Basement, Attic, and Crawlspaces: There Is A Pattern Here

Photo by Ruhrfisch.

Think of your house like your body for a moment. Do you walk outside naked in the winter time? Of course not! Or at least most of us don’t do that. Think of your basement, attic, and crawlspaces like the extremities of your body. You wear a hat and gloves, and maybe two pairs of socks when its cold enough. It is amazing how much of a difference wearing a hat or scarf makes in your personal comfort in the winter. Think about the effect of putting a hat, gloves and socks on your house. It would look cute! But seriously, think about how much energy (which always translates into money) you would save! Your home would be more comfortable and more energy efficient. Not only that, it would hold it’s warmth in winter and keep out the heat of summer. It wouldn’t get a’cold… Get it?

If you have been reading these energy efficiency blogs, you may have noticed a pattern. Basement, attic, crawlspaces… Like a broken record these troublesome locations of the house keep coming up. Be sure to Seal the Ducts, especially in the basement, attic, and crawlspaces. Then add insulation, especially in the basement, attic and crawlspaces… Don’t forget about sealing and insulating your pipes and ducts, especially… You guessed it!

The Home Energy Auditors from America’s Best Energy Team will probably tell you something similar. And, before even beginning to read this, you had probably already guessed that you could save yourself money, time and energy by being more concerned with these areas. You’re right. The tricky thing about these locations is their distance from the nucleus of the house. Basements and attics are often used as storage space rather than living space. Seasonal items such as clothes and decorations are shut away to collect dust for months at a time. These storage spaces are often cluttered and dimly lit, if at all. All of these factors make basements, attics, and crawlspaces easy to overlook. While it is easier to address the issues that you see every day, the fact that these places should be checked out first when assessing what needs maintenance, updating or replacing is ironic.

There is a pattern here involving our priorities and what we see, when in reality what we do not see is often causing the trouble. Like the crack between the wall and floor behind a stack of boxes in your basement that is so thin, only creepy crawlies and cold air seep in. Or the hole in the attic where a raccoon tried to nest last year. Take a little time and give your house a check-up.

Not everyone can afford to make the efficiency upgrades they want or need, but scheduling a Home Energy Audit with ABET will at least identify where the problems are and how they can be fixed. From there, America’s Best Energy Team can assist you in finding a step-by-step path to the level of safety, comfort and efficiency you desire. If you are the resourceful type, you may want to try the good old DIY method, and buy some caulk, weather strips, or spray foam and fill in those energy drains yourself. Use your senses to locate where a draft is entering your house, and be sure to check the basement, attic and crawlspaces.

If you don’t catch on to the pattern, you may end up wearing a hat, gloves, and two pairs of socks INSIDE!

By Nick Ring.

The BIG 3: Fireplaces

Photo by Ryan Mahle.

Are you feeling chilly?
Me too.

It might be the flue!

Did you know that 14% of home energy is lost through the fireplace?

If you have a fireplace, there is a trapdoor that opens up your chimney, or flue, to let smoke and noxious gases safely out of your home. Managing that trapdoor is key to efficiently and safely managing the heat in your home. When first starting a fire, the flue should be opened wide to release initial heavy smoke. Then, as the fire settles, the opening of the flue should be restricted to keep as much heat as possible inside of your house while still channeling smoke up the chimney.

There are many other issues surrounding the safety, comfort and energy efficiency of your fireplace. Weathering of brick chimneys over time can lead to cracks in the mortar creating extra drafts. This can affect the flow of soot, air, smoke, and other gases. Furthermore, if these byproducts cool before reaching the top of the chimney, they can build up creosote and cause fires within your flue! A clean chimney sweeping and a new chimney lining can greatly reduce fire-related risks, while improving energy efficiency and cost efficiency when heating your home.

Even if a chimney is in good repair, by having a fire in the winter, homeowners may feel cold, replacement air coming into their living spaces, while valuable heat is being released into the atmosphere. This is not the goal, of course, but it is often the case. The house is constantly seeking equilibrium. Heated air moves towards the fireplace, and in turn, low pressure areas are created, pulling air in from the outside, often resulting in cooler zones within the home. This natural occurrence can have the opposite of the desired effect. Home Energy Audits help to identify improperly sealed and insulated areas. Aside from The Big 3 areas of energy loss, these areas include plumbing penetrations, doors, windows, vents and electrical outlets.

The freezing winter air is trying to get into your house through EVERY nook and cranny!

So you see the flue is not the only problem. But it is certainly one of them. Protect yourself from the flu(e) this season!

If you do not have a fireplace in your residence, and you are seeking a green heating solution, then you may want to check out electric fireplaces. They are inexpensive to install, operate, and maintain. They are easily portable, depending on the size of the appliance. Simply plug it in the room of your choosing, whether it be a single-family home, an office, an apartment, or even a mobile home. They are most effective in heating small living spaces, similar to fireplaces, however they do not cause dramatic temperature and pressure shifts like those caused by a traditional fireplace. Overall, electric fireplaces are a safe, comfortable, and energy efficient heating Alternative.

By Nick Ring.