Many people think that it’s impossible to have an older home that’s also energy efficient. However, this is not the case. You don’t require a modern, high-tech home in order to save money on your energy bills. In fact, many older homes already have passive energy efficiency features, since they were built before modern air-conditioning systems. It’s not difficult to incorporate modern technology into your Dayton area home without damaging its appearance and charm.
The usual suspects
In most homes, including older ones, there are three main problem areas to consider when you want to make your home more energy efficient.
- Insulation: In many older homes, there is little or no insulation. By adding additional insulation in the attic and walls, you can vastly increase your older home’s energy efficiency. Walls can be filled with loose fill or expanding foam insulation, while the attic can have either loose fill or batt
- Air leaks: It’s essential in older homes to seal any cracks or openings that might be allowing air infiltration. You can close large gaps around openings for pipes and utilities with expanding foam. For doors and windows, use caulk and weatherstripping
- Your HVAC system: Unfortunately, a lot of old houses have old, inefficient HVAC systems. Generally, it’s best to replace these inefficient systems with more modern technology.
An older home can be made energy efficient without ripping it apart. If you have any questions about this process, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. Our experienced professionals will be more than happy to help you.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about energy efficiency and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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