Identify the Problems You Want to Fix

Use the charts below to match your biggest concerns to the home improvement projects that may be able to address them and deliver the comfort and energy efficiency you are looking for.

Attic
Common Problems
  • Drafty rooms
  • Hot and cold rooms; uneven temperature between rooms
  • High heating or cooling bills
  • Ice dams on roof in the winter
What to Look For
Projects
Basement/Crawlspace
Common Problems
  • Cold floor in the winter
  • Hot and cold rooms; uneven temperature between rooms
  • High heating or cooling bills
  • Pests (insects, rodents)
What to Look For
Projects
Ducts
Common Problems
  • High heating or cooling bills
  • Hot and cold rooms; uneven temperature between rooms
  • Dust or smells from attic or crawlspace
What to Look For
  • Look for cracks, kinks, loose air supply boots or missing insulation
Projects
  • Duct Air Sealing
  • Duct Insulation
Doors/Windows/Walls
Common Problems
  • Drafty rooms
  • Pests (insects)
What to Look For
Projects

warningCombustion Safety

In some situations, sealing your home or ductwork can cause combustion appliances like water heaters to backdraft, creating unsafe conditions inside your home.

Inspection and testing by a home energy professional can help to identify combustion-related health and safety issues that should be fixed before any air sealing or other efficiency improvements are made.

warningSafe Indoor Air Quality

Sealing your home may trap indoor air pollutants such as radon, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds. A tight home may require additional mechanical ventilation to maintain safe air quality in the home.

For more information on safe ventilation, visit EPA's Indoor Air Quality for Homes pages and DOE's Guide to Home Ventilation. 

Get Started on Your Projects