We all enjoy warm weather, and often we spend these times outdoor in puttering around the lawn, rearranging the potted plants, trimming the hedges and pruning shrubs. We wish our yards to look beautiful and cared for, if not really a formal garden. This is a commendable idea and worthy of the efforts, but are we doing the same for the house itself? Making it appear praiseworthy is good, but making the house energy-efficient as well is much better. Not only will doing so save us money, but will make living there more comfortable also.
One way of making a house energy-efficient is by sealing spaces where drafts –going in or out--- pass through. Letting cold air in during the cooler months add to your heating bills, while allowing heat to escape does the same. Either way the radiator or furnace overworks to reach the set temperature for the house, but in the meantime you feel a little cold.
So how to find and fix the drafty openings? Look first where the siding or wall meets the foundation. Any gap no matter how small will let in cold air because it is situated near the ground, which is often colder than the ambient atmosphere. (It will admit likewise unwanted crawling insects that will seek the warm comfort of house interiors.) Seal the cracks and gaps with the correct material if cement or mortar is not enough.
Inspect likewise the places where two house components coincide such as roof and siding, wall and chimney, window or door jambs and the house wall. Tiny gaps might be there and even if they may be negligible, the energy losses add up to something substantial in the long run. Fill in the spaces with the appropriate methods and material: cement, plaster, sealants, sealing rods as needed.
If your water or radiator pipes come in from outside, look for gaps between the pipe itself and the wall or siding. Sealing them with rubber or silicone or any other appropriate material will reduce your electricity bills at the very least. Do the same with all the places where the exterior wall is pierced by an appliance like an airconditioner, door or window. Look at the door's bottom to see if any distance exists between the panel and the floor or ground. There are door seals one can purchase at the store to plug the gaps.
Insulate the house likewise. Insulating materials below the roof will keep out the cold and heat, making the house interior temperatures more stable and thus comfortable. A vapor barrier under the attic insulation can prevent moisture from seeping into the ceiling, both damaging the house structure and negating the benefits of insulation. Use tarpaper, plastic sheetings, fiberglass batts, Kraft paper, vapor/moisture resistant interior paints or what your building engineer might recommend. Â
Insulating and sealing the gaps of your house structure will make it more liveable and comfortable for you. A pretty garden outside, and a warm cozy house interior will make your home truly a place to come home to. Everytime.
One way of making a house energy-efficient is by sealing spaces where drafts –going in or out--- pass through. Letting cold air in during the cooler months add to your heating bills, while allowing heat to escape does the same. Either way the radiator or furnace overworks to reach the set temperature for the house, but in the meantime you feel a little cold.
So how to find and fix the drafty openings? Look first where the siding or wall meets the foundation. Any gap no matter how small will let in cold air because it is situated near the ground, which is often colder than the ambient atmosphere. (It will admit likewise unwanted crawling insects that will seek the warm comfort of house interiors.) Seal the cracks and gaps with the correct material if cement or mortar is not enough.
Inspect likewise the places where two house components coincide such as roof and siding, wall and chimney, window or door jambs and the house wall. Tiny gaps might be there and even if they may be negligible, the energy losses add up to something substantial in the long run. Fill in the spaces with the appropriate methods and material: cement, plaster, sealants, sealing rods as needed.
If your water or radiator pipes come in from outside, look for gaps between the pipe itself and the wall or siding. Sealing them with rubber or silicone or any other appropriate material will reduce your electricity bills at the very least. Do the same with all the places where the exterior wall is pierced by an appliance like an airconditioner, door or window. Look at the door's bottom to see if any distance exists between the panel and the floor or ground. There are door seals one can purchase at the store to plug the gaps.
Insulate the house likewise. Insulating materials below the roof will keep out the cold and heat, making the house interior temperatures more stable and thus comfortable. A vapor barrier under the attic insulation can prevent moisture from seeping into the ceiling, both damaging the house structure and negating the benefits of insulation. Use tarpaper, plastic sheetings, fiberglass batts, Kraft paper, vapor/moisture resistant interior paints or what your building engineer might recommend. Â
Insulating and sealing the gaps of your house structure will make it more liveable and comfortable for you. A pretty garden outside, and a warm cozy house interior will make your home truly a place to come home to. Everytime.