Home Features that May Be Costing You and Your Family

 

Has your family been bundling up more than usual this winter? Here are a few building issues that could be causing your discomfort:

 

1.) Ducts/Air Handlers in the Attic

 With the drastic difference in temperature between the attic space of a home and the interior, duct work in the attic often leaks into the interior thereby lowering or raising undesirable temperatures.

 

2.) Too Much Air Leakage In/Out of the House

  With poorly sealed areas throughout the home, it is likely that the homeowner will often be fighting to create the perfect temperature, wasting time and energy in the process

 

3.) Vented/Dirt Crawl Spaces

  Dirt floors ultimately result in the evaporation of moisture, which creates a perpetual stream in the area. Additionally, vented crawl spaces create unnecessary paths for unwanted air to infiltrated your home

 

4.) Kneewall Spaces

  These triangular spaces are common when there is a room built directly under a roof and their presence often results in cold air flow between the first and second floors

 

5.) Over-spaced Insulation and Drywall

  Spaces between the thermal boundaries will create unwanted airflow through the insulation via convection

 

6.) Too Little Attic Insulation

 

7.) Rooms Over the Garage

  Inability to insulate beneath the floor of a "bonus room" often makes the room unnecessarily hot or cold

 

8.) Cantilevers

  When you create an extension of the floor of a room over the wall it rests on, a cantilever is formed. Unfortunately, while they provide additional space they also result in unwanted airflow through that area.

 

9.) Cathedral Ceilings

  

10.) Leaky, Under-Insulated Walls

11.) Poorly Maintained Heating and Air Conditioning Equipment

12.) Glass-Doors, Windows, and Skylights

  While many people covet beautiful views throughout their home, the design unfortunately creates airflow through the installation around the glass-leaving your home less insulated

 

13.) Can Lights

  Can lights are typically seen in rooms with little to no natural light and are often the biggest culprits for leakage!

 

14.) Fireplaces and Chimney Chases

  For safety's sake, there must be a 2 inch gap between the wall and any combusible material-this means, 2 inches of free space for air to escape

 

15.) Unbalanced Air Flow from Room to Room

 

16.) Uninsulated Basements, Walls, Rim Joists, and Windows

 

17.) Floors with Outside Air Underneath

 

18.) Hot Roofs in the Summer Months

 

If you're noticing any of these features in your home, it's possible that you're losing energy! Check in on our "free estimate" page to to find out how you can save money!