There are all sorts of places that house air escapes from that you’d least suspect. You may see these are a negligible factor; however, the reality is that the average household wastes about 50% more on heating and cooling than it has to. We are all well aware of the importance of peace and quiet from other rooms as well. Here are all the ways you can cut that extra amount of energy you are likely wasting.

Walls

Partition walls, supporting walls, and separation walls are all additional barriers for keeping in air and blocking excess sound from escaping into other rooms. Walls are not always properly insulted. There are various reasons for this. Wall insulation is commonly neglected by installers.

Leaks

There is an almost endless list of gaps existing throughout the house, such as:

• door and window frames
• basement plugs
• light indentations
• hollow pen stud cavities
• soffits
• electric sockets
• fillable chimney gaps created due to legal regulations by law
• attic hatches

Air-sealing insulation such as caulk or polyurethane spray foam insulation shot out of a sprayer can cover these gaps. Cheaper options to fill larger gaps include such types of materials as fiberglass and rock wool.

Windows

Out-of-date windows are often in large part responsible for poor windows insulation. If you have ever felt a draft coming out of your window, this is a good clue. For that reason, not only is polyurethane sealing on the frame of your windows a worthwhile consideration, but there are additional simple measures you could take, including adhesive window film on top of the window which doesn’t at all harm the beauty of your window, bubble wrap, draperies, caulk, and cellular shapes. A popular option is weatherstripping but this will require that you don’t open the window, which you may not need to if you’re using it in the Winter.

Survey Your Home

It’s a good idea to take a walk around your house and see if you have any wall studs without any insulation in them. A way to look behind them is by peeking through an electric socket. There is a possibility you will discover missing or old insulation, mold, termites, or rot in your timber, which can reduce the value of your home. It is always better to be aware of these things ahead of time. Lack of insulation is also common in short walls with only a window. Keep in mind that doors can have adhesive films installed directly on them as well.

Precise insulation is difficult to do properly on your own and if you do so, you might not adequately fill these gaps well enough to actually make the effort pay off. The right long-term solution might be to engage the service of a professional company, such as Ecothermix that is much more adept at filling in those hard-to-reach spots. We will also check for asbestos; measure your walls, cracks, and leaks; and punch the dimensions into a calculator to give you a ballpark estimate for what the investment will cost.