My Indiana Home Blog

It's important to find energy leaks in your home so you're saving money, especially if it's 20 years or older. So how do you find out if your home is less efficient? Knowing where to look is the first start. We as homeowners, often blame our drafty doors and windows for the expensive heating and cooling bills, but these are not the greatest sources for energy loss. You may find that the biggest issues arise from construction shortcuts.

For example, this could be the absence of external building wrap around the joists between the floor and walls, plus improperly insulated attics, basements and crawl spaces.  Generally homes that are 40 years or older are less efficient than newer ones because they haven't been built up to the latest codes. Unlike old homes, new ones come with building wrap, insulated attics and basements and more efficient double-paned windows, plus new heating and air conditioning units.

Another problem where homes tend to have inefficiency issues is where pipes and wires enter the building and never get properly sealed. Also having recessed lighting can cause problems because they sit in ceiling holes that carpenters never think to seal around the edges.

By checking these important parts of your home, you could save money in the summer and winter months when being energy efficient comes in handy!