Home Improvement Expert™ FAQ
The Department of Energy uses information from the annual reports to keep track of the usability and impact of Home Improvement Expert and determine if any subjects merit new checklists.
Home Improvement Expert™ FAQ
The Home Improvement Expert checklists were designed with input from top experts in the residential construction world and are designed to provide broad guidance on what will deliver the highest quality product for the customer. Contractors are encouraged to modify elements of the checklist to align...
Home Improvement Expert™ FAQ
Home Improvement Expert Checklists are designed to make it easy to bring customers high-quality work. Using the checklists in tandem with your standard contractual language allows both you and the customer transparency about what the work will or will not involve. As a bonus, both you and they get a...
DIY Guide
Use caulking and spray foam to flash and air seal piping and wiring that comes through exterior walls.
DIY Guide
Seal and repair your central heating system’s ducts to make sure heated or cooled air gets to all the rooms of your house as efficiently as possible.
DIY Guide
Insulating hot water pipes gets more hot water to pipes faster, reducing wear on your water heater, saving on water heating costs, and protecting pipes from freezing.
DIY Guide
DIY guide showing how to pick a replacement air filter and how to replace the filter in home’s HVAC system when the air filter is located in a return grille in a ceiling, floor, or wall.
DIY Guide
Replace an existing recirculating kitchen fan with a kitchen exhaust fan that is ducted to the outside or install a new kitchen exhaust fan that is ducted to the outside.
DIY Guide
Install LED inserts into old recessed can lights to replace inefficient bulbs and air seal the can.
DIY Guide
Air sealing your bathroom exhaust fan can prevent attic air from leaking into the home and heated air from leaking into the attic, improving comfort and reducing energy bills.
DIY Guide
Look for signs of a gas water heater backdrafting (allowing combustion exhaust to spill back into the house instead of going up the flue).
DIY Guide
Missing flashing can lead to water infiltration and major damage and rot that may be hidden beneath the walls or roof.
DIY Guide
Add weatherstrip to windows and doors that open to the outdoors or unconditioned spaces like attics and basements to decrease air leakage and heating and cooling losses.
DIY Guide
Looking at your home with an infrared (IR) camera can reveal missing insulation and air leakage.
DIY Guide
Using storm windows can increase your home’s energy efficiency, reduce drafts and glare, block out outside noise, and make your home feel more comfortable.
DIY Guide
Use heat-resistant caulk and sheet metal to air seal flues and chimneys in the attic.
DIY Guide
Look at the attic to make sure there are baffles in place at soffit vents to keep wind from blowing insulation; if they are missing install them.
DIY Guide
Air seal and insulate around old wooden windows to remove or renovate pocket weights, decrease heating and cooling losses, and make your home more comfortable.
DIY Guide
Insulating your electric resistance water heater is a simple, inexpensive method to reduce standby heat losses and improve energy efficiency.
DIY Guide
Air seal penetrations in the floor to prevent air leakage and reduce energy losses.
DIY Guide
For homes with heating registers in the ceiling or floor, air seal where the duct boots meet the ceiling drywall or the flooring to prevent heat loss around the register.
DIY Guide
Replace cracked or missing caulk along windows, doors, and trim on exterior walls to prevent water intrusion into walls.
DIY Guide
Make and install a chimney air sealing pillow to block air flow through your chimney when it will not be in use for long periods.
DIY Guide
Clean or replace the filter on your range hood exhaust fan to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.
DIY Guide
Sealing seams and holes in the air handler or furnace cabinet of central forced-air HVAC systems prevents the loss of conditioned air and improves the performance of your HVAC equipment.
DIY Guide
Cleaning your bathroom exhaust fan inside and out can help it to perform more effectively at removing moisture from the home while using less energy, making less noise, and helping the fan to last longer.
DIY Guide
Install a ventless heat pump clothes dryer or combination washer/dryer for energy savings and space savings.
DIY Guide
Openings used for access to the attic such as access panels, doors into knee walls, or dropdown stairs should be air-sealed and insulated.
DIY Guide
Caulking the base of your walls is a simple way to reduce air leakage, reduce drafts, improve comfort, and increase the energy efficiency of your home.