Learning About HVAC Contractor Services

Winter is approaching quickly and while you may be planning holiday gatherings, you should also be preparing your home for the cooler temperatures. Your heating and cooling system accounts for half of your home's total energy use, so ensuring your home is sealed and prepared to hold in heat while keeping out the cold during the winter is essential. With this guide, you will learn a few ways your home is decreasing the efficiency of your heating system.

Windows and Doors

Consider inspecting your windows and doors before you start running your heat. Move your hand around the glass of your window panes, around the frames, and around your doors to determine if any air is coming in from the outside. If you feel air coming through, maintenance is necessary.

After a few years, window seals will wear down, eventually failing. This allows air to escape through, reducing the efficiency of your heating system in the winter since cooler air will be coming into the home while you are trying to heat it. Foggy windows or condensation on the glass are other signs that the seals have failed. Replacing the windows is key if your seals have failed.

Installing energy efficient drapes and lined curtains may also be helpful in conserving energy if seals are failing on your windows. Drapes and curtains block air from coming in through the windows while preventing conditioned air from escaping out of the glass panes.

Adding caulk around your windows and doors is helpful for preventing heat loss. Apply a layer of caulk in the spaces between the window or door frame and the wall. Use clear caulk or silicone so the sealant does not stand out against the paint in your home.

Attic and Roof

No matter what kind of attic and roof is in your home, it most likely is the main cause of heat loss in the winter. Unfortunately, most builders do not install a sufficient amount of insulation in the attic. Without the correct amount of insulation, your home will be losing much-needed heated air during the winter season.

Add extra layers of traditional batted insulation or consider investing in in spray foam for the maximum protection against lost energy. Focus on the attic, door, too.

Apply foam weather-stripping around the door to your attic, which will block cold air from entering the interior of your home. Make sure the door closes properly, forming a tight seal between the attic and the inside of your home.

Reducing heat loss is important during the winter season. By focusing on your windows, doors, and attic, you can prevent heat loss and ensure your heating system is working in the most efficient and effective way. To learn more, contact a company like Derek Sawyers Smart Energy Heating & Air.