PSA: My home's energy bill dropped from $300 to $90 a month after a simple change

I bought a 1950s house in Tacoma last fall and the first winter's heating bills were a shock, hitting over $300. I paid for a professional energy audit in January and they found huge air leaks around the old windows and attic door. I spent about $500 on sealing and insulation materials and did the work myself over a weekend. Now my highest bill is $90. Has anyone else had a win like this from an energy audit?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_angela3d ago

But what if your house is too sealed now? I heard that can cause mold and bad air.

charles_wilson2d ago

Actually, that whole "too sealed" thing gets brought up a lot. From what I've read, it's more about balance than just sealing everything shut. Old houses like that 1950s one are basically sieves, so getting them tighter is step one. The real issue is if you make it super tight without adding any fresh air control, like a proper vent system. That's when moisture from showers and cooking can get trapped and cause mold. For most older homes, just fixing the big leaks is miles away from being dangerously sealed.