4 Ways To Prevent Home Heat Loss

September 09, 2024

Let’s say, just for the fun of it, that you have the world’s greatest heating system. One you would put up against anybody’s – any time, any place.

And yet, no matter how great it might be, it won’t give you nearly what you expect from it if your home is leaking heat to unheated spaces, including the great outdoors. That’s where your heating system needs a little help from its owners; namely you.

Wondering how to prevent heat loss in a house? Here are four highly effective house insulation tips that may help lower utility bills and increase the lifespan of your system.

1. Attic Insulation – Learning how to reduce heat loss in a house starts with attic insulation. Warm air rises, which leads hot air to pass through the roof. Insufficient attic insulation allows the air to escape with minimal effort. Low insulation leads to energy waste and inconsistent heating, in addition to ice dams and other roof concerns. Check your insulation and confirm it sits at least 6 inches thick with no gaps. Air gaps force your HVAC system to work harder. If the insulation seems inefficient or damaged, consult a professional to upgrade it.
2. Window and Door Insulation – To find out if heat is escaping through or around doors and windows, stand next to one, especially on a cold, blustery day. Short of replacing windows and doors for more energy-efficient models, you can add to or replace the caulking and weather stripping, cover your windows with thicker shades or drapes, and take other steps to help prevent heat loss.
3. Wall Insulation – It’s estimated that about 45% of heat loss occurs through your outside-facing walls. How about yours – are they cold to the touch in one or more places? By having a home energy audit performed by someone with thermal imaging equipment, the exact extent and locations where heat loss occurs can be pinpointed, and that’s the first step in correcting any such problem areas.
4. Fireplace, Switches, and Outlets – Switches and outlets create a small wall cavity in your home exterior, while your fireplace makes a big one. Without protection, these holes produce inefficient and uncomfortable air leaks. When you don’t use your fireplace, close the glass doors tightly to minimize drafts. Ask your electrician how to insulate walls around switches and outlets, to keep air from escaping through the walls.

FAQ

Looking to learn how to reduce heat loss in a house? Read the answers to these frequently asked questions about home heat loss.

How Thick Should I Install Attic Insulation for Heat Retention?

To minimize the effects of hot air rising, you should inspect your attic insulation, Attic insulation recommendations depend on the climate in your location, which varies across Tennessee. Recommendations come with a specific R-value, which describes the insulation’s ability to slow heat transfer. Higher numbers mean higher insulation.

For homes in the north and east of Tennessee, the U.S. Department of Energy suggests installing insulation with an R-value of R49 to R60. If you live in the central or southern part of Tennessee, you may need insulation with an R-value of R30 to R49. Thickness depends on the insulation type. Fiberglass varies from 9 to 19 inches thick, while loose-fill cellulose needs to be 8 to 16 inches thick.

When Should I Improve My Window and Door Insulation?

If you want to know how to stop heat loss through windows, you should look for these signs to improve your insulation around windows and doors:

• You notice cold drafts or warm spots around your doors and windows, particularly on a windy day.
• You frequently have to deal with condensation or frost buildup on the windows, which indicates moisture.
• You can hear too much noise coming from outside.
• You can see cracks or gaps in the frame, sashes, or seals.
• Your heating bills keep going up, which indicates a loss of efficiency.

What Happens If I Don’t Address Heat Loss?

Failing to minimize the effects of heat loss in your home can create several issues for your system and your home, including these concerns:

• Your furnace or boiler has to work harder to achieve the same level of heating, which increases the wear and tear, possibly leading to more repairs and possible breakdowns.
• You may see an increase in your energy bills since your system has to provide more heat to account for the loss through air gaps and insufficient insulation.
• On the coldest days, your furnace or boiler may fail to meet demand, putting the equipment at risk of overheating or malfunctioning.
• Your home may have inconsistent heating, condensation buildup, and a higher risk of mold or mildew growth.

How Can I Maintain My Insulation?

If you want to help ensure that you have sufficient insulation that prevents heat loss, you can perform these maintenance tasks:

• Inspect your insulation for signs of deterioration, displacement, pest infestations, or water damage.
• If you notice that insulation is insufficient or missing, make arrangements to replace or add to it as soon as possible.
• Keep insulation clean and dry. If you see moisture accumulating on your insulation, ask our technicians for assistance in determining the cause.
• Upgrade your insulation to current recommendations for your area.
• Talk to an insulation contractor about how best to insulate your home, particularly for older homes.

Check Your Heating System Performance

Although discovering how to reduce heat loss in homes can save some work for your heating system, you still need to provide regular maintenance for your equipment. If your system needs a tune-up, especially if you scheduled maintenance more than a year ago, our heating services can help you complete this task. Conway Services offers a multi-point heating system tune-up, including a thorough inspection and testing of your system.

The experts at Conway Services take pride in our ability to address your concerns promptly and courteously. Contact us today!