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As winter approaches, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and home technology expert Ross Trethewey tell Kevin O'Connor cost-effective ways to save money on heating. After introducing trends and the physics of heated air, Richard and Ross discuss the importance of insulating a home's roof.
Heated air is predictable
Specific physics applies to heated air. First, it wants to move upward, often making its way through the roof. Additionally, heated air will always move toward cold air, and the colder the air, the more it wants to move. For example, if it's 70 degrees inside the house but only 15 degrees outside, the heated air will work even harder to escape through the top of the building. He can also try to escape through walls.
Insulate from top to bottom
Since warm air rises, you need to trap it in the house. Putting a warm hat on the building by insulating the attic is key. Fiberglass, rigid foam, and bubble insulation are perfect for this job. Just make sure all insulation is properly in place, especially after any renovation work may have taken place.
Although many people simply insulate between the attic floor joists, this is not the best location. This is often where the heating and cooling mechanisms are located, and leaving the attic itself uninsulated makes it harder for them to work effectively. Instead, consider insulating the roof itself.
Airtightness is just as important as insulation
There is a difference between insulation and air sealing, and when it comes to trapping heated air, air sealing is essential. Issues such as gaps between window panes, gaps under exterior doors, and even the space around an outlet in an exterior wall can allow cold air to enter the home while warm air escapes. escapes. A ¼-inch gap between panes can be the equivalent of a baseball-sized hole in an exterior wall. For ½ inch gaps under doors, this area can be equivalent to a hole the size of a softball.
For leaky windows, installing new sash locks can help tighten things up, but installing a shrink wrap kit around the window can help trap air and create plenty of insulation . Consider installing weatherstripping on the side for doors with gaps and a door bottom. For outlet or switch boxes located in exterior walls, caulk the space between the box and the drywall to prevent hot or cold air from passing through.
A few words of caution
Many people choose to close heating zones to save money during the winter. While this can be effective, be careful of things freezing in space. Insulate all pipes in the unheated room or drain pipes in completely unused areas to prevent freezing and cracking. Also remember to keep radiators or heating vents away from furniture to allow mechanical mechanisms to heat the space efficiently.
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About Ask This Old House TV:
From the creators of This Old House, America's first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the constant stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features This Old House experts including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram and host Kevin O'Connor . Ask This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment: your home.
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How to Save Money on Heating Bills – Ask That Old House
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