Lowering household expenses is something we all want to do, especially in these challenging times. With this in mind, how simple is it for a homeowner to reduce their home’s energy costs and at the same time increase energy efficiency? It may be easier than you think. While there are many ways to improve the energy efficiency of a home, we are going to focus on just one way, sealing and insulating.
If your home is sealed tightly it will, not only improve indoor air quality and comfort in the home but will also help to reduce the amount you spend each month on utility costs. Another advantage is that most homeowners can make these improvements themselves.
The home’s attic space is a good place to start with insulation and sealing. Because hot air rises, leaking air is more likely to take place in the attic. Any larger holes you find should be plugged up. You may notice that the biggest leaks are behind or under attic knee walls, where the attic floor meets the wall and dropped ceiling areas. Small holes should be sealed. If you notice areas of the attic’s insulation have become darkened, this is an indication of small air leaks. Another area to seal is the attic’s access panel which can be done with foam board insulation or weather-stripping.
As well as the attic space, many other places may need sealing or insulating. These places include, window frames, baseboards, doors, electrical outlets or receptacles, areas around piping and window or wall mounted air conditioning units.
As we can see, there are many areas of a home that should be checked to make sure they are properly sealed or insulated. Doing so will help save on your home’s heating and cooling costs, ensuring a more energy-efficient home.
