Dear Contractor,

I have a new high efficiency furnace, a new a/c unit with R-410A, and my ductwork has been cleaned. My light fixtures are energy efficient and so are my washer and dryer. The utility bills have improved some, but I am not seeing the amount of return that was promised. Do you have any suggestions?

Dear Homeowner,

You forgot one key thing - air leakage. Depending on the type of house you have and how your ductwork was installed, you may be operating at higher efficiency but the conditioned air is leaking into places it shouldn’t. Consider having your ductwork inspected and sealed.

You may also want to consider what kind of windows you have and if they need to be replaced or resealed. Weatherizing your home is as important as buying properly sized and highly efficient HVAC equipment and appliances. In fact, this is a service we have considered adding to our offerings.

Unfortunately, I am not sure there is enough value for the company to invest in this new direction. I am concerned about the survival of my business as is, rather than adjusting my daily practices to provide a new revenue influx. The least I could have done was check into partnering with a company that offers these services.

Instead I will just refer you to the guy down the street who offers weatherization services. Then, after he has solved your problem successfully, you most likely will become a customer of his for life. Glad I could be of assistance.