Kay Pratt Realtor Edmond Oklahoma City Real Estate
About Kay Pratt Realtor Edmond Oklahoma City Real Estate

News about buying and selling homes in central Oklahoma.

Monday, May 19, 2008

 

Finding the Engery Leaks




The best way in finding energy leaks in your home is to get an energy audit conducted by a professional third-party efficiency certification company. What you can learn about your house can be invaluable.
The audits, which take about two-and-a-half hours, are designed to identify major energy leaks in a house. Home owners are given a thick report showing where the top leaks are and how to fix them.

Surprisingly, drafty windows and doors are typically not the greatest sources of energy loss. The biggest culprits are construction shortcuts such as:
  • The absence of external building wrap around the joists between the floors and walls
  • Improperly insulated attics
  • Improperly insulated basements and crawl spaces

As you'd expect, homes that are 40 or more years old are typically far less efficient than newer ones that have been built to updated codes.

Both older and newer homes tend to be inefficient when it comes to the places where pipes and wires come into them. Another problem area, even in new homes is recessed lighting. Recessed lights sit in big ceiling holes and carpenters rarely think to seal around the edges.

By the end of the audit, clients should know the house's main problem areas. The inspection report will give them suggestions for repairs. It's unlikely the auditor will recommend that everything be fixed, they usually focus on repairs that will provide the greatest efficiency at a reasonable cost.

"It doesn't make sense to spend thousands of dollars to get small improvements in efficiency." "But it does make sense to spend a few thousand to get efficiencies that'll pay for themselves in a few years.

Reducing utility payments is just one of the benfits you'll see: you'll also enjoy more creature comfort and-down the road-potentially a greater resale value.


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