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UpkeepEnergy Audits

How do I keep my house energy-efficient year-round?

Keep the air moving freely and the heat where you want it: change the filter monthly, book a heating check-up in fall and a cooling check-up in spring, run the thermostat on a schedule, seal drafts, and keep ducts and attic insulation in good shape. The U.S. Department of Energy says reducing drafts alone may save 10% to 20% a year.

Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.

By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished

Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.

Step by step

Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.

  1. Step 1: Change the filter every month

    Inspect, clean, or change the air filter in your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump once a month.[1]

  2. Step 2: Book two check-ups a year

    Have a licensed contractor check the cooling system in spring and the heating system in fall.[1]

  3. Step 3: Set a thermostat schedule

    Let the house drift away from the comfort setting when you are asleep or away, in both winter and summer.[3]

  4. Step 4: Recheck drafts each fall

    Walk around windows, doors, outlets, the attic hatch and the foundation looking for gaps, and seal what you find.[2]

  5. Step 5: Look at the attic once a year

    From the hatch, check insulation depth, blocked vents and unsealed pipe or duct openings. Stay on the ladder or solid decking.[2]

  6. Step 6: Look over visible ducts

    Check ducts you can reach for dirt streaks near seams, and seal leaks with mastic or metal tape.[2]

  7. Step 7: Keep the outdoor unit clear

    Keep the outdoor air-conditioning unit free of debris, and do not vent a dryer near it.[4]

  8. Step 8: Turn off fans in empty rooms

    Run ceiling fans only where someone is in the room.[5]

  9. Step 9: Swap bulbs as they fail

    Replace remaining incandescent bulbs with ENERGY STAR LEDs.[2]

An energy-efficient house is mostly a maintained one. The big gains come from a handful of small, repeated jobs: a clean filter, regular check-ups on the heating and cooling equipment, tight seals around the house, and a thermostat that follows your schedule. Do them on a calendar and the house stays efficient without an expensive project.

Every month

A blower door fan mounted in an exterior doorway frame, used to test how leaky a house is
Photo: Kmcrady, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The filter. Inspect, clean, or change air filters once a month in your central air conditioner, furnace, and/or heat pump.[1] A dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment, leading to early failure.[1] Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.[1] Use the filter size and type in your equipment's manual, and write the change date on the frame.

Fans and lights. Ceiling fans cool people, not rooms. If the room is unoccupied, turn off the ceiling fan to save energy.[5] Energy for lighting accounts for about 10% of your electric bill,[2] so replace burned-out bulbs with LEDs as you go.

Every season

Spring and fall check-ups. Contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so it's best to check the cooling system in the spring and the heating system in the fall.[1] The visit covers things you should not do yourself: electrical connections, refrigerant, gas connections and burners. Between visits, make sure the condensate drain is not plugged: check and inspect the condensate drain in your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (when in cooling mode).[1]

The thermostat. You can easily save energy in the winter by setting the thermostat to around 68°F to 70°F while you're awake and setting it lower while you're asleep or away from home.[3] In summer the same idea runs the other way: let the house stay warmer when nobody is in it. You can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.[3] And avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense.[3]

The outdoor unit. Keep leaves, grass clippings and stored items away from the air conditioner or heat pump. One detail from Virginia Cooperative Extension: do not vent a clothes dryer within 10 feet of the outdoor unit as dryer lint will cling to the condensing coil.[4]

Every year

Drafts. The potential energy savings from reducing drafts in a home may range from 10% to 20% per year, and the home is generally much more comfortable afterward.[2] Each fall, walk the house on a windy day and re-seal caulk and weatherstripping that has cracked or shrunk. The step-by-step version is in our DIY energy audit guide.

The attic and ducts. Look in from the hatch. Make sure that the exterior attic vents are not blocked by insulation.[2] Then check your ductwork for dirt streaks, especially near seams. These indicate air leaks, and they should be sealed with a duct mastic.[2] Note anything that changed since last year: new stains, flattened insulation, a disconnected duct.

Rebates and an audit. Many local utilities may offer rebates for a professional home energy assessment and certain home air sealing and insulation projects.[6] Be sure to contact your utility company before beginning a project to see what incentives are available in your area.[6] A professional audit every several years, or when you buy a house, shows what a walk-through cannot. See what an audit costs in Virginia and whether free audits are available.

Stop and call a pro if

  • Insulation is wet or the attic has no ventilation. Wet or damp insulation, indicating a leaky roof,[6] and little or no attic ventilation are conditions to hand to a professional before any sealing or insulating.[6]
  • A fuel-burning appliance acts up after you seal the house. Backdrafting is when the various combustion appliances and exhaust fans in the home compete for fresh air.[2] Soot, smoke or a carbon monoxide alarm means leave the house and call the gas utility or a licensed HVAC contractor.
  • The filter is clean and the system still struggles. Weak airflow, ice on the outdoor unit or odd noises need a licensed HVAC contractor.
  • Opening a wall or touching wiring. Insulation upgrades that need that are for a licensed contractor.

Getting help in Virginia

Browse more inspection answers or the directory of inspection pros. When you want a professional assessment, describe the job once and local pros will respond.

Common questions

What is the single most useful habit for an efficient house?
Changing the filter. ENERGY STAR says to inspect, clean, or change it once a month, and that a dirty filter can increase energy costs and damage your equipment. It takes a minute and costs little.
When should I schedule HVAC maintenance?
Cooling in spring and heating in fall. ENERGY STAR notes that contractors get busy once summer and winter come, so booking early is easier and gives you a choice of dates.
Do ceiling fans save energy in an empty room?
No. ENERGY STAR says ceiling fans cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when nobody is there.
Should I turn the thermostat way down when I turn on the air conditioner?
No. The Department of Energy says a colder setting will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense. Pick the temperature you want and let it get there.
Are there rebates for sealing and insulating?
Often. ENERGY STAR says many local utilities may offer rebates for a professional home energy assessment and certain air sealing and insulation projects, and to contact your utility before starting a project. Programs differ by utility, so ask yours.

Sources

  1. [1] Maintenance Checklist (heating and cooling), ENERGY STAR, U.S. EPA. Checked October 28, 2026.
  2. [2] Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Assessments (archived copy), U.S. Department of Energy. Checked October 28, 2026.
  3. [3] Programmable Thermostats (archived copy), U.S. Department of Energy. Checked October 28, 2026.
  4. [4] ENERGY SERIES: What about the Air Conditioning System? (2901-9001), Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech. Checked October 28, 2026.
  5. [5] Ceiling Fan Installation and Usage Tips, ENERGY STAR, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 28, 2026.
  6. [6] Attic Air Sealing Project, ENERGY STAR, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 28, 2026.

Want a pro to handle it?

Describe the job once. Licensed local businesses send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.