Some Symptoms of Home Energy Problems

   Some home energy problems are unmistakable - like high electric bills. Others are less obvious. No matter what the symptoms are, it's important to get an accurate diagnosis of the problems and an accurate plan for eliminating each problem. That's where NISEnergy,LLC comes in. As you'll see below, many home energy problems don't just waste energy and money because it’s faulty, but home energy problems may pose health risks to your family.

   High electric bills

       There are many opportunities to waste (and thus save) electricity in the every house. Inefficient appliances, lighting, and/or an HVAC unit that ”won’t shut off” often contribute to excessive electric bills. An inefficient electric water heater or heat pump could also contribute to a high bill. "Phantom" or “vampiric” electrical loads are the final factors, since in many homes electronic devices consume power in "standby" mode.

High oil or gas bills

        If your house is heated with fuel oil, propane or natural gas, then it's worth replacing an old, inefficient furnace or boiler with a new Energy Star™ model. An outdated furnace or boiler may be only 60% efficient at converting fuel to heat, compared to 95% efficiency or more for newer equipment. Similar efficiency (and savings) gains are possible with out-of-date water heaters fueled by oil, gas or electric. Air leakage and inadequate insulation are also major reasons to high heating costs.

   Frequent allergies, eye irritation and/or respiratory problems 

        Airborne irritants (mainly dander and mold spores) can result from leaky duct work, dirty air filters, or mold somewhere in the house (See "Mold & mildew" below).

   Ice dams

      A buildup of ice along the edge of your roof means that heat is leaking into your attic from the living spaces below it. Snow melts high up on the roof, and the resulting water freezes along the colder eaves, causing a layer of ice to form - damaging both your roof and gutters, while also causing water leaks.

   Cold drafts during winter months

      Leaks in your home's building envelope allow heated air to escape and an equal amount of cold, outside air to enter your living space. By performing a blower door test, our energy technician can pinpoint the leak locations that need to be sealed for improved comfort and energy savings.

   Cold floors

      In the winter, cold floors can make you feel chilly even if room air temperature is warm. This problem often results from inadequate insulation, cold air infiltration, and incorrect or inadequate insulation under the floor joists and around the rim and band joists.

   Condensation on windows

      Beads of water on window glass during winter months usually indicate poor ventilation in kitchen and/or bathroom areas. Sometimes this water will freeze causing ice to build. This unwanted moisture can occur in a house that has older windows that are “leaking”.

   Rooms that are too hot during the summer

      One or more upstairs rooms may be uncomfortable during hot weather due to duct leakage, inadequate attic insulation or too much direct sunlight coming through older windows that lack reflective coatings. The heating of the space in the attic creates a stack effect forcing the cool conditioned air into your basement and maybe outside.

   Running out of hot water

      An older or undersized tank-type water heater may not be able to keep up with household hot water demand. Older tank-type water heaters have another major disadvantage; they waste a lot of energy. A tank-less Energy Star hot water heater may be what is needed here.

   Mold & mildew in basement or crawl space areas

      It may not be possible to see the stains that indicate mold or mildew, but you'll be able to smell the musty odor. A mold problem relates to energy performance because it is often caused by air leaks, poor ventilation, and incorrect insulation.

   Mold and frost in attic areas

      Dark stains on the underside of roof sheathing indicate that moist air from the living space is leaking into the attic and condensing on attic surfaces sometimes freezing. Kitchen and bath vent fans that exhaust air into the attic rather than outside the house will also cause attic mold and frost.