How to Check Your Home’s Efficiency

Step 1: Locate Air Leaks

One of the first steps in learning how to check your home’s efficiency is to locate possible air leaks. Some of these may be obvious when there are extreme temperatures or excessive winds. Listen for areas where wind might be whistling through and feel for areas letting in air. Once you’ve noted any major areas, check along the edges of your flooring, your baseboards, and junctures between walls and the ceiling. You’ll also want to check edges and junctures on the outside of your home. Finally, you’ll want to note any potential leaks around windows, outlets, doors, lighting fixtures, and any other elements in your home that are attached to the walls or ceiling.

Step 2: Inspect All Appliances

Inspect heating and cooling equipment, lighting, and other appliances is another great step in learning how to check your home’s efficiency. With the high heat of summer, your air conditioning system was probably working overtime. If you have the system inspected now, you have time to allow for repairs before it gets worse. Plus, a damaged system will be less efficient. If you’d like to get an overall picture of your energy consumption, it is also a good idea to check anything drawing power in your home. While air leaks are a major drain on energy usage, practicing energy conservation will also help in the long run. Note the age of your appliances, how often they’re used, what settings you use, and if it is continuously plugged in. You can save energy by only plugging in an item when you’re using it or by changing the settings on certain products. For example, brightness settings on some electronics can be used to reduce the amount of power needed. If the item is old, it might also save you money over time if you choose to replace it with a newer, more efficient product.

Step 3: Add an Extra Layer of Efficiency

One of the best steps to take in learning how to check your home’s efficiency is to install energy-efficient window treatments. Once you’ve completed all the previous steps, your windows will be a remaining weak spot. While a tight seal can prevent major fluctuations, heat can still seep in and sunlight will warm the air around the windows. By using any one of our cellular shades, like the classic honeycomb shades, design-forward cellular roller shades, or the elegant cellular Roman shades from Hunter Douglas, you can help reduce the impact of this heat. With a cellular construction, honeycomb shades help trap air and prevent it from distributing throughout your home.

Conclusion

If you’re ready to increase your home’s energy efficiency, visit Hill Country Blinds in Lakewood, Texas. Our knowledgeable staff can show you all the options for efficient window treatments in the Austin area. Contact us today for your free consultation!