How Your House Loses Heat

One of the most irritating situations for a homeowner is being cold in their own home. The causes of heat loss must be identified and maintained in order to solve the problem and prevent heat loss from the insulating system. In addition to this, the issues leading to heat loss must be addressed to limit your heating costs and energy bills.

The following heat loss causes can be controlled to reduce the amount of heat lost from your property.

Cracks in Walls, Doors, & Windows

Cracks in your walls, windows, and doors account for around 38% of the heat loss in your house (often invisible to the naked eye). In actuality, a 1/8-inch opening beneath a door that is 36 inches wide will allow in just as much cold air as a 2.4-inch hole in your wall. We advise placing weather-stripping around the movable elements of your doors and windows and routinely caulking the joints around your window and door frames to prevent this.

Poorly Insulated Windows

Because they are comprised of glass, a poor insulator, windows lose a lot of heat. You can stop your house from losing heat via its windows in a few different ways. First, triple-glazing windows or storm windows can reduce heat loss via windows by roughly 10% to 20%. Installing plastic sheets over the current window panes will insulate your windows more effectively and at a lower cost. In the winter, a plastic coating that is readily put with a hair dryer can reflect heat back into your house. However, if you decide to add storm windows, make sure to pick products with the Energy Star rating.

Basement/Crawlspace Walls & Floors

20% of home heat is lost through basement or crawlspace walls. This is due to the foundation of your basement/crawlspace walls and the cement slab being poorly insulated. The best solution for this is to finish your basement if it’s cement (which most of them are), encapsulate the crawlspace, or provide more insulation around the walls. Having a finished basement or encapsulated crawlspace is a great way to increase your home’s R-value, or its thermal resistance, which determines how quickly it loses heat.

Framed Walls

Framed walls are another common source of heat loss. Over time, the insulation in your frame walls can degrade. This makes heat loss more noticeable. If you need to upgrade your insulation, an expert can evaluate it. They can also assist you in deciding the best type of insulation to meet your home’s needs.

Attic

A tiny amount of the heat in your home is lost through the ceiling and/or attic because hot air rises. Your home’s attic or ceiling may have cracks or holes, and misplaced vents may also let some heat escape. The US Department of Energy advises measuring the insulation’s thickness to prevent this. You should add more insulation if it is less than 8 inches of cellulose, 11 inches of fiberglass or wool, or both. You might also think about insulating the door leading to your attic.

Exterior Doors

The least amount of heat is lost from your home through its doors. The most insulating doors are made of steel and fiberglass and should be replaced if you discover that your door is losing a lot of heat.

Prevent Heat Loss With Jersey Shore Crawlspace

At Jersey Shore Crawlspace, we know that it is common to experience issues with your home’s insulation. Whether you are remodeling or have uncovered a roof leak or similar problem, we can help. Our expert team understands the importance of removing old insulation before replacing it.

We will discuss all of your options so that your home remains comfortable throughout all seasons of the year. Our insulation services will help you lower your energy costs by keeping the cool air inside during the summer and by keeping the warm air from escaping during the winter. In the event that you have old insulation that contains dangerous material, we have the equipment and know the proper protocol for safe removal.

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