As temperatures begin to cool, consider this a sign to assess if your home or business is ready for the coming of “Old Man Winter”.  With the seasonal change, one should consider your home’s insulation needs.

What most fail to realize is while standard insulation does in fact offer some relief from the high costs associated with heating their dwellings, it does not provide an adequate air barrier to keep thermal leakage at bay.  In the course of countless home energy audits, most are shocked to discover the glaring holes and gaps revealed by using diagnostic  tools such as the infrared camera made by Flir. These areas allow cold air in while at the same time venting heat out through the attic and other spaces.

Here are two glaring signs that your home is bleeding your high-cost conditioned air.  First, simply think back to last winter. Do you remember cold drafts through secured doors and windows?  You are bleeding energy.  Second, look at your energy bills. Outrageous compared to your friends and neighbors?  This is another telling sign.  Again, do not speculate.  Using an infrared camera will help identify problem areas.  This technology enables you to make an informed decision regarding your home’s protection barrier from outside weather conditions.

Did you know that your cooling and heating bill accounts for up to 70% of your energy costs?  Sure, you’ll save money by not running appliances excessively and keeping the lights off when not in use but it’s a fraction of the total energy savings. That’s why you need a well insulated home, even in the summer.

Insulation is easy to forget as it is out of sight but it’s a very important material for the home. In the summer time, insulation will keep your home cooler and your air conditioner won’t need to engage as often. In addition it acts as a great sound proofing material. You can add insulation in practically any house where the framing is open, such as under floors and attics.

In the heat of the summer, inadequate insulation in the attic allows heat to come through your ceiling and into the living area. Most attic areas require an insulated R-value of 30 and up to a R-49, depending on the area you live in. Your attic can be insulated by adding fiberglass batts over the existing insulation you already have. In older homes, many of them have floors that are completely void of insulation. This is important in the summer as well as the winter as heat and cold transfer through the floor.

Another factor to consider is air leaks coming into and out of your home. You don’t want your expensive conditioned air to escape into thin air. Make sure you check the fireplace flute if you have one and close it. If your existing windows leak badly then consider leaving the storm windows on during the summer. How about your doors? Are they weather-stripped? It’s a very simple process that will save you money. The easiest way to check for air leaks in your home is to wait for a windy day and light a stick of incense and check areas that are likely to leak air by holding it near and see if the smoke is blowing into or out of the house.

Finally, don’t forget ventilation. This is one of the most overlooked aspects of making sure your home is ready for the summer. Check the foundation vents and make sure they’re open. The attic needs ventilation also as it can trap heat and moisture will build up and potentially cause dry rot in the wood. Check the eave vents and make sure they aren’t clogged with any insulation or debris.

We have found that insulating is just as important during the summer as it is during the winter. Make sure your home is properly insulated and weatherized before any nasty complications arise and turn your lovely home into a damaged home. For any and all of your weatherization products and services, the professionals of Service Partners are your ticket to energy savings and increased enjoyment of your home.  Contact us today to discuss any and all of your weatherization needs

You may already know where some air leakage occurs in your home, such as an under-the-door draft, but you’ll also need to find the less obvious gaps to properly air seal your home using weather-stripping and other air infiltration products. A great way to help find leaks is a blower door test as part of a complete energy audit or assessment of your home. A blower door is a device which depressurizes a dwelling and can reveal the location of leaks that are not always obvious. Not only will a complete energy assessment help to determine areas in your home that have air leaks but can also identify the need additional insulation.

Without a blower door test, there are ways to find some air leaks yourself. First, look at areas where different materials meet such as between brick and wood siding, between foundation and walls, and between the chimney and siding. Also inspect around any cracks and gaps that could cause air leaks such as: Door and window frames, mail chutes, electrical and gas service entrances, cable TV and phone lines, outdoor water faucets, where dryer vents pass through walls, bricks, siding, stucco, and the foundation, air conditioner, and fans. HVAC duct work is notorious for leaking air which leads to heating and cooling attic space instead of living space. So let the experts at Service Partners help you with all of your weather-stripping, insulation needs and air infiltration products.