According to Energy Star, sealing air leaks with caulk, spray foam, and weather stripping is often the most cost-effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort. Energy Star even estimates that a knowledgeable contractor can save up you up to 20% on heating and cooling by sealing and insulating. That’s almost 10% of your heating bill! Start by closing up the big leaks in the attic, basement, and crawlspace; then seal around windows, doors, and electrical outlets.

Sealing Leaks

Many air leaks and drafts are easy to find because they are easy to feel — like those around windows and doors. But holes hidden in attics, basements, and crawlspaces are usually bigger problems. Sealing these leaks with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping will have a great impact on improving your comfort and reducing utility bills.

After every home sealing project, Handyman Dan’s expert heating and cooling technicians check to make sure that your combustion appliances (gas- or oil-fired furnace, water heater, and dryer) are venting properly. With us, you can be sure that the job will be done right and on time!

Adding Insulation

Insulation keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There are several common types of insulation — fiberglass (in both batt and blown forms), cellulose, rigid foam board, and spray foam. When correctly installed with air sealing, each type of insulation can deliver comfort and lower energy bills during the hottest and coldest times of the year.

Insulation performance is measured by R-value — its ability to resist heat flow. Higher R-values mean more insulating power. Different R-values are recommended for walls, attics, basements and crawlspaces, depending on your area. Insulation works best when air is not moving through or around it. So it is very important to seal air leaks before installing insulation to ensure that you get the best performance from the insulation. The insulation installation team at Handyman Dan is trained to recognize what type is needed for every product, so you can rest assured that there will be no mistakes.

To get the biggest savings, the easiest place to add insulation is usually in the attic. A quick way to see if you need more insulation is to look across your uncovered attic floor. If your insulation is level with or below the attic floor joists, you probably need to add more insulation. The recommended insulation level for most attics is R-38 (or about 12–15 inches, depending on the insulation type). In the coldest climates, insulating up to R-49 is recommended.

Sealing Ducts

In houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems, ducts are used to distribute conditioned air throughout the house. In a typical house, however, about 20 percent of the air that moves through the duct system is lost due to leaks and poorly sealed connections. The result is higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the house comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set.

Because some ducts are concealed in walls and between floors, repairing them can be difficult. However, exposed ducts in attics, basements, crawlspaces, and garages can be repaired by sealing the leaks with duct sealant (also called duct mastic). In addition, insulating ducts that run through spaces that get hot in summer or cold in winter (like attics, garages, or crawlspaces) can save significant energy.

If your HVAC equipment is more than 10 years old or not keeping your house comfortable, consider replacing it with a new, higher efficiency model. Handyman Dan's expert heating and cooling team will assess what model would work best for your home, sizing and installing it correctly and efficiently.

According to Energy Star, qualified heating and cooling units can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs.

If you have a water heater in your home, it can account for 15–25% of a home’s energy use. That's huge! By replacing an outdated water heater with a newer, more efficient model, we can reduce the amount of energy used in the home.

At Handyman Dan, our expert team of water heater installers will measure your system's efficiency and see if it matches your home's minimum level of consumption needs. If not, we work with several providers who stock models that can perfectly fit the needs of your home!

Properly planned and installed windows, doors, and skylights can lower energy bills, increase home comfort, and protect your valuable possessions from sun damage. When replacing any of these items, the expert window installation team at Handyman Dan can optimize natural light usage and decrease energy use in your home.

Qualified lighting provides bright, warm light, but uses at least 75% less energy than standard lighting, generates 75% less heat, and lasts up to 10 times longer. Handyman Dan is knowledgeable about all eco-friendly lighting fixtures and can match various products to the needs of your home!

To save the most energy and money, replace your highest used fixtures or the light bulbs in them with energy-efficient models. The five highest use fixtures in a home are typically the kitchen ceiling light, the living room table and floor lamps, bathroom vanity, and outdoor porch or post lamp.

Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save about $180 every year in energy costs. These thermostats automatically set back the temperature when you are away from home or asleep.

To start saving on your energy bill, give Handyman Dan's HVAC team a call today!