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Sometimes
its easy to tell if your home is not energy-efficient.
You feel drafts around your windows, they
become fogged or frosted or gaps between the window
and wall foundation and of course—high-energy bills.
However, some causes of energy loss are more difficult
to diagnose, such as not enough insulation in your
walls and attic.
The following tips are some methods to detect
where your home may be losing energy.
- You
can check for drafts around windows and doors by
holding a tissue next to the window or doorjambs
on a windy day.
Some people will tell you to use a candle,
however due to risk of fire, we recommend that you
use a tissue.
If the tissue moves due to a breeze, the
weather-stripping is not sufficient and needs to
be replaced.
- Measure
the temperature in several different areas of the
room. When
there is difference of more than one or two
degrees in the room, this indicates that the room
is poorly insulated, and that any windows and
exterior doors are not sealed correctly.
- Have
an energy audit performed on your home.
Many power companies provide this service
for free, while other companies will provide you
with an energy audit kit.
- Monitor
your energy usage yearly, this way you will be
able to detect any unexplained increases of power
usage. If
you do notice unexplained increases, then consider
having an energy audit performed on your home.
The
average home can have several tiny leaks that when
combined could add up to that of a 2 to 3 foot hole,
accounting for approximately 1/3 of the total energy
loss of a home.
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