must be taken seriously, always. Installed improperly it can cause serious injury, fire, explosion, or death.

Blowing hot and cold

When your HVAC ducts are disconnected, it’s a great way to heat or cool your crawlspace instead of your house. This home’s heating and cooling bills must be going through the roof, even though the treated air is blowing under the floor.

Buying or selling a home?

Avoid unpleasant surprises! Contact Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young before signing any contracts. Call (828) 808-4980, or click the link below to make an appointment.

The post Funny, strange, and dangerous things that pop up during home inspections appeared first on Peter Young Home Inspections.

This third installment of our four-part series takes delves into the tasks of autumn. In warmer climates, fall doesn’t require much, but here in the mountains we need to get our homes and grounds all snuggled in for winter. Take care of these important chores, and you’ll rest easier when the cold winter wind starts to blow.

Outdoors: Leaves, leaves, and more leaves! 

Everywhere you look nature is wearing her prettiest hues of gold, red, and orange. As the colors fade to brown, the wind is scattering leaves across your lawn. For most of us, that means it’s raking time. Some folks are meticulous (OCD, perhaps), and they want to get every last leaf into plastic bags to be hauled away. Others are tempted to just leave them on the lawn where they fall. This is not a good idea, because thick leaves can smother your lawn and encourage mold.  

Need a new rake? Click here for a look at the best leaf rakes to buy. There are a few good alternatives to obsessive raking. One suggestion is to rake a light blanket of leaves into a circle around your trees and under your shrubs. This builds a natural bed of mulch, which can warm the roots in winter, and provide some refuge for beneficial insects. Yes, your lawn’s ecosystem requires the participation of insects, so please avoid spraying your lawn with pesticides. Just let nature be nature. Or just stop raking altogether by mowing over those leaves once a week until they stop falling. This breaks them down into nutrients for your lawn, and it eliminates the need for all those plastic bags that just sit in a landfill for a few hundred years. 

The fall garden 

Now that your veggies are nearly spent, it’s time to look at planting perennials. Tuck them into your beds in early fall, give them plenty of water before they go into “hibernation” for the winter. Also, you can put in bulbs, like hyacinths and tulips before the first freeze. Come spring you’ll be rewarded by a joyous burst of color. The bees will thank you, too, since food is scarce for them in early spring. 

Click here for a good guide to planting perennials.

Get your mind in the gutter 

All those falling leaves can do a number on your rain gutters. Wait until the leaves have stopped falling, and then be sure to clean and inspect the gutters. Either do it yourself, or call your gutter company to come out before there is any chance of heavy snow. While you’re at it, check the roof for loose or broken tiles or shingles, and get them fixed before winter sets in.  

Faucets and hoses 

Before the first freeze, you need to shut off and drain your outdoor faucets. It’s also a good idea to let your hoses drain out, wind them up, and put them into the shed or garage for the winter. 

Sprinklers 

Before frost arrives, it’s best to shut down your irrigation system, be sure above-ground pipes and valves are insulated, shut off the timer, and drain any remaining water. Be sure not to skip this. If those pipes freeze up with water in them, your wallet will become noticeably thinner when you try to use the system again in springtime.  

Swimming pool 

Pool season ends when the fall weather starts to turn colder. Clean and cover your pool, or schedule an appointment with your pool company. Don’t wait too long; they get busier as fall gets older.

Stove pipes and chimneys 

If you didn’t clean your chimney or stovepipe in the spring, now’s the time to get the job done. If you’re using a chimney sweep service, call them early. You want to be sure to get the job done before you start burning wood. If you do the job yourself, be sure to use caution on ladders, and be sure to have a buddy with you to hold the ladder and keep an eye on you from the ground. Stovepipe or chimney cleaning kits are available at most home stores. For chimneys, the Soot Eater works with any cordless drill. For stovepipes, a fitted round brush will do the job. Extension rods are available for stovepipe brushes. Ask about them at the store. 

Firewood 

While we’re on the subject of chimneys, you’re going to need some wood to burn. Fall is the time to stock up on seasoned firewood. Seasoned means the wood is not recently cut and green. It’s had at least a year to “mature.” Put your wood on pallets, not on the ground. Or you can store up to a half cord of cut wood on a metal firewood rack. Cover the wood with a plastic sheet that doesn’t touch the ground, or put a small section of metal roofing over it. If you want to get fancy, there are prefab woodsheds available. 

INSIDE: Heat pump, furnace, HVAC 

Fall and spring are the times to have your system checked. Many HVAC companies have annual plans where you pay a small amount each month for a checkup twice a year. Call your local companies to compare prices. Check and replace filters, be sure the thermostat is functioning properly, and make sure nothing is blocking your heating vents. 

Dryer vents, smoke, and CO2 detectors Fall is a great time to inspect and clean your dryer vent. Don’t skip this step. The US Fire Administration cites nearly 3,000 fires a year are caused by clothes dryers. Lint is flammable, so be sure to clean your vent annually. Ask your HVAC company if they service dryer vents. Otherwise, do it yourself or call a dryer vent specialty company to do the job. Fall and spring are also the best times to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Put in some earplugs and push the test button. Change the batteries at this time. Most hard-wired detectors have backup batteries. Be sure to keep them fresh. If your smoke alarm is more than 10 years old, it’s time to replace it. If you’re handy with light electrical work, you can do this yourself. Be sure to shut off the breaker first to avoid electric shock. If you are not comfortable with this, call an electrician to do the job. 

Windows and doors 

Check all your windows and doors for drafts, and apply caulk if necessary. Check the weather stripping around doors for wear, and replace if needed. If you have storm windows and doors, late fall is the time to get them set up. So get a handle on the chores of fall, and your home and grounds will be all tucked in and ready for winter. Next month, part four will delve into the chores of winter. 

Call Peter Young Home Inspections 

Buying or selling a home? Never sign any contract without first getting a home inspection!  Call Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young, 828-808-4980, or click the link below to make an appointment today.

The post A Home for All Seasons Part 3: Fall appeared first on Peter Young Home Inspections.

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It’s amazing how much energy is wasted in the average home. Saving energy is not only good for our planet, but it can save you money. Here’s a list of some easy ways to save energy in your home.

Install ceiling fans

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Ceiling fans deliver energy savings in both summer and winter. In the summer, set the fan to blow the air down from the ceiling. Feeling the air on your skin makes you feel cooler without needing to lower the room temperature.

In the winter, set the fan to blow up toward the ceiling. You won’t feel air blowing on you, but the fan will circulate the warm ceiling air around the room, helping to heat the room more evenly.

To set the air in either direction, look for a small switch or button on the fan or the remote.

Install a programmable thermostat

A programmable thermostat can be set to change the temperature on heaters and air conditioners when you’re not home or at night while you sleep. However, don’t go too far outside your normal temperature range, or you may use additional energy to bring the temperature back to your desired setting. For example, if you keep your heater at 72 degrees, don’t go down more than three or four degrees at night, or while at work. You don’t want the system to work too hard to bring it back up to your desired temperature. In some climate zones, a programmable thermostat can save up to $150 a year in energy costs.

Here’s a programmable thermostat tip: If you’re out most days at work, set the thermostat to come back up to temperature one hour before you arrive, so you’ll feel warm and toasty (in winter) or nice and cool (in summer) when you get home.

Replace Incandescent lights

Did you know that about 11% of your home energy budget goes into lighting? That’s why it pays to get rid of those old, inefficient incandescent bulbs. On average, incandescent bulbs only use 10% of the energy they consume to create actual light. The remaining 90% is turned to heat. Two energy-saving alternatives are compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

CFLs reduce energy consumption by 75% and are estimated to last ten times longer than incandescent bulbs. The downside is that they contain mercury. You don’t want them to break in your house. They also must be recycled carefully. Never put CFLs in with your regular trash. Big box stores such as Lowes and Home Depot have recycling bins for CFL bulbs.

LEDs save even more energy. They may seem expensive up front, but they are estimated to last more than 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs (up to 11 years). There are no moving parts or filaments, and they don’t contain mercury. They consume even less energy than CFLs. Some users find them too bright, but others like the white, daylight feeling of LEDs.

Install surge protection power strips

Surge protection power switches serve two purposes. First, they protect your appliances in the event of a power surge. Second, they have a shutoff switch that will cut power to appliances when not in use. Don’t worry about major appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, ovens, etc. Put everything else on surge protection power strips and turn them off when not in use.

• Turn off computers when not in use. Computers account for up to 3% of a home’s energy consumption. Be sure to shut down properly, and then flip the power strip to the off position.
• Put TVs, stereos and other devices on power strips, and turn them off when not in use. Note: If you record a lot on your DVR, you need to keep it in standby mode, so don’t put it on a power strip.
• Unplug phone chargers when not in use. As long as they are plugged in, chargers use electricity.

Seal air leaks in your home

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Sealing and insulating your home is easier than you think. There are lots of fixes you can do yourself. The first thing to do is identify and solve air leaks. Here are some areas where leaks can occur:

Electrical receptacles/outlets – In cold months, feel your switch plate and outlet covers, Are they cold to the touch? There may be air leaking inside the wall, and you could be losing heat through your outlets. Go to your local hardware store and ask for switch plate and outlet insulation foam. Just remove the plate covers and put the pre-cut foam inside to seal leaks. Use caution! It’s better to turn off the breaker to the outlets you are repairing to avoid risk of shock or electrocution.

Around pipes and wires – Places where pipes and wires enter the home may have openings where air can leak. Use expanding foam for large openings and caulk for small openings. Lexel sealant is a great caulk to use. It costs more, but it will last for many years.
Wall or window mounted air conditioners – Feel around wall or window units. If you feel air leaking, you can buy strips of foam insulation to stuff into the openings. If the openings are very thin, just use caulk around them.

Weather stripping around doors and windows – This one can be tricky. After years of service, weather stripping can become worn or damaged. Ask about the best weather stripping solutions at your hardware store. If you can’t get it right, you may need to hire a professional. One more things about windows: Go outside and check around, over, and under windows. If there are cracks, use Lexel caulk to seal them up.

Baseboards – Be sure to caulk around your baseboards to eliminate air leaks.

These are just some of the ways you can save energy in your home. Watch for more tips in upcoming newsletters and blogs.

Call Peter Young Home Inspections today

Get peace of mind when buying a home. Call Peter Young Home Inspections and schedule an appointment today.

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