HOME EFFICIENCY CHECKLIST

A new heating or cooling unit will not make your house more efficient. The only way to reduce your heating and cooling requirements is to tighten up the structure itself.

Attic
__ Insulate the attic to R-38. If it is over R-30, go on to other items before adding additional insulation. R-30 is approximately 10 inches of fiberglass batt or cellulose.
__ Attic vents need to be unobstructed and open to provide adequate air ventilation.
__ Caulk electrical wire penetrations at the top of the interior walls and wires into ceiling fixtures.
__ Insulate attic access door by attaching extruded (pink or blue) foam insulation to backside.
__ Weather-strip attic access door.
__ Seal around plumbing stack(s).
__ Seal around the chimney using a high temperature sealant such as muffler cement and metal flashing where necessary.
__ Seal all other holes between the heated/cooled space and the attic.

Main Level
__ Check weather-stripping on windows and doors.
__ Install foam gasket on all wall outlets and switches, and use child safety plugs backed with gasket punch-outs to keep cold/hot air from coming through the sockets.
__ Caulk along baseboards with a clear sealant.
__ If you have a room air conditioner, remove it for the winter or seal it up and insulate it.
__ When unable to replace an inefficient window, install plastic over the inside of the window. If you desire something more permanent than plastic, install an interior storm window.
__ Replace broken glass and any loose caulking.
__ Replace your old leaky windows. Use low expanding foam around the new window woodwork, caulk where the frame meets the wall and all other joints in the window woodwork with a clear sealant.
__ Replace an old warped entry door with a new insulated door.

If you have a fireplace
__ Check to make sure the damper is closed tightly when not in use.
__ Install tight fitting glass doors and/or make a decorative insulated cover for it.
__ Install a top sealing damper
__ Provide outside air for combustion.

Exterior
__ Caulk around all penetrations such as telephone, cable, gas, dryer vents, electrical outlets, water faucets, etc.
__ Caulk around window and doorframes.
__ Install storm windows on all single-glazed windows.
__ Install storm doors where you have none.
__ If you are re-siding, consider adding ¾” to 1 ½” of extruded foam insulation with taped seams.
__ Keep dryer vent screens lint free.

Miscellaneous
__ If you have a floor over an unheated/uncooled space, such as a tucked-under garage, insulate the space between the floor and the garage to R-20 or greater.

If you are  considering selling your house and/or buying another home (or you know someone who is) —