December 5, 2014
No matter how your try to cut it, there’s no getting around the fact that the cold temperatures are here to stay for the next handful of months. New Jersey winters may not be the worst in the world, but they can be downright cold and make for uncomfortable living conditions. There are a number of things that homeowners start noticing this time of year, and drafty windows rank up towards the top of the list.
Drafty windows can cause comfort levels within a home to plummet, as they source cold air and quickly allow it to enter the home with wreckless abandon. Fortunately, drafts don’t need to play a major role in your winter, as there are things that can be done in order to keep them at bay.
The Drawbacks of Replacing Windows
When most people notice that they have drafts coming into their home, the initial thought is that their windows need to be replaced and upgraded. It’s true that newer windows are far more energy efficient than those of the past, but window replacement does not come without its own set of drawbacks. Replacing windows can be an expensive endeavor, and often, it doesn’t get down to the root of the problem, which is typically associated with air-sealing and insulation.
You may not notice at first glance, but your home is full of random cracks that can allow cold air to enter the home and warm air to escape. Air-sealing fixes this issue, and properly insulating the home afterward can help to improve home performance and reduce drafts to a dramatic extent. This is typically more effective than window replacement, and it can be quite a bit less expensive as well, featuring a much better ROI than the alternative. Add to this a new heating system installed by Tom Rostron Company, and you’ll be infinitely closer to achieving your energy efficiency goals.
The Solution: Conducting a Home Energy Audit
Since drafts can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint, it’s important to enlist the help of a professional contractor who can diagnose exactly what’s going on. A home energy audit will help to isolate problems and allow you to come up with a plan of attack that will lead to improved energy efficiency, reduced drafts and increased comfort levels. Your home is a complex system of processes, and the only way to ensure that everything is working properly is to conduct a home energy audit.
Tom Roston believes in making existing homes as comfortable and energy-efficient as possible. Contact us today to learn more about how to keep drafts from overtaking your home.
