Cape Cod Home Insurance It seems as if warm air is constantly looking for ways to escape your home during the winter months. While good insulation and weatherized doors and windows can help, other sources of potential air leaks are often overlooked.
In the average home, more than 40% of heat loss occurs through fireplaces, air ducts, and plumbing and electrical access points. Sealing gaps and air leaks in these areas can result in significant savings on your winter heating bills while improving the comfort of your home.
Fireplace. Your chimney is an outlet for the warm air generated by your furnace or boiler. If your fireplace is not in use, keep the damper closed to prevent any warm air from going up the chimney. Check the seal on the flue damper and make sure that it is as snug as possible. Consider installing tempered glass doors and a heat exchange system that blows warm air back inside.
Air ducts. Over time, ductwork can develop leaks, holes, and poor connections. In the areas you can reach, seal all ductwork with mastic or metal tape. Insulate ductwork in unheated areas, such as attics and crawlspaces. If you suspect more serious problems, contact a heating and cooling professional.
Plumbing and electrical access. Gaps may occur where electrical lines, plumbing, and gas pipes enter your home from the outdoors. Seal these areas with a do-it-yourself spray foam insulation.
A home energy assessment is a great way to ensure that your home is operating as efficiently as possible. Call 1-866-527-SAVE to schedule your no-cost in-home energy assessment from National Grid. To optimize the efficiency of your heating system and maximize your comfort, your Energy Specialist will determine if your home is properly insulated and whether the gaps around doors and windows need to be caulked and sealed. Based on the findings of your Energy Specialist, you may be eligible for no-cost air sealing and 75% off (up to $2,000) toward the cost of installing approved insulation. Your Energy Specialist will provide you with information on how to move forward with these insulation and air sealing improvements.
Additionally, remember to have your existing heating system cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified technician. Or, it may be time to upgrade to a new high-efficiency gas furnace or boiler. Your Energy Specialist can help you make this decision. Old, inefficient heating systems often have a continuously lit pilot light, are connected to a chimney, use a draft hood (an opening at or near the top of the appliance that allows room air to be drawn into the chimney), and contain old coal burners that were switched over to gas. If your system is 15-years-old or older, it’s probably time for an upgrade. You may notice that some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold; your home has humidity problems; and/or your heating system is noisy, too large for your home, or in need of frequent repairs.
You must be a National Grid Massachusetts residential customer who owns and resides in a 1-4 unit home to be eligible for an energy assessment. If you rent an apartment or own an individual condominium unit, you cannot apply directly for this program. Your building owner/agent must contact us directly to determine eligibility and enroll your building in the program. We encourage you to speak to your building owner about your interest.You must be a Massachusetts residential natural gas heating customer of National Grid to qualify for heating rebates. Only equipment purchases and installations made between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015 are eligible. Equipment must be installed by a licensed heating or plumbing contractor at the customer’s service address. Rebate request must be submitted within 60 days from installation date.
Source: NationalGrid.com
In the average home, more than 40% of heat loss occurs through fireplaces, air ducts, and plumbing and electrical access points. Sealing gaps and air leaks in these areas can result in significant savings on your winter heating bills while improving the comfort of your home.
Fireplace. Your chimney is an outlet for the warm air generated by your furnace or boiler. If your fireplace is not in use, keep the damper closed to prevent any warm air from going up the chimney. Check the seal on the flue damper and make sure that it is as snug as possible. Consider installing tempered glass doors and a heat exchange system that blows warm air back inside.
Air ducts. Over time, ductwork can develop leaks, holes, and poor connections. In the areas you can reach, seal all ductwork with mastic or metal tape. Insulate ductwork in unheated areas, such as attics and crawlspaces. If you suspect more serious problems, contact a heating and cooling professional.
Plumbing and electrical access. Gaps may occur where electrical lines, plumbing, and gas pipes enter your home from the outdoors. Seal these areas with a do-it-yourself spray foam insulation.
A home energy assessment is a great way to ensure that your home is operating as efficiently as possible. Call 1-866-527-SAVE to schedule your no-cost in-home energy assessment from National Grid. To optimize the efficiency of your heating system and maximize your comfort, your Energy Specialist will determine if your home is properly insulated and whether the gaps around doors and windows need to be caulked and sealed. Based on the findings of your Energy Specialist, you may be eligible for no-cost air sealing and 75% off (up to $2,000) toward the cost of installing approved insulation. Your Energy Specialist will provide you with information on how to move forward with these insulation and air sealing improvements.
Additionally, remember to have your existing heating system cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified technician. Or, it may be time to upgrade to a new high-efficiency gas furnace or boiler. Your Energy Specialist can help you make this decision. Old, inefficient heating systems often have a continuously lit pilot light, are connected to a chimney, use a draft hood (an opening at or near the top of the appliance that allows room air to be drawn into the chimney), and contain old coal burners that were switched over to gas. If your system is 15-years-old or older, it’s probably time for an upgrade. You may notice that some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold; your home has humidity problems; and/or your heating system is noisy, too large for your home, or in need of frequent repairs.
You must be a National Grid Massachusetts residential customer who owns and resides in a 1-4 unit home to be eligible for an energy assessment. If you rent an apartment or own an individual condominium unit, you cannot apply directly for this program. Your building owner/agent must contact us directly to determine eligibility and enroll your building in the program. We encourage you to speak to your building owner about your interest.You must be a Massachusetts residential natural gas heating customer of National Grid to qualify for heating rebates. Only equipment purchases and installations made between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015 are eligible. Equipment must be installed by a licensed heating or plumbing contractor at the customer’s service address. Rebate request must be submitted within 60 days from installation date.
Source: NationalGrid.com
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