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Air Leaks Can Increase Home Energy Bills by 30 Pct

Posted on 18. Sep, 2009 by GMS Editor in Featured, Newsflash, ShowOnLatestPanel

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 14, 2009

Fall is the time when most homeowners begin to think about how well their home will shelter them from winter’s blast and how much it’s going to cost to stay warm.

The Department of Energy estimates only 20 percent of homes built before 1980 have adequate insulation. Even homes constructed 10 years ago may only have the minimum required by code. And, no matter how well a home’s insulation performs, air can still escape through cracks around windows, gaps under exterior doors or entry points for utility wires and pipes. Leaks can account for as much as 30 percent of a home’s annual heating cost.

The optimal way to find chinks in your home’s armor is with an energy audit and blower door test. Generally they cost around $300, though the amount can vary depending on the size of the home, region of the country and complexity of the report. Testers are certified; many also offer good suggestions for solutions and will even do the work.

As an alternative to an energy audit, the Department of Energy suggests a visual inspection of the exterior. Their site, energysavers.gov, also has instructions to check for leaks on the interior. Additionally, some local utilities offer free visual inspections.

Small cracks and crevices around doors and windows should be caulked or filled with a foam sealant specifically formulated for that job ($3 to $5 a can). Just these small steps could result in a 15 percent savings on heating and cooling costs according to Lowe’s.

Leaky windows can also be tightened up with self adhesive weather stripping between the sashes. There is also a product that can be applied to the spaces in the frame where windows slide up and down, officially called the V Channels.

An energy audit will identify the type and R-value of insulation in various parts of the home. Checking this out on your own isn’t too difficult especially if the attic is unfinished. ”If you can see the joists then it’s certain you don’t have enough insulation. Even if you can see the joists, it best to measure to see how much you have,” says Karel Czanderna, group president of Owens Corning Building Materials. The Department of Energy also offers detailed instructions on how to determine the R-value of existing insulation and the R-values required indifferent states.

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Tags: energy efficiency, insulation, weatherization