You shouldn’t sweat this summer — at least not indoors. If your home felt hot last summer and colder than usual this winter, you may benefit from checking your home’s insulation levels and air leaks. Following these steps can save you money and provide more comfort:

First, seal air leaks to prevent drafts. You should search your home for any air leaks, high and low. The greatest percentage of leaks occur from your living space into your attic and down low to your basement or crawlspace. Sealing air leaks keeps your conditioned air inside and prevents your HVAC system from working more than needed, saving you money.

Next, evaluate the attic. Once you’ve sealed leaks, you want to check your home’s attic insulation levels. In Indiana, attics are recommended to have an insulation value the equivalent of at least an R-38. However, the northern part of the state is recommended to have more to provide more support, particularly in winter. ENERGY STAR recommends an R-49 level for most northern states. 

You can visit the ENERGY STAR website for a quick lesson to check your attic’s insulation levels; all you need is a ruler. Even more simple — if you can see that the insulation level is at or below the tops of your attic ceiling joists, ENERGY STAR states that you may need to add more insulation. ENERGY STAR adds that if you cannot see the joists because the insulation is well above them, you likely have enough. 

Consider an energy audit to learn how to improve your home’s efficiency. If you want to take a deeper dive, consider getting an energy audit. This will include a deeper analysis of your home’s
energy use and actionable steps you can take to make your house more energy efficient.

You can ensure your home is prepared for all that summer has to offer. The improved comfort can be felt immediately, while the energy savings will continue for years to come. Contact your local electric cooperative to learn more about your energy consumption and how you can make your home more energy efficient.