Question: Why is my house so cold even when my heating system is working in overdrive?
Coastal Windows & Exteriors Answer: First, let’s talk about the various areas of your home that are responsible for heat loss.
This diagram from Energy Star represents some of the most common air leakage points in the home—in other words, where heat is lost during the wintertime. When asking ‘my house is cold,’ these areas often come to mind as major culprits.
Here is the breakdown of the amount of energy escaping (in the largest amounts):
Roof and attic: 25%
Walls: 35%
Flooring: 15%
Drafty windows and doors: 25% (Drafty windows are particularly concerning, especially when considering)
Heating System Working in Overdrive? You Might Feel Ripped Off on Your Energy Bills
According to the National Weather Service, this winter is predicted to be 6% colder than last year, while heating costs are rising across the board. Electricity rates are increasing by 6%, and natural gas customers will see a staggering 24% hike. New England, being one of the coldest regions in the U.S., requires home heating for at least four months annually, which makes energy costs a pressing concern. National Grid has approved a 13% rate increase, further straining household budgets. Customers are feeling ripped off by National Grid!
Additionally, Eversource is seeking a 25-30% increase in natural gas rates starting this winter, as reported by the Boston Globe. Combined with colder temperatures, this is expected to significantly impact heating bills for New England homeowners.
When energy bills are soaring and your house is always cold, you’ll need to get to the root of the problem by preventing energy from escaping in the first place. At Coastal Windows & Exteriors, we are committed to installing products that are energy efficient and which will save you money on your energy bills year after year. Learn more about our Windows, Roofing, and Siding.
Now, we’ll discuss common causes of energy loss.
One of the culprits of energy loss with windows involves radiation and energy loss through the glass packages.
Radiation is the transfer of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves from one separate surface to another. Energy from the sun reaches the earth by radiation and a person’s body can lose heat to a cold window or skylight surface in a similar way. This happens when cold air is radiating off the glass and sinking into your home, resulting in an endless battle with your thermostat.
Make Your Home More Energy Efficient with Windows, Siding, Roofing and Doors
The key to making your home more energy efficient? Protecting against energy loss! This is achieved by sealing your home’s thermal envelope with energy efficient windows, siding, roofing, and doors.
Below, you can see some of the energy efficient upgrades that we’ve made to homes just like yours throughout New England. These products are engineered to save energy– even up to $500 a year!
- Vinyl Siding Installation in Hampton, NH
- James Hardie Installation in Methuen, MA
- Replacement Windows in North Attleboro, MA
- Vinyl Window Replacement in Chelsea, MA
- Roof Installation in Roslindale, MA
- Roof Installation in Beverly, MA
Call us today to schedule a free estimate, especially if your house always feels cold!
How to Win the Fight Against the Invisible Force of Radiation
The answer to combat this issue: energy efficient windows that have a glass package of at least double pane argon filled gas so that they will slow down the cold air going through.
Even though radiation is a culprit when it comes to energy loss, there is another big contender that potentially drains your bank account of hundreds of dollars each year: drafts.
Addressing the Issue of Drafts in the Home
Many homeowners associate drafts with windows, but the truth is that roofing, doors, and even siding can contribute to energy loss.
This is how drafts affect these components of the home along with what you need to do to stop them.
Drafts Coming from the Windows
Air infiltration is one of the major factors in determining the energy efficiency of a window. Since energy can escape from various points of a window (see below) you’ll need to have these sealed as airtight as possible.
Yes, caulking can help fill air pockets where energy escapes, but this is a short-term approach. Replacement windows with top air leakage ratings can stop drafts in their tracks and keep the home more comfortable.
Measured within a range of 0.1 and 0.3. CFM, .01 is the best rated for air infiltration. It means that the window only allows roughly a ½ can of soda full of air into the home per minute, while lower-rated CFMs allow nearly 20 cans per minute.
Don’t forget that professional installation is critical to the performance of a window while further reducing drafts. This includes avoiding the dangerous type of winter window condensation. Bypassing professional window installation can result in an incorrect fit within the frame, which leads to even more drafts and heat loss.
Drafty Entry Doors
Oh, the dreaded drafty door. If your door is anything but airtight, you’ll feel it in every season—especially during frigid New England winters.
But why does energy escape through an entry door? First, weatherstripping breaks down over time and loses its ability to properly seal the door. This is one of the most common major culprits of energy loss through an entry door. You can add new weatherstripping such as Q-Lon to block out air and moisture, but remember this is a short-term solution if your door is particularly old.
In addition to weatherstripping, your door needs insulation in order to keep the home warm. While wood is a natural insulator, simply choosing a wood door isn’t the answer to making it more energy efficient. A fiberglass entry door with a polyurethane foam core can provide excellent energy-saving benefits. In fact, a 1-½ inch thick door without a window is five times more insulating than a solid wood door.
Drafts and Energy Loss Through Siding
Just like entry doors, vinyl siding needs insulation to help fill in air pockets between the sheathing and the exterior. Otherwise, cold air gets behind the panels and it can impact the warmth and comfort of your home during the winter.
Pay attention to the thickness of the panels with vinyl siding replacement. For best results, choose panels that are 1-½” thick with insulation underneath. This provides thermal bridging and essentially blankets the exterior and prevents energy loss from escaping through the wood studs.
Energy Loss Through the Roof and Attic
With roofing, you actually want airflow going into the attic space—even in the winter. This is because cool winter air prevents the roof from becoming too warm from heat rising up to the attic. If the attic is too warm, it leads to snow runoff into your gutters which form into ice dams. Understanding this can help when planning for the winter forecast in New England.
When it comes to energy loss in the attic, insulation is important since the attic floor and ductwork can allow energy to escape through the cracks.
If you’re looking to maximize your energy savings, consider installing a solar roofs. Solar roofs can save Massachusetts homeowner sup to 100% on their energy bills!
The video below outlines the components needed for energy efficient roofing:
Is Your House Always Cold? Call us for a Free Estimate
If your home is always cold, there is a high probability that the exterior is underperforming—whether it’s your windows, door, roofing, or siding. This is especially true during harsh winters predicted by Farmers 2024 winter prediction. Call 978-817-7072 to book a FREE estimate with us!
