Busting Common Myths About Home Energy Efficiency
Every year, many homeowners make changes to their homes in hopes of improving their energy efficiency. However, it’s easy for families to make the wrong decision and increase their energy consumption because of believable myths and lies. Bust the common myths about home energy efficiency with us so you can improve your carbon footprint.
Closing Vents to Unused Rooms Saves Energy
It might seem appropriate to close the vents in the rooms you’re not occupying to save on your energy bill. But this can actually cause your HVAC system to work harder. Your HVAC system is designed to heat and cool your home’s size and layout. Closing the vents throws off the balance in the system, increases air pressure in the ducts, and causes the system to work overtime to deliver air to the rest of your home. In short, keep all vents open.
Handwashing Dishes Saves Energy
You might think that washing your dishes by hand or rinsing them before putting them in the dishwasher saves a ton of energy. But these are myths. In today’s age, dishwashers are highly energy efficient. Plus, you’re likely using more water washing the dishes by hand, and your water heater is working harder to keep this water consistently hot.
Insulation Can Solve Heat Loss
While insulation can certainly help with heat loss throughout your home, there is a larger underlining factor here—air leakage. You can install more insulation to prevent heat transfer, but you won’t solve the real problem. Instead, consider blower door testing to test where your home leaks air so you can better seal your home, prevent excess heat loss, and increase energy efficiency.
Air Ducts Don’t Contribute to Energy Efficiency
Home air ducts are often overlooked because we don’t see them or realize how our homes use them to transfer air. When air ducts are dirty or unsealed, they negatively affect your home’s energy efficiency. Your heating and cooling system will need to work harder, plus dirty air ducts can increase health concerns and allergy symptoms. We recommend cleaning your ducts every two to three years.
Appliances Don’t Use Energy if They’re Off
Appliances might seem like they are not using energy when they’re off, but if they’re still plugged into the wall, they’re using energy. To truly cut back on energy consumption from your appliances, you must completely unplug them from the wall. However, it can be tedious to plug and unplug every appliance. Consider using smart plugs to cut off the power to your appliance so you don’t need to remember to unplug them fully.
Don’t believe these common myths about home energy efficiency because you might actually end up wasting more. If you believe any of these myths, change your habits to lower your energy bills and make your home more efficient.
