Tip 20 - It's Your Loss |
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Heat loss through a basement floor can account for nearly one-third of your heating bill. Maybe you're wasting energy and harming the environment without realizing it. |
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ENERGY FACTS
- Heat rises, right? Actually, engineers have found that considerable heat sinks through the uninsulated floors of a home, into the basement.
- Cold air often enters basements through cracks in the foundation, which is especially costly if the basement has a heated room.
- Energy travels through many basements in hot water pipes and heating ducts. If they're uninsulated, cold basement air will rob them of heat.
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SIMPLE WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY
- Insulate under the floor. It's the most effective way to save energy if your basement isn't heated. City Light recommends R-19 to R-30, 6" to 10".
- Insulate hot water pipes (R-3) and heating ducts (R-11 to R-19).
- Install a rug with a pad. It can work wonders in keeping the frost off your toes and cut your energy use.
- If you have a heated basement, patch cracks in the foundation. Insulate basement walls.
- If your basement is unheated, use caulk to seal spaces around heating vents, holes where telephones wires dive under the floor and around pipes or other openings.
- Insulate your crawl spaces to R-19 to R-30. If you can't squeeze in, call a contractor.
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NOTE: Vents under the house release moisture and prevent rot. Don't block them, even in winter.
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