We use a lot of energy every day without realizing it, like when we charge our phones or watch TV. In 2014, the average U.S. home used 10,982 kWh of electricity and spent around $2,200 on utility bills. This amount can be cut by up to 25 percent if people are more proactive and follow tips for saving energy.

How do you know if your home wastes energy? Even if you can’t always see it, letting heat and energy go to waste can be a big problem. Home energy efficiency isn’t just a hot topic among people who care about the environment, and it’s not just about saving electricity. It’s the key to a home that’s comfortable, healthy, and pleasant every day of the year. Read on to learn how to tell if your home is wasting energy and what you can do about it.

Different Temperatures Between Rooms 

If the temperature in your home is all over the place, it means that your heater or air conditioner is trying too hard to get it to the right temperature. If your house has air leaks that aren’t sealed and it isn’t properly insulated, your heater or air conditioner will keep running without reaching the temperature you want.

If an older HVAC system is part of the problem, installing an air source heat pump or another energy-efficient HVAC system that runs on electricity can help fix the problem. You can also control the temperature in each room separately with a mini-split heat pump. You can heat or cool each zone based on your needs.

You Keep Things Plugged In

Even when they’re not being used, all the electronic gadgets that make modern life so easy still use energy. In fact, these so-called “vampire loads” or “ghost loads,” which can be seen in every small, steady red or blue light on your home electronics, may use up to ten percent of a typical household’s total energy. Most of the time, it’s cordless phones, answering machines, printers, TVs, computers, and cable boxes that are to blame. When not in use, turn them off or unplug them to save energy and money.

You Leave The Lights On

Leaving the lights on is one of the most obvious ways to waste energy, and it’s also one of the easiest things to change. Turning off the lights when you leave a room or your home will save electricity and help your light bulbs last longer. If you think you might forget, you can use a smart home system to control your lights from your phone. 

Your Energy Usage Is High

Using a lot of energy is bad for your home, your wallet, and the environment. In the winter, a house of average size shouldn’t use more than 250 therms of gas per month. If you’re using a lot more than that, your heating system may be losing heat and wasting energy.

Remember that most of the energy your house uses goes to heating and cooling, and a lot of the air that has been conditioned is lost through air leaks. So, if you want to fix your energy problems, you’ll probably need a whole-house solution that includes air sealing, insulation, and HVAC upgrades.

There Is Condensation On Your Windows

Modern windows are made to keep heat in and cold out. This is a feature of windows made with thermal barriers and two panes of glass. In fact, a little bit of condensation on double-paned windows isn’t that big of a deal. But if you keep seeing a lot of water droplets between the glass, it’s time to look at how much energy you’re using. Most likely, your window wasn’t put in well, which is why energy is escaping.

Most windows that don’t fit right have tiny holes on the sides that let cool and warm air in and out. Also, since air exchange is usually not noticeable, you will need to look at how fast water droplets form on the window. If they form every day, especially in the morning and late at night, you know the answer. If this is the case, your best option is to speak to professionals to have Renewal by Andersen windows installed to replace your old ones. 

You Can Feel Drafts 

If you live in an older home, drafts can seem like a normal, everyday annoyance that you agreed to deal with when you bought the house. But you don’t have to live in an old, drafty house all the time. Drafts can be fixed. In fact, drafts are a sign that your house doesn’t use energy well. And they are a sure sign that heat is getting out.

Over time, houses shift and settle, and gaps can form around any window, even ones that are newer and better at saving energy. The best ways to stop drafts of hot or cold air are to seal your home and add or improve insulation.

You Use Old Appliances 

The look of appliances has changed a lot in the last ten years. And if you still have old, inefficient appliances in your home, that will show up in how much energy you use.

Upgrading your old appliances will cost you money upfront, but it could save you money on your energy bill and make your home more valuable when you go to sell it. It could also make your life better. 

You Run The Dishwasher When It’s Not Full

The average dishwasher uses about 1,800 watts of electricity to run, so if you used it every day for a year, it would cost you $66. You can use less energy if you only run the dishwasher when it’s full. You can also save about 15 percent of the energy used by the dishwasher if you change the setting from “heat dry” to “air dry.”

Your Thermostat Is Set Too High

Setting the thermostat too high will cause the heater to work harder without producing any more heat. If you set the thermostat to a very high temperature, the heater will keep running until it reaches that point. Operating your system in this manner is detrimental to the efficiency, lifespan, and health of your home’s HVAC system. It also wastes a lot of energy. 

Keep the thermostat on a lower setting, and although it might take longer to heat up, you’ll waste less energy doing so (and it will be more comfortable in the end too).