Brrr - are you feeling that chill? Kiwi homes can get quite icy during the winter months, and a lot of people decide to invest in quality heating and insulation for their homes. But there's not much point to this if the heat will simply escape straight away and cause your energy bills to skyrocket.
There are some surprising ways heat escapes from homes. Here are five sources of heat loss in New Zealand homes that you may not have considered, and some energy saving tips to help you address them.
1. Curtains
The wrong curtains, or ones that aren't properly installed, can cause a lot of heat to escape from your home. The drapes covering your windows could be letting a lot of heat escape without you realising. Windows are responsible for a great deal of energy loss in homes and if your curtains don't cover them completely, chances are a lot of warmth is leaving the room.
Double glazing helps enormously, but installing the right curtains correctly will ensure that the glazing works the way it's supposed to. In fact, EnergyWise estimates that properly-installed curtains can prevent heat loss in New Zealand homes through single-glazed windows by up to 60 per cent and through double-glazed windows by up to 50 per cent.
Tip: Consider attaching curtain linings to the back of your curtains, or investing in thermal curtains that offer an extra layer of warmth. You can combine curtains with blinds or shutters for even more of a barrier to the cold air outside.
2. Gaps or openings in the ceiling
Cracks and gaps in the ceiling around pipes, wires and lights can cause heat to escape into the attic, even if it's properly insulated. Consumer NZ estimates that approximately 30-35 per cent of heat escapes through the roof. Older homes are particularly vulnerable to heat loss through cracks in the ceiling. Gaps or openings around things such as pipes, chimneys, wires or lights can let air escape into the attic - even if it's properly insulated. Plugging the gaps and sealing those openings will help ensure all that nice warm air is contained inside the room.
Tip: Heat escaping into the attic through lighting fixtures is particularly prevalent with older style downlights installed prior to mid-2012. Replace them with LED downlights. They're better sealed and can be covered with insulation. They're also way more energy efficient, so those electricity bills won't be so much of a hassle.
3. Gaps around windows and doors
Draughts and the opening and closing of doors accounts for 6-9 per cent of heat loss in homes, according to Consumer NZ. If you've already invested in double glazing, the windows and doors themselves aren't letting much heat escape, but the cracks around them could be.
Gaps around windows and doors can easily be filled using draught excluders or weather stripping. You can do this yourself by picking up weather stripping products at your local hardware store. Weather stripping products are typically made from rubber or foam, are self-adhesive and come in a range of thicknesses and materials to suit different gaps and types of doors and windows.
Tip: Each year, check the weather stripping along with the hinges and latches on your doors and windows. If they're damaged or loose, replace them to avoid cold air sneaking its way into your home.
4. Unused fireplaces
The problem with this is that your heating won't perform up to scratch if hot air is escaping through the chimney. If you're in an older home with chimneys, chances are you have a fireplace. If you use a more modern form of heating to warm your home in winter, then the fireplace often goes unused.
Tip: Plug the fireplace with newspaper or plastic bags to prevent heat escaping. Don't forget to remove it when summer comes around again - otherwise Santa Claus won't be able to fit down the chimney!
5. Sealant in the bathroom
Take a look at the sealant in your bathroom - is it time to reseal those gaps? When was the last time you checked the sealant in your bathroom? Worn out sealant around your bathtub or shower is another source of heat loss in the home that you may not have considered.
Sealant is a flexible material used to seal air leaks through cracks and gaps in the bathroom so that water doesn't escape. However, over time, it can dry out and become susceptible to mould, lessening its sealing effect and providing another opportunity for warm air to escape.
Tip: Scrape off the old sealant from around your bathtub, shower and other places and reseal those gaps with new sealant to prevent water damage and air from leaking out.
If the amount of energy you're losing is greater than that being produced, your energy bills will increase unnecessarily. That's why it's important to address those surprising sources of heat loss. You should also use a power company that uses energy efficient heating methods. To learn more about how Contact can help you cut down on energy loss in the home, take a look at our range of plans to suit all needs and budgets.