Energy performance is not the most amazing of subjects so it’s not surprising that for a lot of homeowners it’s not a concern. Nevertheless an energy efficient house warms up quicker and requires less heating, which in turn means cheaper energy costs. While it’s not the most exciting discussion to have, the advantages are well worth it.
Energy performance does not simply indicate enhancing your home’s insulation; it likewise needs looking for draughts and their cause. Windows are among the primary reasons for draughts in the home so we have actually put together a brief guide on how you can examine them and what to do if they are causing are leakages.
What are air leakages?
Air leaks describe heat escaping from your home. Many things can cause this however heat typically leaves through gaps within your doors and windows. Draughts result from fractures which, not surprisingly, make your home feel cold. To make up for the draughts property owners crank up the main heating or the duration they have their heating on for. Unfortunately this will not make too much of a difference to the heat of the house, however it will increase the cost of your heating costs.
Air leakages can be expensive so it is important you determine the problem as soon as possible and get them repaired.
How do you look for air leakages?
There are numerous ways to look for air leaks but to be totally sure we suggest a mix of the following:
Closely examine the windows. With time the sealant around the windows can reduce. Go outdoors and have a close seek to see if you can see any spaces in between the window frame and the siding. If you do discover spaces you will require to put some additional caulk around the windows.
Conduct a DIY ‘smoke’ test. Close any windows or doors and switch off any devices (fans, heating systems, etc.) that might trigger draughts or air movement. Light a candle light and move it around your window. Hold it for a couple of moments beside the corners of the frame in particular and see if you see any changes to the candle flame. If air is coming through the windows you need to see the flame flicker.
Use an infrared thermometer. Location the thermometer by your windows and see what the reading says. If it’s signing up a colder temperature to the rest of the home, there’s likely to be a concern.
Look for expert assistance. You could ask a technician to perform an energy audit on your home. They will look at your heating and water supply and check your windows, doors and ventilation to check for any efficiency concerns. This is quite an extensive evaluation of your house so it might be worth thinking about whether this is a required expenditure or not. If you observe some gaps in the sealant around your windows, you probably won’t need an energy audit– you can apply some caulk and weatherstripping and fix the issue yourself.
If you can’t appear to discover any problems however, and your heating bills are high however your house always appears draughty, it might be worth thinking about getting in touch with an auditor to conduct some professional checks. It is likewise worth keeping in mind that a specialist will often perform a kind of smoke test and they will take an infrared reading– these are tests you can realistically do yourself pretty quickly. If you want a thorough home check, expert assistance would be suggested however if you are stressed over your windows and doors, examine them yourself first– you could conserve yourself some money.
How do you fix air leaks?
The cause of your air leaks will figure out how you fix them. If you have a modern house with brand-new energy effective windows opportunities are you will not need to replace your windows. Rather, your concern is likely to be a couple of gaps in the caulking. This can be fixed quickly with some more sealant. If however you reside in a duration residential or commercial property with single glazed windows you might need have a more costly job ahead. Whatever your cause there are numerous alternatives for fixing air leaks.
Scrape any old, cracked sealant away from the windows and use a fresh layer of caulk on top, to seal any gaps.
- Change the weatherstripping around your windows. Felt tape will only last a number of years so for durability select either foam or plastic tape.
- Put foam sealant in between your window frame and your siding. This will help with air leaks and likewise stop any water entering your home.
- Change the glass panels in your windows. Some windows are better insulators than others. If you have older single glazed windows that let cold into your house easily, it may be more beneficial to merely alter your windows than attempt any other methods. Modern windows feature an energy score so you can examine their efficiency prior to purchasing. Windows should be at least C ranked although for optimum performance you must search for A ranked windows.
- Include window film to your windows. Window films are adhesive strips that sit on top of the glass inside your home; they reflect heat back into your room instead of letting it leave through the window. These work but films are just a short term service and are not as efficient as energy efficient windows.
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