How to Know Where Your Home is Losing Energy

Weatherization is helping Mainers battle high heating costs by making their homes and businesses less drafty, better insulated, and more energy efficient. Common weatherization projects include insulating walls, attics, and basements, and investing in air sealing, which reduces the amount of air that leaks in and out of a building. Over the next few weeks, Efficiency Maine will post some blogs that will dispel a variety of weatherization “myths” in an effort to inform Mainers about the potential benefits of making our buildings more energy-efficient. Today’s topic: how to know where your home is losing energy. 

Most homes have air leaks, or drafty areas where air moves in and out. Many homeowners believe that the biggest air leaks in their houses are occurring around windows and doors, probably because that’s where they feel the greatest drafts. While air leaks around windows and doors can be significant, the biggest air leaks for most homes are actually hidden from view. Some of the most common areas of air leakage in a home are through floors and ceilings, around chimneys, pipes, and ductwork.

Air leakage significantly raises energy bills and often makes homes less comfortable. The air that leaks out of your home is costly because you’ve paid to heat it. Locating the source of the leaks can be difficult because they are often hidden under your insulation. One way to locate air leaks in your home is to schedule an energy assessment with an Efficiency Maine Residential Registered Vendor (RRV). RRVs use specialized equipment and computer models to identify and quantify the extent of your energy loss. Also visit Efficiency Maine’s Energy Efficiency Calculator to learn how weatherization might improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Efficiency Maine offers rebates and loans for weatherization projects. Rebates are available for insulation projects (up to $5,000 rebate), as well as air sealing with an energy assessment ($500 rebate). Click here to find a contractor near you. 

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