HVAC energy loss means higher monthly operating costs and reduced indoor comfort. Heat transfer is a natural fact of thermodynamics: Heat is always moving from a warm zone into a cold zone. Since that fact’s not likely to change, without effective techniques to hold heat indoors, your furnace will compensate by running longer cycles, causing your heating bill to rise. The house will also feel stubbornly chilly day and night.
A Picture of HVAC Energy Loss
Thermal imagery that reveals the exact location of heat loss from typical homes can be both impressive and alarming. In total, heat loss through ceilings, walls, windows, and doors adds up to 76% of HVAC energy loss during winter. However, the good news is, since sources of heat loss are now well established and identified, efforts can be accurately targeted to specific problem areas. Here are some suggestions to keep heat indoors and heating costs down.
Close the Openings
- Any indoor gaps, cracks, or other openings that lead to the outside or into exterior wall voids should be sealed. Cracks and small holes should be filled with caulking or foam.
- Weatherstripping around moving parts of exterior doors and windows isn’t permanent and should be renewed at intervals. Don’t forget the gap beneath exterior doors, which is often a major cause of heat loss.
- Use caulking to seal any cracks in nonmovable parts of window frames.
- Look for and seal openings in the ceiling, particularly around recessed ceiling lights, attic-access stairs and points where pipes and/or cables penetrate the ceiling.
- Measure the depth and condition of your attic insulation. Compare the depth to current Department of Energy recommendations available online for your specific location. If necessary, add more new insulation on top of the existing layers to meet the standard. Attic insulation that has been damaged by roof leaks or contaminated by mold should be removed.
Contact Jackson and Sons for advice and professional service to reduce HVAC energy loss. Since 1974, we’ve been your partner in reducing heating and cooling costs while enhancing indoor comfort.