The best way to determine where your home is losing energy is with a professional home energy audit. But that isn’t always a feasible option. Fortunately, you can conduct your own simple yet diligent walk-through. This will allow you to pinpoint some areas that need to be addressed and prioritize your upgrades—like replacement windows in Phoenix, AZ.

Check Ventilation

Homes are more insulated now than ever before. While a good thing for efficiency, this can produce poor air quality inside the home and cause backdrafts from combustion appliances. This means the appliances compete for fresh air and combustion gasses get pulled back into the living spaces. Obviously, this can create unhealthy or even dangerous situations inside the home. If you have a fuel-burning heating system it is important to make sure it has an adequate air supply. Soot or burn marks around the appliance or visible smoke with the system is running indicates poor draft and you will need to correct the problem to improve energy efficiency and avoid other issues.

Verify Insulation Levels

If insulation levels are not at the recommended minimum then heat loss through the floor, walls, or ceiling could be significant. The builder likely installed the right amount of insulation recommended for the time when the house was built. But with today’s prices, the level of insulation might be inadequate. This is especially true of older homes.

Inspect Heating and Cooling System

It is important to get your heating and cooling system inspected and serviced annually. This is the best way to keep the system running at peak efficiency. You also want to be sure your swap out any clogged air filters. A blocked filter will decrease airflow and hamper the efficiency of the entire system. Also, if your system is more than 15 years old you might consider upgrading to a more energy-efficient appliance. A new unit can reduce energy consumption and decrease costs.

Swap Out Lighting

Approximately 10 percent of your electrical bill goes towards lighting. That may not seem like much, but the costs can add up if you are still using inefficient bulbs. More efficient choices include light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Not only do these products require less power, but they also last a lot longer than the traditional incandescent bulbs.

Locate and Seal Air Leaks

Drafty windows and doors are often the weakest links in the exterior envelope of your home. These leaks can account for 10 to 25 percent of heating and cooling costs. How can you test the seals on your windows and doors? One easy way is to close windows and doors and then run the exhaust fans in the home. Light a stick of incense and pass it around the window and door frames. Watch for air that interrupts the rise of smoke and pulls it towards you. When you notice gaps you should seal them off with weather-stripping or caulk.

Energy-saving technology is rapidly evolving. So even if your home was recently-constructed there may still be opportunities to save energy. Looking for ways to upgrade? Consider investing in replacement windows in Phoenix, AZ.