Keeping a roof over your head does a lot more than protect you from rainfall. It’s the main way your house traps heat inside. But even with the best, top of the line roof, you’re still going to lose some heat or air every now and then. When your home is losing heat and air, it’s also losing energy and money. So how does it get out? And how do you stop it? We’re here to shed a little light on the situation.
Through The Roof!
A good portion of your home’s heat loss happens through the roof. 25% of all the heat in your house, in fact, goes out through the roof. For the most part, the space between your roof and your ceiling is wide open, a bit of a wasteland. It is precisely this reason that makes insulating your attic a top priority. Despite the climate where you live, insulation of some sort is necessary. Your attic doesn’t have to be a fluffy field of sheep’s wool insulation. Every region and state has their own regulations and standards on R and U-values. From there it’s a matter of preference in sourcing, green effects, price, etc. But always insulate your attic.
Through The Walls!
Wanna know where we lose heat the most in our homes? Through the walls. 35%, the most amount of heat lost, goes through the walls. See, the earth shifts. Tectonic plates, elementary geo-science class, and whatnot. At any rate, your home’s foundation, while solid, will shift over time. That shifting leads to gaps around windows and door frames, cracks in the ceiling or wall. Inside as well as out.
Not only do these spaces contribute to heat loss, but they gain unwanted guests, such as small rodents and pests. It’s not only advisable to insulate your walls, but also do a thorough survey of your home often, checking for such gaps and cracks. Fix them sooner rather than later to avoid a whole house full of troubles.
Through The Floors!
We know. We’re as shocked as you are. But ever notice how the floors (especially hard floors) are always cold? Well, get this. They need insulating, too. It’s also pretty easy to insulate your floors. You can choose to only insulate, or you can take it to the danger zone by adding underfloor heating. With a heat pump or boiler, these beauties will keep your floors nice and warm. Not just that, they’ll close the thermal envelope.
Thermal Envelope?!
What’s that? Everything we just wrote about. These three areas are what’s known as the thermal envelope, the area surrounding your house that contributes to heat loss; or in your case now that you know the facts: heat retention. But beyond properly insulating your roof, walls, and floors, taking care to update caulking around doors and windows, and staying on top of larger issues will ensure that you save energy and money for many years to come. Happy Home. Happy Homeowner.
