Don't let a leaky staircase freeze you out

If you’re anything like me, you probably have a love/hate relationship with your attic. On the one hand, it’s a great place to store away Christmas decorations and bulky suitcases that you don’t often use. On the other hand, it’s not the easiest place to get in and out of, and it’s also the single biggest pain point when it comes to heat and air leaks in the home.

Most people around this area access their attic through a pull down staircase or ladder. In terms of heat and A/C seepage, this huge hole in your ceiling is your number one problem. While it gives you access to extra storage, it can also cost you hundred of dollars in energy waste that you’ve probably never given a second thought to.  

I faced this problem myself many years ago, and recognizing the issue, I built myself an insulated box that I fit inside the attic and over the hole where the stairs sit above the ceiling. This simple barrier stopped the heat that was escaping out of the house and through the roof, and immediately my energy bill started to drop. Being in attics every day, I am surprised how many homeowners don’t realize that they have the same problem.

If you access your attic through a pull down staircase, do yourself a favor this winter and get it insulated. A simple box or tent, usually made from polystyrene, will close the space between your home and your attic, sealing the gaps where cold air gets in and heat gets out. The box itself is inexpensive and installation is quick and easy. It’s a simple fix that will pay for itself in spades over the course of this winter and for years to come. 

Get your home ready for the cold

In just a few months winter will be upon us again, and for homeowners, that means keeping our families comfortable and protecting our homes by keeping the warm air inside and the cold air out in the cold! Unfortunately for many people, especially those with older homes, there are a number of ways that houses can lose heat, which can result in both an electric bill shock and a long, chilly winter indoors. So before the cold weather sets in, give your house a quick once over with my six point checklist.

1. Feel for a draft around your windows. Many single pane, wood sash windows are terrible for keeping in heat. You can either replace them, or at the very least, cover them or use a DIY insulation kit to caulk up any substantial gaps.

2. The same goes for the doors. Older doors tend to warp, creating large pockets between the door and the frame. New vinyl doors are inexpensive and can give your home a more contemporary look while retaining a significant amount of heat.

3. On the topic of doors, take a look at your door sweep. If you have one and it's in poor condition, have it replaced. This will help to keep warm air inside.

4. Check the insulation in your attic. Most of the homes I visit are not properly insulated, which means that heat is escaping right through the roof. Make sure your home has enough insulation by contacting a local contractor for an inspection.

5. Close up your fireplace when you're not using it. By leaving the flue open, you're letting the cold air seep right into the house. Have some glass doors installed so you can easily access the fireplace when you need to.

6. If you have a forced air heating and cooling system, check the ducts for leaks. If you find a crack, don't worry, it can easily be repaired with duct sealant. Your local hardware store will have it in stock.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, sealing air leaks in your home can save you between five and 30 per cent on your heating bill, so do yourself a favor and give your house a quick check up before the winter. Your family and your wallet will thank you.

Insulation is key to reducing energy costs

With school starting and autumn right around the corner, it’s almost time to start thinking about the cold weather season ahead. I’m sure you’ll agree that last winter was brutal, so let’s get ahead of the game this year by doing one small thing to keep more heat in your home and give you a break on your electricity bills.

I’ve been in the attics of thousands of homes in this area and I can tell you that 75 percent of them aren’t properly insulated. This means that heat (and air conditioning in the summer) is escaping out of the house and that you are likely turning that thermostat up (or down) way more than you have to.

Insulation acts as a barrier against heat flow, helping to keep the warm air inside the house by slowing the flow and stopping the heat from getting outside. The problem is that most people, especially those who own older homes, do not have enough insulation to keep up with our increasingly cold winters.

How do you know if you have proper insulation? You’ll need to find out where you currently have (or don’t have) insulation, what type of insulation is currently installed, and what its “R-value” is. The R-value is the material's’ resistance to heat flow, so the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating properties. Once you have this information, you can determine how much additional insulation you need, which will be dependent on our Connecticut climate, your house size and what kind of heating you have. This analysis can either be done by a qualified contractor or you can do it yourself if you’re handy around the house.

The United States Environment Protection Agency says that with proper insulation, the average home in our area can save approximately 16 percent in total heating and cooling costs. For older homes, that number skyrockets to nearly 50 percent. So is it worth taking a look at insulation? If you like keeping more dollars in your wallet, I’d say yes.