
Why do homes lose heat in the winter?
Most homes are vulnerable to energy loss during winter. Energy inefficiency is even more prevalent in older Virginia homes due to outdated materials and building techniques that lead to settling and gaps. Even newer homes can waste a lot of energy and increase your utility costs if corners are cut. According to ENERGY STAR®, 9 out of 10 homes in the U.S. don’t have enough insulation and have significant air leaks.
The most common ways homes lose energy in winter
Six most common problem areas that cause heat loss in colder weather:
- Poor attic ventilation — An important part of cooling your home's attic space is preventing heat transfer from lower areas. To ensure consistent airflow from outdoors without an exchange or loss between the attic and the rest of the home, add rafter vents, or baffles, to accompany proper attic floor insulation.
- Chimney drafts — An open chimney with no active fire can remove 70% of a room's heat!
- Windows and doors — The U.S. Department of Energy estimates heat loss through windows and doors is responsible for 25%–30% of residential heating and cooling energy use.
- Poor insulation — Many older homes lack adequate insulation and some homes may have cheaper and less effective insulation. Most common insulation materials work by slowing conductive heat flow and convective heat flow. Understanding Virginia's climate and installing more or better insulation in your home in the right areas can increase your home's ability to resist heat transfer, known as its R-value.
- Air ducts — Over time, a home's HVAC ductwork can develop gaps and poor connections.
- Plumbing and wiring — Areas, like your attic, basement, or crawlspace where plumbing and electrical connections enter your home, can have gaps or develop gaps over time.
How to reduce your home's loss of heat
Many Virginia utilities offer free energy audit programs to homeowners such as Dominion Power's Home Retrofit Program. Check with your power or gas utility provider. Some even offer free energy-saving materials. We recommend doing some sort of professional energy audit to know what's needed for your home. A well-sealed envelope, coupled with the right amount of insulation can really increase the comfort of your home and reduce your utility bills. It can also reduce noise from the outside, prevent animals from getting inside your home, provide healthier home air, and lower the chance of damaging ice dams on your roof after a winter storm.
Simple ways to keep your home warmer in winter
- Make sure your chimney's damper is closed when your fireplace is not in use and that its seal has a snug fit. That can be checked by a professional during your annual chimney maintenance.
- Use Caulk and spray foam for small gaps around your home to the outdoors, especially around wiring, plumbing, and ductwork. Protect your plumbing from freezing and bursting too!
- Check and replace weatherstripping around windows and doors to promote a tighter seal if needed.
- Use mastic tape to seal accessible ductwork and insulate ductwork in vulnerable areas.
- Schedule routine maintenance to your HVAC system for efficiency and change or clean your filters regularly.
- Have your roof inspected annually for damage and wear. Have the roofing professional check your attic at the same time.
- If upgrading energy-efficient insulating glass windows is not practical, clear plastic window insulating kits can cut down on drafts and heat loss.
- Utilize HVAC dampers to control how much or how little warm air is passing through sections of your home. Reduce the amount of warm air that travels to unused areas of the home.
- Removing window air conditioners during the winter can prevent cold air from flowing into your home.
- Turn your ceiling fans in a slow clockwise direction to push the warm air up in the ceiling down.

Sources:
https://www.energystar.gov/saveathome/seal_insulate/why-seal-and-insulate
https://www.purdue.edu/engineering
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