News & Press
So you’ve found your dream home. The price is right and it’s on a beautiful lot in the best school zone. You can already picture yourself grilling on the back porch and you know exactly where you will put the couch in the living room. Now, what color for the walls?
Before you start picking paint colors, you may want to consider how energy efficient your (hopefully) future home may be. Although the mortgage calculation sounds good now, if you have a home that is inefficient, your bills can quickly rise, making your monthly budget a little tighter than expected.
Luckily, there are a few things you can check to see how efficient a home is before you sign on the dotted line. Here’s what our energy experts recommend. (68902001)
Inspect the HVAC Unit(s):
• Check the age of the HVAC unit. Heating and air units have a lifespan of 15-20 years, on average. While units can last longer than that, the efficiency level starts to lag behind current technology.
• See if the house has a heat pump or electric strip heat. Heat pumps are 2-3 times more efficient than electric strip heat.
• Regular maintenance extends the life of the HVAC unit. If it has been checked recently, the coils should be clean, there should be no water damage in the unit and it should be free of rust, dirt and debris.
• Check to see if the duct work is in good shape. Make sure there are no holes and duct work is not sagging or disconnected. Faulty duct work can cost thousands of dollars to replace.
Water Heater:
Run water faucets in the home to ensure the water heater is working properly. Make sure it does not look rusted and there is no physical damage to the heater.
Attic Insulation:
Heating and cooling accounts for 50%, on average, or a home’s energy bill. Having a poorly insulated house can significantly affect the energy use. Attic insulation requirements for our climate area are R-30 - R-38 or higher. The R-Value measures an insulating material’s resistant to heat flow. R-38 works out to be 12 inches or more of loose insulation, such as fiberglass or cellulose. Spray foam, which has a higher R-Value, should be at least 4-6 inches thick.
Windows:
Don’t let older windows in a home keep you from purchasing it. It is more important to make sure that windows are properly sealed and caulked rather than having all new windows in the home, as you rarely see a full payback with the increased efficiency on new windows.
Pools:
Who wouldn’t want to relax in the pool during the middle of summer? Keep in mind while pools are great to have, there are also many costs. On average, pools can cost up to $150 per month to run the pumps necessary for proper pool maintenance. Plus the cost of chemicals to keep it clean.
For more information on efficiency or to schedule a free home energy audit, contact us at 478.986.8100 or 1.866.254.8100.