You spend hundreds of dollars a year maintaining a comfortable temperature inside your home. If your home is not properly sealed and insulated, most of that money may be (literally) flying out the window.
Improving your home's envelope – the walls, ceiling, windows, floors and doors – improves your home's comfort and energy efficiency.
The EPA's ENERGY STAR® Program recommends first sealing air leaks and then adding insulation for a low-cost way to reduce your energy bills.
Your HVAC sytem uses a considerable amount of energy just to keep you comfortable. Proper sealing and insulation helps make sure this energy, and your money, is not wasted.
Remember, whether you seal your home yourself, or have a professional do the work for you, it is important to have a professional perform a Combustion Safety Test afterward. This test ensures your gas or oil burning appliances are still operating safely.
Plug the Leaks
Some homes have so many holes, cracks and gaps, that when added up, they are just as bad as having a window open all the time. This is especially true in older homes, but some newer homes are just as bad.
If you would like to be completely thorough, hire a contractor who specializes in detecting leaks.
You can also pick up some caulk or spray foam sealant and seal the leaks yourself. It is important that you seal air leaks before you add insulation. Otherwise, you will not realize the full benefit of your added insulation.
Also, you will want to pay special attention to your attic and basement. In most homes these two spaces are where the vast majority of air leaks will occur.
Some of the key problem areas where leaks can occur are:
- Around pipes that connect the house to the outside
- Around light switches, cable, phone and power outlets
- Around dryer vents
- Attic doors or hatches
- Gaps around chimneys or furnace flues
- The tops of walls that open to the attic space
- Openings that lead up from the basement
- Around lighting fixtures
Seal Around Doors and Windows
At the bottom of nearly every door is a gap that can allow air to pass through. In some cases, this can can be quite large. If your door is drafty, install a new door sweep and weather stripping. You may also want to add a storm door to cut down on drafts even further.
Windows can also be a major source of drafts. Weather stripping or caulking around the window pane and frame can help. Storm windows or plastic sheeting installed outside your home are other great ways to save on utility costs.
Add Insulation
One of the easiest projects you can do, and the one that will most likely save the most energy is adding insulation.
Different areas of the country require different levels of insulation, which is known as an R-value. Check the recommended R-value for your location, then check to make sure your insulation level is adequate. One of the easiest places to add insulation is in the attic, but you can also add insulation to walls, floors and basements or crawlspaces.
However, keep in mind that a well-insulated attic also needs to be properly ventilated. Ventilating your attic will help keep your home cooler in the summer, and prevent problems such as ice buildup during the winter.
Install ENERGY STAR® Qualified Windows and Doors
Because of the costs and the labor involved, replacing your doors and windows are probably not an option if you are simply trying to save energy. However, if you are planning on remodeling, or you are building a new home, ENERGY STAR® qualified doors and windows are your best option.
New, ENERGY STAR® qualified doors and windows will:
- Help prevent the passage of heat energy into or out of your home
- Utilize improved framing technologies to prevent drafts
- Act as a sunscreen to prevent your pictures, furniture and carpets from fading
Learn about Window Installation
Learn about External Door Installation
Learn about Internal Door Installation
Learn how to Heat and Cool Smartly
