Many news organizations, including The New York Times, are predicting higher heating costs this coming winter. The rise seems to be coming from a combination of overall inflation and pressure on global energy supplies due to current events. But there are ways to reduce your heating bill and now is the perfect time to start preparing.
Get Started with an Energy Audit
Fall is the season for energy projects, and an energy audit is the perfect place to start. Total Home Performance can perform a whole home assessment to find air leaks, missing insulation, inefficient HVAC systems, and more. You’d be shocked at how many voids in insulation show up on our thermal cameras in the average house, and how much energy is lost because of these gaps in insulation.
As part of your energy audit, we’ll provide an in-depth summary of our findings and our professional recommendations for upgrades that will yield the highest energy savings so you get the best return on your investment.
Additionally, we are one of the top contractors on the Eastern Shore and in Anne Arundel County due in part to the fact that our work qualifies for Home Performance with ENERGY STAR rebates. These rebates can be up to $7,500 for many of the services we offer.
Ways to Save Heat Energy in Your Home
Here are some of the ways we can help you save on heating costs this winter while also making your home more comfortable and improving indoor air quality:
-
Replace old insulation – Insulation can become damaged and less effective over time. Upgrading your old insulation (or adding insulation where it’s missing) will make it easier for your home to retain heat, leading to less energy loss and lower bills.
-
Air sealing with spray foam – Air leaks and cracks in your home’s construction create drafts and make your HVAC system have to work harder to maintain a consistent temperature. Common culprits include small leaks around fireplaces, doors, windows, basement floor joists, plumbing and electrical penetrations, and attic hatches. Sealing these leaks is one of the best ways to reduce your energy costs!
-
Crawl space encapsulation – Encapsulation brings your crawl space into the thermal envelope of your home. Improving your crawl space can help make your entire home more energy efficient.
-
Duct sealing – Even if you have an efficient HVAC system, if you have leaky ducts, you’ll be losing the warm air in places you don’t want, such as your attic, ceilings, and basement.
Improve Your Whole Home with Total Home Performance
Our services not only help save you money on energy bills all year (not just in the winter) but can make your home more comfortable and healthier, too. We can perform a Healthy Home Assessment to see if your home is contributing to allergies and illnesses and help you implement healthy home services that will improve indoor air quality and keep your family safer while simultaneously reducing energy loss and saving you money.
Our insulation, air sealing, and crawl space repair services also make your home more comfortable. Just think of it, no need for supplemental space heaters (which are notorious for causing fires) and no need for electric blankets. Just a comfortable, cozy home that is affordable to heat and keeps your family safe.
Worried about high winter energy bills? Call (410) 822-1390 or contact us to find out how you can improve your home’s efficiency and save money on heating bills.