How to Know If Your Home Is Losing Heat Before Winter Hits

You don't need a blower door test to know your home is losing heat. There are signs you can spot yourself, and October is the right time to look for them.

Uneven temperatures between rooms. If one bedroom is always colder than the rest of the house, or your second floor stays warmer than your first all summer and colder all winter, the insulation and air sealing in that part of the envelope aren't doing the job.

Drafts near outlets and windows. Electrical outlets on exterior walls are a common air infiltration point. Hold your hand near one on a cold day — if you feel air movement, the wall cavity behind it isn't sealed.

Ice dams last winter. Ice dams form when heat escapes through the roof deck, melts snow, and the water refreezes at the eaves. They're a direct symptom of attic heat loss and a warning sign that you'll have the same problem this year if nothing changes.

Higher-than-expected utility bills. If your neighbors in similar-sized homes are paying significantly less to heat and cool, your envelope is probably where the difference is.

Humidity and condensation on windows. Excess indoor humidity in winter often means outside air is moving through the envelope, bringing moisture with it.

Any one of these points to an insulation or air sealing issue worth addressing before you're paying to heat the outdoors all winter. A free assessment tells you where the losses are and what it would take to fix them.

Call (845) 319-9169 or visit sprayfoamhv.com.