Springtime Improvements for Home Efficiency

There’s a reason it’s called “spring cleaning.” After a long, snowy winter, spring offers an opportunity for homeowners across northern Virginia to throw open their windows and tackle the cleaning, repair and maintenance projects that they’ve put off since the fall. Unfortunately, the return of spring also heralds the return of air conditioning season. Before hot, muggy summer weather is upon us, use this most pleasant of seasons to make efficiency-enhancing home improvements that can reduce your heating costs and keep your home comfortable.

At Home Maintenance for Better Energy Efficiency

Before you mount a major drive to improve your home’s efficiency, determine your most pressing needs with an energy efficiency audit. Your audit will reveal “weak spots” in your home’s energy use, including leaky windows, deteriorated insulation and warped door frame, and offer guidance on how to proceed.

Many at home maintenance techniques are startlingly effective – and startlingly simple. For instance, one of the best ways to reduce your cooling bill is simply to seal leaky windows and door frames with self-adhesive weather stripping. Before you buy this product, measure the size of the gap in your window or door to ensure that your stripping isn’t too thick for the space.

Insulation is another powerful means of enhancing your home’s efficiency in preparation for summer’s heat. While insulation is widely known for its ability to keep homes warm through the winter, it also traps cool air inside on hot summer days. If the existing padding in your home’s crawlspaces, attic and basement has deteriorated or isn’t sufficient, replace it with energy-efficient blow-in or rolled insulation.

Spring into Efficiency with Inexpensive Home Improvements

Some efficiency-enhancing home improvements are a bit more involved, but you shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg to save on your cooling costs. If your home’s windows are too leaky to seal effectively, look into installing Energy Star-approved windows that create nearly airtight seals and trap cool air inside. In rooms that face south and west, put up inexpensive, light-blocking drapes that passively cool your home by preventing the sun’s hot rays from penetrating its interior. Also, replace inefficient incandescent light bulbs with LED or CFL models that generate less heat and use less energy.

How to Improve AC Efficiency in Gainsville, VA

Once you’ve taken these steps, round out your springtime efficiency drive with some simple improvements to your AC system. At Brennan’s Heating and Air Conditioning, we offer a range of services that can boost your system’s performance for the whole season. For starters, our NATE-certified technicians are equipped to seal leaky ducts that may lose much of their cool air before it ever reaches your home’s living area. As part of our annual maintenance agreements, we also offer duct cleanings that can improve air flow rates and overall air quality. Meanwhile, our state-of-the-art programmable thermostats enable you to control your home’s interior temperature at various times of day and reduce cooling costs when no one’s home.

With a few simple DIY projects and a quick, convenient call to Brennan’s Heating and Air Conditioning, you can set your home up for springtime efficiency without breaking the bank. After a long winter, that’s probably music to your ears.