New Whitepaper Outlines Common Defects Found During a Home Inspection that Impact Energy Bills
Independence, OH, July 23, 2009 -- The Department of Energy (DOE) recently estimated that heating and cooling account for 56% of the energy use in a typical U.S. home, making it the largest energy category in most households. A new whitepaper released by Inspect-It 1st, website here! [Common Home Energy Defects and Their Quick Fixes], outlines the most common defects found during a home inspection that, if cured, can substantially lower the homeowner’s energy bills. For example, deficiencies in attic insulation alone can cause 15-25% of a home’s energy loss.
“A www.inspectit1st.com [home inspection] is not an energy audit, but in the course of our assessment we can typically identify many opportunities for energy savings,” stated John Elson, Inspect-It 1st’s Director of Education and Technical Leader. “Most people don’t understand principles of convection and how their homes use and lose energy, so this is a valuable aspect of our service. Our objective is not only to evaluate the condition of the home, but also to help homeowners derive the most value and comfort from their property on-going.”
Authored by Elson, the paper discusses the following common defects:
- Gaps at the bottom of doors and poorly sealed window frames.
- Poorly fit or damaged bottom weatherseals on garage doors.
- The use of open incandescent bulbs.
- Blocked air ducts or openings in the plenum of air handlers/furnaces.
- Fire doors to garages that aren’t fire-rated and/or don’t close.
- Improperly placed thermostats.
- Air conditioners that are beyond their estimated life span.
“As inspectors we are educators and informers to the communities we serve,” stated Elson. “Whether your motive is to save money or reduce your impact on the environment, there are simple things you can do to become more energy efficient.”
For a more detailed description of these defects and a list of resources to help reduce energy bills, please visit the Inspect-It 1st website to website here! [download the free and informative whitepaper] on this subject.
To learn more about the Department of Energy (DOE), please visit www.doe.gov.
About Inspect-It 1st
Inspect-It 1st® is a rapidly growing franchise system of home inspectors offering property inspections for homeowners and business owners, and is a subsidiary of Merrymeeting, Inc. (MMI), a Cleveland-based investment firm specializing in the acquisition and development of franchise brands. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. MMI currently operates seven franchise systems with more than 1,700 franchised locations worldwide. To learn more, please visit www.inspectit1st.com or www.merrymtg.com.
