Energy Saving Exteriors

There is nothing quite like a nice, warm day, where we can spend our time outside in our gardens, shaping up our grass, planting flowers and trimming bushes. Most people desire to have the outside of their homes to be aesthetically appealing as well as their interiors.
Even though this is something worthy of attention, do people give the same amount of focus and attention on the ‘cost efficiency’ side of it? Of course, the main reason for us working hard is to earn money and keep a roof over our heads – so why must we allow our money to be wasted through the unwanted escape of heat from our homes?

Studies show that the most heat lost from a home is through drafts. So it is not only fair, but also perfectly correct to assume that filling these drafts can and will reduce our heating bills in the long run. To determine what needs to be improved about the exterior of your home, the simplest method would be to go outside, take a walk around it, and have a look at its structure yourself. For starters, it is best to first carefully inspect where two different materials meet, for example where the chimney meets the siding, and where foundation structures meet the exterior bricks. Of course, exterior corners must also be paid their due attention.

It is essential to fill in any holes or cracks that you may observe. Be sure, however, to know what materials or solution should be used to fill in the appropriate cavities. This job must be done correctly in order to notice the desired effect. Doing it correctly will also allow the solution or filling material to do its job for a greater amount of time, which is ideal. Along with cracks and holes, it is equally important, if not more, to take a look at faucets or pipes. There must not be any holes inside these pipes and the faucets must not be loose. Exterior inspections of your home should include doors and windows. Doors and windows in particular must be able to seal tightly in order to prevent the unwanted escape of heat. Air conditioner systems are usually mounted onto/into walls rather than in windows in summer time.

Not only can this save time of installation or un-installation for the system, it also allows the entry of drafts during colder times of the year, and winter in particular. However, for this to happen, the area around the system must be completely sealed. alternatively, you could perhaps make an investment and buy a tailoured cover for this purpose. The cover will prevent heat from escaping, and prevent cold air from entering your home during the winter.

Home insulation is a very key factor in a sustainable home, and in any case, you must ensure that your home is properly insulated. Proper insulation is one of the most effective ways of saving large amounts of money for heating.

The attic of your home is one place in particular that you should check. It is important to have a vapor barrier under the attic insulation. Since it is the outer surface of the attic that is directly exposed to rain, water vapor can pass through it. As the levels of moisture increase, the efficiency and overall effectiveness of your insulation inside the attic will decrease more and more, and also cause damage to your attic structure.

To prevent such things from happening, it is important to have a vapor barrier which can come in a variety of forms – Kraft paper, which is usually attached to fiberglass sheets, Tar paper, plastic sheets or even vapor barrier paint. Just like with the rest of the house exterior, you should again check for any gaps and any other type of duct work being properly sealed.

If your funds allow you to make investments to your home, I advise you to buy energy efficient doors and windows, if you do not have them already. Even though this can be expensive, the money it will save you in the long run is far more. As a short conclusion; making sure that your home exterior is properly sealed, that your doors and windows are energy efficient, that your walls and other structures are properly insulated with the appropriate materials, are some of the key factors that can potentially save you great, great deals of money if they are present in your home.