3 Biggest Ways Heat Escapes Your Home

Trying to effectively heat your house in the winter can be challenging. You want to make sure that the hot air you are paying for remains inside. Houses, especially older ones, have a variety of points where valuable warm air can escape, costing you more money to replace it. Check out these three ways heat can escape from your home so you can stay warm–even in the dead of winter.

1. Attic

Because heat rises, it is important to pay attention to the condition of your attic. According to The Washington Post, attics often have various holes for pipes and vents. These small openings can cause your home to lose up to 15 percent of its heat. Whenever possible, you can combat these losses by trying to patch gaps up with an all-purpose caulk. In addition to blocking these holes, make sure your entire attic is properly insulated.

2. Windows and doors

Simply closing these entrance points will not stop hot air from exiting. In fact, closed windows and doors can still cause your home to lose 10 to 11 percent of its heat. RedBeacon.com recommends walking around your house and touching these points to see if you can feel where hot air is being released and cold air is entering. The Washington Post reports that a gap that measures 1/8 of an inch at the bottom of your doors can cause you to lose as much heat as if you had a 2.4-inch hole punched through an exterior wall. Protect your heat investment by refreshing the caulk around the window and door frames. If you have an older window or door that won’t be used all winter, consider insulating your windows using plastic sheeting. Additionally, it’s advisable to remove window air conditioning units because they let massive amounts of the hot air escape your home.

3. Basements

Basements typically have holes and vents for laundry and plumbing, which can allow approximately 4 percent of your home’s hot to exit. The Washington Post suggests using expanding foam to prevent losing heat through these points. Basement windows can also be a major culprit in-home heat loss. If your basement windows are older, consider replacing them or adding some insulation for the winter months.

In its Home Energy Savings blog series, Constellation states, “Adding insulation to or improving inadequate insulation on your interior basement walls can save you anywhere from $280 a year if you live in Washington, D.C., to $390 annually if you live in Buffalo, New York (these are using natural gas rates of .$72/therm.).” You might also choose to insulate your basement floor or ceiling, but there are important considerations so it’s best to consult a professional if you aren’t a whiz at-home maintenance.

While you take the necessary steps to insulate and repair the air leak spaces in your home, use a space heater to warm the room you’re in. This will allow you to keep your overall thermostat temperature lower your whole-house heater from running non-stop. The Cyclonic Digital Ceramic Heater with Remote Control uses cyclonic heat airflow and adjustable louvers for adjusting airflow to bring immediate comfort to your chilly room. If you need to warm up a bathroom while you work, use a heater specifically designed for bathrooms to keep you comfortable.