Enhance Your Older Home with Efficient Energy Upgrades

March 17, 2015

Older homes have a distinct charm that make them appealing to many people. However, that charm often comes with lower energy efficiency. Purchasing an older home doesn't mean you have to be plagued by drafts and high energy costs. There are several efficient energy upgrades homeowners can make to increase indoor air comfort and quality.

Perform an Energy Audit

An energy audit will identify the specific areas in your home where air leakage is occurring. An energy audit professional can perform the audit and provide a thorough plan to efficiently warm your home. Homeowners can also complete this task themselves by lighting incense and watching how the smoke moves. The smoke will move inwards where exterior air is entering and will blow outwards where interior air is escaping. These areas should then be sealed.

Seal Windows and Doors

Sealing windows and doors is one of the easiest and most effective ways to enhance energy efficiency. Use caulking and weatherstripping to seal any leaky areas around doors and windows. Window kits available from hardware stores can also be used to seal air leaks.

Install Insulation

Due to dated construction methods in the past, insulation in older homes can often be inadequate. Luckily, insulation can be blown into the walls of older homes by insulation professionals. Be sure to leave some room for ventilation. Without it, you might experience issues with moisture accumulating within the walls.

Add a Programmable Thermostat 

Heating or cooling a home when it's unoccupied is a huge waste of energy. A programmable thermostat will automatically increase or decrease the temperature when you're not home. Immediately prior to your expected return, your home is returned to comfortable temperature levels automatically.

To learn more about efficient energy upgrades and improving the efficiency of your older home, contact Lozier Heating & Cooling. We've been providing HVAC products and services in the Des Moines area since 1906. Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Des Moines, Iowa area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: "Pincasso/Shutterstock"