Sealing Up Drafty House and Replacing Windows Save Energy
Posted by Rick Luppino on Fri, Dec 18, 2009 @ 06:53 PM
Burrrrrrrrrrrr, It looks like winter has arrived in the northeast. I was hoping it was going to pass us by this year. I 'm sure many of you have noticed over the past few days how cold your windows feel and how drafty your home is.
More than any other time of year, you notice your home's air leaks in the winter. Most people call these air leaks "drafts." You may feel these drafts around windows and doors and think these leaks are your major source of wasted energy. In most homes, however, the most significant air leaks are hidden in the attic and basement. These are the leaks that significantly raise your energy bill and make your house uncomfortable.
But locating leaks can be difficult because they are often hidden under your insulation. In cold weather, warm air rises in your house, just like it does in a chimney. This air, which you have paid to heat, is just wasted as it rises up into your attic and sucks cold air in all around your home - around windows, doors, and through holes into the basement.
Common Household Air Leaks
* Behind knee walls
* Attic Hatch
* Wiring Holes
* Plumbing Vent
* Open Soffit (the box that hides the recessed lights)
* Recessed Light
* Furnace Flue or Duct Chaseway (the hollow box or wall feature that hides ducts)
* Basement Rim Joists (where the foundation meets the wood framing)
* Windows and Doors
Locating Basement Air Leaks
A common area of air leakage in the basement is along the top of the basement wall where cement or block comes in contact with the wood frame. These leaks can easily be fixed in portions of the basement that are unfinished. Since the top of the wall is above ground, outside air can be drawn in through cracks and gaps where the house framing sits on top of the foundation. This perimeter framing is called the rim (or band) joist. In the basement, the above floor joists end at the rim joist creating multiple cavities along the length of the wall, and many opportunities for leakage. The following DIY Guide by Energy Star is the best guide I have seen on sealing up the drafts in a home. Even implementing a few of the improvements can make a big difference.
Still one of the biggest sources of energy loss and drafts in the home are your windows. There are many products available at places like Home Depot that can help and one of the cheapest and most effective is still the plastic window kits that cover the windows.
The best solution and more permanent is to install a high performance energy efficient Replacement Window, to find out how much new Replacement Windows cost check out the Online Estimate from Suburban Windows & Siding.