Better Winter Wardrobe Options for Your Home

Q: I experienced some less-than-pleasant conditions at home this winter, including cold floors and dry air. Any suggestions for addressing them? Could they indicate larger problems?

A: Simple solutions certainly exist for these common winter occurrences: slippers or socks for cold floors and humidifiers for dry air. But these steps (no pun intended) only mask the symptoms and don’t tackle their root cause. Humidifiers can even introduce problems of their own, as too much moisture can attract pests and lead to condensation, staining and unwelcome microbial growth.

The culprit behind your discomfort is likely air leakage. Air leaks allow warm air from your home to escape, and they bring in drier, cold air from outside. Gaps and cracks in your floors or ceilings (e.g., from wiring, plumbing, an attic access, HVAC vents), drafty windows or doors, and leaky ductwork can all contribute.

Therefore, a more durable, long-term approach would be to manage these air leaks and keep heated air inside and cold air out. Here are specific areas to assess.

Ducts and vents

Have your ductwork checked for proper or airtight connections and any holes, damage, obstructions or disconnections. Ideally, all parts of your ductwork are leak-free, like your plumbing pipes, but a typical house loses around 20% to 30% of the air that travels through its ducts because of the above complications, according to ENERGY STAR^®.

If you notice air not coming from a particular supply register (make sure all of these are clean and unblocked), it could indicate an issue with that duct (or maybe you’ll find a long-lost toy). A home energy or heating and cooling contractor can work to seal your ducts, though it is also a task you may be able to do yourself.

In addition to checking for gaps in your ductwork, see if the insulation (either inside or outside) is still present. If it’s not, consider patching holes and fastening in place to help maximize the efficiency of your heating system.

Around the attic

Another valuable area to examine for unintended openings is between your attic and living space. You may have to maneuver around insulation in your attic to locate holes, though dirty insulation may signal that one is close by. Everything that comes through the ceiling (e.g., wiring, plumbing, venting, piping and ducting) is likely to have a gap, crack or hole around it that lets warm, comfortable air pass through. Holes above cabinets or around showers may be easier to spot.

After air sealing, go back and make sure the insulation is consistent throughout the space, including the attic access door. Aim for at least 13 inches of insulation everywhere. At this point, adding blown-in insulation will be more effective than using batts.

Floors

The suggestions for above your living space (attic) apply to below it as well. Floors in existing homes are traditionally insulated with fiberglass batts between the floor joists. In addition to air sealing caps, cracks and holes in this area, fixing insulation that has fallen to gravity and gone missing can improve the effectiveness of your floor’s thermal blanket.

If your comfort problems persist, you could consider closing your crawlspace with insulation attached to the foundation walls. This is a major undertaking and entails much more than just shutting your crawlspace vents, but it can greatly enhance your living environment.

The ideas discussed in this article should help in any and all parts of your home. Along with improving your comfort, they’ll likely save you in energy and pest management, too.

This article was originally published in Carolina Country magazine.