CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Hard-earned cash and cool air could be lost in Charlotte homes this summer because of improper insulation.

Eyewitness News followed a man around who tracks down leaking air from homes.

John Meeks of Apple Blossom Insulators uses a fan to test gaps where warm air can leak into homes.

Foam insulation is often the best method to fill holes.

Adding or replacing weather-stripping can stop leaks around doors and windows.

“When you add it all up, it can be like a ten foot by ten foot square that your home is leaking,” said Meeks.

Meeks recommended buying lower wattage bulbs to save energy and produce less heat.

It is also a good idea to install more insulation on the roof which keeps the home cooler, and makes it easier on an air conditioning system.

Meeks estimated that energy bills could drop 60 percent because of making these minor changes.

That not only saves homeowners cash, but also reduces a citizen’s carbon footprint on the planet.