Your home’s exterior is the first line of defense against the elements, keeping your home safe from weather-related damage, water, and wind. But it is also the first line of defense to keep your HVAC systems from working overtime. Today, we’re going to look at the exterior of your home to see if it’s energy efficient, identify common areas with issues, and discuss the best solutions for each.
Home Exterior Areas That Might Be Losing Efficiency
There are four common areas where your home might be losing energy efficiency. Note that this doesn’t cover interior protection such as home insulation. For more information on places where you may need more insulation, see our blog, What are My Options for Improving Home Insulation?
Your Exterior Siding & House Wrap
Siding isn’t just aesthetics—it’s about providing a durable defense against the elements, a barrier for moisture, and superior insulation. If your siding is old or damaged, it might need to be replaced. The elements beneath the siding, including the house wrap, act as a barrier to moisture and serve as the first line of insulation, helping to better regulate temperatures and humidity in your home.
Doors, Windows & Installations
Every door and window in your home can be a potential ingress point for air and water, as well as a point of temperature exchange, and the same is true for other installations that run through the exterior of your home, such as ventilation and utility lines. Making sure these areas are sealed properly and that doors and windows are insulated themselves—such as double pane glass—is vital.
Holes, Cracks & Air Sealing
Every nail, every screw, every misaligned frame can cause a place where air can enter or escape your home. This loss of conditioned air in your home—the air your HVAC system has worked hard to heat or cool—means a loss of efficiency. Air sealing is the process of identifying and sealing these issues in your home, including caulking and weatherstripping. Learn more in our blog, What is Home Air Sealing and Do I Need It for My House?
Foundation Issues, Especially Stone
Home foundations, including homes with basements or below-ground crawl spaces, can be another place where energy efficiency is lost. While especially true for aging stone foundations, foundation cracks can form in any home, and these cracks both compromise the insulation of your foundation and allow water in (water intrusion). Both can quickly cause your basements and crawl spaces to leech heat from your home.
St. Louis Home Performance & Renovation Experts
At Greenmark Home Performance, we believe that the best approach to home efficiency, health, and comfort is to tackle them all together. Our whole home approach focuses on identifying issues with a home evaluation and fixing them with solutions that include air sealing and insulation, ventilation, and interior and exterior renovations. If you’re in the St. Louis area, schedule an evaluation today or call us at (314) 845-9144 to get started.
