Here’s a simple, somewhat reliable test of whether your house is adequately insulated. On a cloudy day when the furnace or central air-conditioning is off, put a thermometer on a chair in the middle of a room with at least one exterior wall. Then tape another thermometer to that wall, and wait a few minutes.
If the temperature in the middle of the room is within a few degrees of the reading on the wall thermometer, then the insulation in that wall at least is good enough. But if there is a big difference between the two, it may be time to make some changes.
Heating and cooling account for 50 percent to 70 percent of the energy used in the typical American home, according to the federal Department of Energy, which also estimates that 20 percent goes for heating water, while 10 to 30 percent is consumed by lighting, appliances, and everything else. Insulation can do much to lower your utility bills in summer as well as winter. Properly done, whether by a professional installer or the homeowner, it can make life extremely comfortable when the weather outside is not.
If you need a more professional reckoning of your needs, you can have an energy audit performed. Some utility companies offer such audits free, while professionals can charge up to $500 for them.Check the Web site of the National Association of Energy Service Companies (http://www.naesco.org) for a list of experts in your area.
Related posts:
- Insulation at Your House A professional audit should be a detailed room-by-room analysis, including...
- Insulation at Your House (3) The facing material on the insulation is generally a vapor...
- Insulation at Your House (4) Whether you should install insulation yourself depends on the structural...
- Insulation at Your House (2) R-values are cumulative, so there is no need to remove...
- Adjustments to Heating & Air-Conditioning System If you are planning an addition, you’ll probably have to...