If you are like millions of Americans, then you are feeling the financial pinch of a cold winter and high energy costs.  It can be terribly expensive to keep a home warm during the coldest months of the year, but there are ways to ensure that your house is retaining the heat given off by the HVAC system.  Many homeowners pay more than they have to, month after month, because they don’t realize how much heat their houses are allowing to escape.

There are many areas where heat can escape from a home:

• The space around doors.
• Old, or poorly sealed windows
• Un-insulated attics
• Un-insulated- or poorly insulated walls
• Ducts, vents, or access holes in the home
• Fireplace dampers

These are just a few of the areas where heat can escape from your home.  How do you know if you have an excess of heat leaving your home?  There are some telltale signs to look for.  For instance, icicles are signs of heat loss.  The heat radiating through the roof or roof vents heats the snow sitting or ice built up on the surface.  This allows it to drip over the side, but the cold air causes it to refreeze, resulting in icicles.  The larger the icicles hanging from your house, the most heat loss you are likely suffering from.  Similarly, look for bare patches on your roof after a snowstorm.  If the majority of the room is snow covered, but one section clears faster than the rest, that is likely an area of more intense heat loss.  You can also feel heat loss.  If you sit- or stand near drafty windows or doors, you will feel cold, which is a result of the heat leaving your home.

An HVAC technician can use special sensors and tools to evaluate your home and locate problem areas, so you can better insulate and seal your home for improved efficiency and lower utility bills.