Hidden areas where your home wastes energy

29 Aug Hidden areas where your home wastes energy

Most homeowners know that windows and doors are the areas of your home where energy waste is most likely to occur. Single- and double-pane windows, as well as unglazed windows and doors with poor sealing to the floor and frame, allow heat to escape easily from your home, driving up electric heating costs in winter and contributing to unpleasant thermal bridging.

But in this article, we explore the hidden parts of your home you might not know are letting heat escape, and moisture in.

As part of our series on building envelope design, here are the hidden areas where your home wastes energy.

Vents and drains in the roof

Your roof includes vents that allows air to be exchanged from outdoors to indoors, to improve air quality. They also help moisture escape from the structure, in order to prevent damage, such as rotting.

Most roofs, especially flat roofs, have drains that allow water to be removed from the surface, especially during heavy rains and snowfall.

If these elements are not properly sealed, air can easily escape from your home, resulting in heat loss during the winter.

In most cases, this is due to imperfect insulation. Your Builder or insulator should ensure these elements are well-insulated, according to BC Building Code standards and if you or they have any questions, they should talk to a Certified Energy Advisor. Meanwhile, your residential designer should ensure they are properly placed, and that there is an a satisfactory number of these elements, for your home to remain comfortable and moisture-free.

Pot lights

Similar to above, the areas around pot lights might get missed by your home’s insulator and could be a source of heat loss.

Foundation

One of the prime sources of heat loss in a home is the foundation. Traditional foundation materials, such as concrete, are imperfect insulators and can allow heat to transfer out of your home through the foundation.

Modern materials, such as ICF blocks and Stone Wool, insulate a foundation better, are cost effective and are easy to install.

These elements of building envelope design certainly make your home more efficient, but also improve the quality of life for your family, who will be more comfortable inside.