Do you ever listen to your home? If you pay attention, it may be telling you that you're wasting energy and money. You can try to ignore it, but it can cause quite a commotion on your energy bills. Here are common sounds of energy waste and what you can do to quiet the noise.
Comfort complaints
The basement is too cold! It's so hot upstairs I can't sleep! These common complaints could also be a sign of energy waste.
Upstairs, check to make sure that your attic is properly insulated and air-sealed. Also, make sure registers in upstairs rooms are uncovered. Covered vents could restrict airflow and make your system work harder.
A cold basement could be a sign of air leaks where the masonry foundation meets the wood, between the wood up to the bottom of the floor or around exterior wiring or pipes. You can seal these gaps using caulk or expanding foam. Expanding foam is really useful because you can spray just a little and it expands to fill the gap.
Heating or cooling system turning on and off a lot
This is known as short cycling. It could be caused by a dirty air filter or an electrical issue, such as loose or corroded wiring or connections. Contact a qualified professional to inspect your system.
Short cycling could also mean that your system is oversized — meaning it's too big for your needs. If your system is older or in need of repair, consider upgrading to an ENERGY STAR®-certified air-source heat pump. Heat pumps not only provide highly-efficient year-round comfort, but they run quieter than conventional heating and cooling systems.
Noisy ventilation fans
If your kitchen or bathroom ventilation fan is making a loud racket, it's likely older and not very efficient. Cleaning or repairing it may help, but your best bet is to upgrade to a new ENERGY STAR model. ENERGY STAR-certified fans not only use less energy than standard units, they also provide quieter operation.
Faucet dripping
That dripping noise isn't just annoying, it's the sound of water and energy costs going down the drain. That little drip can waste more than 1,000 gallons of water a year, as well as the energy used to heat that water.
By fixing leaks quickly, you can put a stop to energy and water waste. Water-efficient faucet aerators are a low-cost upgrade that can help reduce water and energy use.
Now you can sit back and enjoy the silence — and the lower energy bills.