Where Your Energy Dollars Are Going: Lower Energy Bills in South Georgia Homes

By Mark Bunch, InterNACHI® Certified Inspector · Free Resources

Video: InterNACHI

The Energy Losses I Find Most

Insulation that's thin, missing, or moved. Sometimes it was never enough. Often it was pushed aside during maintenance or repair work in the attic and never put back.
An attic hatch inside the living space that isn't insulated or sealed. It's an open door between your cooled house and a hot attic.
Ductwork that hasn't been maintained. Ducts need to be resealed periodically. If they aren't, you lose a significant amount of the air you're paying to cool or heat.
Doors, more than windows. In newer homes, doors are usually the bigger problem, thanks to daily use and pets wearing down the seals.
Recessed (can) lights below the attic. They can waste a huge amount of conditioned air straight into the attic.
Attics and crawl spaces that aren't vented adequately. More on that below, because in South Georgia it matters.

Why Attic Ventilation Matters Here

Your AC works harder. A hot attic with poor airflow sits right on top of your living space, and your HVAC system has to fight it all summer.

More condensation. That hot, stagnant attic also creates more condensation, which ends up in the HVAC drain pan. If the pan isn't maintained, the water ends up in your ceiling. (More on drain pans in What Really Matters in a Home Inspection.)

Shorter shingle life. Normal heat already shortens how long shingles last. Put them on a roof that isn't vented well, and you can easily cut their life span in half.

Crawl spaces need proper ventilation too, for the same reason: trapped heat and moisture make everything above them work harder.

What You Can Do This Weekend

Weatherstrip your doors, especially the ones the pets use most.
Change your HVAC filter monthly.
Switch to LED bulbs. They use far less energy and put out less heat (that's the video above).
Insulate and seal the attic hatch. Hatch insulation covers are sold at home improvement stores.

What to Leave to a Qualified Contractor

Resealing ductwork
Adding or replacing insulation
Replacing or sealing recessed can lights
Fixing attic or crawl space ventilation

How I Find It

During a home inspection, I spot-check with my thermal camera wherever I notice a visible issue.

An Energy Audit focuses on nothing else. Our Level 1 audit is mostly visual, plus a full thermal sweep of the walls, ceilings, doors and windows, with a findings report and recommendations. It's $250, or $125 when added to a home inspection. See pricing.

Coming soon: Level 2 with a blower door test. We mount a powerful fan in an exterior doorway to pull air out of the house and lower the indoor air pressure. That forces outside air to rush in through hidden cracks and gaps, so we can measure the home's total air leakage and pinpoint exactly where it's losing energy.

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