You may not know it, but there are spots in your home that are letting the energy you use for heating or cooling escape. Sometimes it’s easy to find, but usually energy loss in your home takes a little detective work to spot. So what are the areas in a home where energy is commonly lost? These can be troublesome problems that you need to fix so you’re able to save on your energy bills. Consider these spots where your energy might be leaking and then determine if they need to be repaired before another Minnesota winter hits.
Windows and Doors Are a Major Source of Energy Loss: These are at the top of the list for wasting energy. If there are older, single-paned windows throughout the home, you’re not doing yourself any favors. By upgrading to newer, double-paned windows (or even triple-paned windows on northern exposures), you can stop the heat and cool air loss. If the windows are double paned but older, they probably are not tight-fitting like newer ones would be. Doors are just as bad, and they should be assessed and replaced if necessary.
Air Leakage Around Window Frames Waste Energy: Double-paned windows and weather stripping around them is not going to help much if the frames in the windows have large gaps in them. When you add caulk around the areas inside the window, you’re able to keep the air from coming in or going out. You may also want to consider replacing those windows if the frame gaps are because the windows have warped or shrunk.
Floors, Walls and Ceilings Can Lose Energy, Too: These spots are often overlooked as a source of energy loss. If these areas are not insulated enough, you’re losing a lot of your energy through them because there is nothing there to hold it in. If you add additional insulation to the walls, new insulation or even upgraded blown-in insulation, you’re able to keep the heating and cooling costs down to a minimum.
HVAC Ducts Not Sealed Can Waste Energy: A lot of the heating or cooling that is being done in your home might not be able to make it to the room it is supposed to go in. If there are not properly-sealed ducts throughout the home, you’re losing a lot of the heating or cooling before you even get to actually use it. If the areas around the ducts are not properly insulated, then you can be losing a lot of the air through these areas, too.
Fireplaces Are Major Energy-Wasters: A lot of energy seeps out up the chimney, whether your fireplace is in use or not. If your chimney flue is not properly closed or it’s old and doesn’t fit well, warm or cold air is escaping. By properly sealing this to keep the energy in, you’re able to save even more money each month.
When the time comes to replace those old energy-wasting windows and exterior doors, give us a call here at Window Outfitters. We are able to install high quality entry doors and replacement windows for you. Choose from manufacturers such Pella, Marvin and Comfort Line, among others. We can help you cut your home’s energy loss. Give us a call today for a free estimate. We are a licensed full-service exterior home improvement company serving the entire Minneapolis and St. Paul MN area.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
