{"id":4249,"date":"2026-07-09T17:05:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:05:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=4249"},"modified":"2026-07-09T17:05:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:05:52","slug":"triangle-residents-may-get-bigger-energy-bills-soon-dont-make-these-mistakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=4249","title":{"rendered":"Triangle residents may get bigger energy bills soon. Don\u2019t make these mistakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

With high temperatures<\/a> putting air conditioners to work, the Triangle\u2019s biggest electric utility is encouraging residents to take advantage of a free program to make sure they\u2019re not missing out on potential savings this summer.<\/p>\n

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Duke Energy customers can sign up for a home energy assessment, where an expert visits your home and offers suggestions on ways you can make it more energy efficient<\/a>.<\/p>\n

During the in-home visit, the energy auditor can also install free products, if needed. Those include shower heads, kitchen faucet aerators, bath aerators, weatherstripping, caulking, thermostatic shut off valves, smart power strips, foam insulation spray, furnace filter whistles and hot water turndowns.<\/p>\n

The News & Observer accompanied Tyler Dominisac, an energy auditor with Duke Energy, on an energy assessment at a Raleigh home to see what customers should expect during the service.<\/p>\n

Here are a few things Triangle residents should do now to make sure their home is ready for the summer.<\/p>\n

The AC condenser unit consumes a ton of power, so it\u2019s important to inspect and clean it. Dirt and debris makes the unit run less efficiently.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re pretty handy, you might be able to clean the unit yourself, Dominisac said. Otherwise, it would take a professional no more than a half-hour to do the job.<\/p>\n

Insulate attic access points in your home to prevent warm air from seeping into rooms.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen that hot air comes in here, it warms up the house, and it\u2019s not going to get as cool as you like,\u201d Dominisac said. \u201cSo we have to make sure it\u2019s sealed properly.\u201d<\/p>\n

The home we visited had a scuttle hatch, and Dominisac recommended adding insulation to the back of the hatch and air-sealing the hatch with weatherstripping on the frame.<\/p>\n

About once a month, take a look at your air filters to make sure they\u2019re clean. They\u2019ll need to be replaced every 30-90 days, depending on your lifestyle choices and the cleanliness of your home, Dominisac said.<\/p>\n

Read more NC homeowners pooled Helene relief money for road fix. Their HOA has gone silent<\/a><\/p>\n

Dirty filters can choke the HVAC\u2019s blower motor, stressing the system.<\/p>\n

The home we visited had a floor vent that led directly to the crawl space. Dominisac sealed the vent with duct sealing tape, which you can buy at home improvement stores, to keep cool air from seeping out.<\/p>\n

Insulate pipes and the hot water heater tank itself to prevent standby heat loss.<\/p>\n

You can also help your hot water heater last longer by draining and flushing it once a year to remove sediment that has collected at the bottom, Dominisac said.<\/p>\n

Some Duke Energy customers with smart thermostats may qualify for EnergyWise<\/a>. It\u2019s a voluntary, free program that allows Duke Energy to temporarily adjust your thermostat to reduce energy use during peak demand. In exchange, customers get annual bill credits.<\/p>\n

You can also adjust your thermostat<\/a> yourself to help lower bills. During the summer, turn it up to the highest comfortable setting, and increase it slightly when you\u2019re not at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone\u2019s comfort is different, so just going by what works for you is great,\u201d Dominisac said.<\/p>\n

When you are at home, turn on a ceiling fan. It won\u2019t change the temperature of the room, but it could help you feel up to 4 degrees cooler, according to Duke Energy. During the summer, make sure the blades are set to spin counterclockwise.<\/p>\n

The home energy assessment usually takes about an hour, Caroline Fountain, communications manager for Duke Energy, told The N&O. Schedule an energy assessment at duke-energy.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Duke Energy can perform the free assessment at your home, virtually or by phone once every three years, but you can take a web assessment once a year.<\/p>\n

Read more New business coming to North Hills will be its first location in the Triangle<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Duke Energy is offering free home energy assessments to help Triangle residents learn ways to save money on electric bills this summer. Here\u2019s what\u2019s included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2113,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nTriangle residents may get bigger energy bills soon. 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