Each year, many Leon County residence pay exorbitant amounts in utility fees simply because their homes are not weatherized. Heat pumps run constantly because warm air escapes through unseal windows and crack, and cold air creeps into the home.
Sandra Manning, the utility marketing administrator with the City of Tallahassee Utilities, said, "one free audit is offered to its customers per year."
Many customers use this annual audit for the winter months to insure their homes are properly weatherized.
The City of Tallahassee Utilities has a building expert come out and inspect the residence for problems causing higher energy cost during the audit.
Home Depot Pro-Supervisor with over 21 years’ of experience Wayne Childs said people do not realize how much heat they lose.
"Leon County residence can control the rise in heating cost during winter months by weather stripping around windows and doors, checking installation in the attic, getting a tune-up for you heating and cooling unit to ensure it is in efficient running order,” Childs said. “Weather stripping is key, doors stripping often get brittle from animals, wear and tear over time from being open and shut. People do not realize how much heat they lose from the home just because of worn out weather stripping".
Many residents of Leon County are already preparing themselves for the cold weather weeks away.
Jane Nicholas has beend a City of Tallahassee Utilities customer for 18 years. She said that getting insulated curtains helps keep warmness from the cold coming in.
“When I am not home I leave the heat at a certain level and cut my wash time during the winter months,” Nicholas said.
Nicholas said that many people do not know that there are things that they can do to lower their utility bill and when they get the high bill they often do not know what is going on.
It is important for Leon County residence to be aware of the small things that can be done to defray exorbitant amounts in utility fees. City of Tallahassee Customers can find many useful energy efficient residential tips at talgov.com.