From Guest Blogger Erika Remminton: Three Ways to Revamp the Thermal Efficiency of Your Home

Have you noticed changes in your heating and cooling costs? Do you have to keep the air cranked up for longer to bring the internal temperature down? Chances are your heating and cooling systems aren’t as efficient as they could be. Here are three ways you can improve your home’s thermal efficiency.

1. Improve Your Insulation

Cracks and air leaks make it harder to keep warm air where you want it—whether that’s inside during the winter or outside during the summer. Improving your insulation can reduce heat loss by 35%.

You should have at least an inch of insulation on each surface in your home. If you live in a climate with particularly extreme temperatures, you may need as much as six inches of insulation. Check the coverage in the most vulnerable areas of your home:

• The Attic: Because much of your heat transfer occurs through the roof, Your attic is often the most vulnerable area of your home. However, if your attic is properly insulated, it prevents climate-controlled air from escaping.
• The Basement: Gaps in basement insulation can allow moisture into the basement. This not only raises the risk of dangerous toxins like black mold, but also raises the humidity. Higher levels of humidity make it more difficult to change the temperature. For this reason, a warm, dry basement can help regulate the temperature of the entire house.
• The Areas Around Doors and Windows: The areas that connect your home’s interior and exterior are most vulnerable to air leaks. If you notice any drafts near a window or door, you may need to make some repairs. Easily create a new seal by removing the old caulk and replacing it with new caulk.

Repair any gaps you find and bulk up inefficiencies to reduce your home’s heat transfer, allowing your heating and cooling systems to work as they should.

2. Upgrade Your Windows

Much of the heat transfer in your home is via your windows. Replacing even some of your windows, especially those on the side of your home that gets the most direct sunlight, can have a huge impact on your home’s thermal efficiency.

Energy Star compliant windows have treated glass and multiple layers of protection from heat leakage. Most Energy Star windows have two or three panes of thermal-resistant glass. The casings are also thicker than the average single-pane window, creating a more effective seal against drafts (source: Comfort King Windows & Doors Ltd., who provides windows in Kanata).

3. Heat (and Cool) Smarter

You don’t need to make any household repairs to make your home more thermally efficient. Start by using tricks to help your heater and air conditioner’s performance.

During the winter, keep your thermostat in the low 70˚s. Cranking up the heat may get your house a few degrees warmer, but it also means your heater will be working for longer to maintain the temperature extreme. Instead of programming the thermostat high, invest in a comfortable pair of warm socks and keep the heater at a comfortable level.

In the summertime, the same kind of moderation applies. Instead of setting your thermostat low, forcing your AC to stay on continuously, set the temperature in the mid-70˚s and use fans to circulate the cool air.

You should always turn your HVAC system off or down during the night and while you are away from the house. This prevents your heating and cooling bill from spiking from climate control no one benefits from.

Thermal inefficiencies can be costly and even damaging to your home. Use these five tips to return your home’s energy efficiency to its highest level.