As energy costs spike and heating and cooling costs become more and more expensive, any chance to lower utility bills by making a home more energy-efficient is worth investigating. While many energy-saving solutions require a change of lifestyle, daily upkeep, or are very expensive to install, there are some simple things that can be done around the house that will quickly and conveniently make a difference in energy bills. In this article, we’ve outlined some home improvement ideas that work.
Heat rises in a home, with warm air leaving from the attic and upper levels and pulling in from the lower levels through the basement, crawlspace, and outside. Reduce the conditioned air exiting from the attic by insulating all areas and replace any insulation that is old or moist. Check that the entire floor is sealed underneath the insulation, and caulk or use spray foam insulation on any cracks or crevices.
Using 10-12 inches of insulation on an attic floor is standard Duct Cleaning Newmarket , giving it an R-38 insulation rating. However, adding enough insulation to bring it to R-50 or more is recommended. Attic stairways are also a major escape route for warm air. The gaps created by an attic stairway can amount to as much as 40 square inches! Self-adhesive foam tape can be run along the upper edges of Air Duct Cleaning Newmarket the attic staircase door to help reduce this leakage. Use eyehooks or a latch to jam the door against the foam when it’s not in use.
Encapsulating a crawlspace is also a fantastic way to make a home more energy-efficient. By sealing crawlspace vents, warm air is prevented from entering in the summer, where it would add humidity to the home. Sealing crawlspace vents also keeps cold air out that would otherwise seep into the house in the winter. A seal is created between the crawlspace walls and the air in a home that protects pipes, water heater, and heating ducts from cold.
The water heater and pipes can lose a great deal of heat as they run through a damp basement and especially in a cold, vented crawlspace. Insulating the pipes and covering the water heater with an inexpensive insulative blanket can help the keep the heat where it should be. Heating and/or cooling vents that have been installed improperly can leak 25% of the air they vent into the crawlspace, basement and attic. Have a professional clean the vents and test them for leaks that need to be sealed.
If the windows are broken or have cracked panes, then they should be replaced. Single-paned steel cellar windows that are drafty and rusting also lose a great deal of heat and should be replaced with vinyl, double-thermopane windows. Buying windows with a Low-E coating will take advantage of sunlight to keep warmth in the home in the winter and cool temperatures in the summer. In the basement, installing proper window wells with covers will protect basement windows from blowing winds as well as help prevent flooding.
