Drafty Rooms Diagnosis: Cold air leaking into your house around windows, doors, electrical outlets, light fixtures, and gaps in corners, can cause rooms to feel drafty and uncomfortable. As cold air is coming in through leaks, warm air is escaping through other leaks. The biggest leaks for escaping air are often found in the attic, and recessed lights are a common location. Prescription Checklist: Air sealing (Home Sealing) can help stop drafts and improve the comfort of your home. The most important leaks are often in the attic. You can do some things yourself, but for the best solution you need to hire a contractor. Ask your heating and cooling contractor to check ducts for air leaks and balanced airflow. If you have a fireplace, close the damper when not in use. You may also be interested in: Home Sealing Cold Floors Hot or Cold RoomsHow should one go about "sealing" their home? First, check to see what areas might be in need of sealing. If you notice one room particularly cooler (or hotter) than the others, I would start there.
Here is a very simple and basic list to start sealing your home:
- Ensure the spaces around windows and doors are sealed. This can be as easy as caulking around the perimeters or as difficult as having a professional replace older windows.
- Install dampers in chimneys to prevent air loss through the chimneys.
- Check the amount of insulation your home requires. (There are different numbers according to the location of your home.) Pay special attention to the attic - a homeowner may add insulation or a type of radiant barrier to reflect sunlight and prevent the attic from getting overly warm during summer.
If your home is well sealed, you are not heating or cooling the outside - AND that saves you money on your energy bills. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment