Save Money by Minimizing Heat Loss

Save Money by Minimizing Heat Loss through Doors and Windows

The desire to cut on electricity bills and to live in an eco friendly way has motivated many of us to take steps towards conserving energy. But there are a number of simple ways of energy conservation that people tend to overlook. One of the most common reasons for heat loss from homes is through doors and windows. Here are a few steps to ensure that this heat loss is minimized.

You should use weather-proof stripping for your doors. The space of even 1/8 inch between an average door and its threshold can cause significant loss of insulation, and closing these small spaces can help you save up to 15% of costs incurred in heating or cooling your house. Rubber is the most commonly used sealing material and rightly so. Foam and felt are cheaper alternatives but they have lesser life and effectiveness. Don’t forget to regularly replace the worn out stripping. And if you are thinking of replacing your doors, you should go for insulated doors that minimize heat loss.

A lot of heat loss from homes can be prevented by ensuring that the windows do not have cracks and ill-fitted frames or panes. This problem can be addressed by substituting the standard windows with high performance (double glazed or even triple glazed) windows. You can also go for windows covered with low emissive coatings. Low emissive glass costs slightly more than high performance windows but it can significantly cut your heating costs.

While planning any repairs or restructuring of your windows and doors, you should keep your finances in mind. If you don’t want to spend a lot in one go, then you should target the major problem areas first. Focus on north facing windows for reducing heat loss. And if you want to keep the house cool, then target south facing windows that trap additional heat in summers. You can also invest in shades and blinds that can perform both of these functions by improving the insulation of the windows. While you are at it, check out our Top 10 Water Heater Tips that can save you money.

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