Top 5 places air leaks in your home
27 March 2024
While it might not be as dramatic as a burst water pipe, a leaking roof or a leaky building, you might be surprised just how much of a difference escaping air can make to your energy bills and the comfort of your home. Kiwi’s often spend 80% to 90% of their time in their home, especially in the colder months. It’s therefore important that your home provides the best possible living environment. Many houses in New Zealand are cold and damp in winter and leaking air can significantly contribute to heat loss. We look at 5 places air may be leaking in your home.
Roof Space
Heat rises and over 40% of heat can be lost through your ceiling, so it’s important to get rid of any draughts of areas of air leakage. A properly insulated roof space can help you save on your power bills. Your roof space might also be a treasure trove of storage space. Access points such as hatches or pull-down stairs often lack proper insulation and sealing, allowing warm air to rise and exit through the roof.
Floor
Almost half of New Zealand homes are not properly insulated and we’ve all been in houses where you can see through the floorboards! Not only does this allow air to escape, it also allows for rising damp from under the house.
Light fittings, plumbing and outside vents
Holes around plumbing, ducting, light fittings and wiring that comes through the walls, floors and ceilings may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of home energy efficiency, but they can be major culprits of air leakage. Pet doors and vents from things such as a rangehood, a dryer or shower can cause a lot of heat loss. Gaps around these fixtures, especially on exterior walls and the ceiling, provide an easy path for air to escape or enter your home.
Doors and Windows
We ask a lot of our doors and windows and even when they may seem solid they often harbour tiny gaps and cracks that allows air to slip through. With temperature fluctuations, and as wooden doors and frames age, these gaps can get worse. Using draft excluders and ensuring doors and windows fit tightly within their frames will help.
Chimney
Fireplace chimneys are designed to vent smoke and gases safely out of your home, but they can also be sources of air leakage. When not in use, a fireplace chimney can act as a direct pathway for warm air to escape, especially if the damper is not properly sealed. Invest in a flue sealer to block off the chimney opening when not in use, preventing unwanted air leakage and improving energy efficiency. Blocking off unused chimneys is a must.
Awarua Synergy can help
Many homes in New Zealand are under insulated, allowing air to escape and damp to enter. At Awarua Synergy we are experts in ensuring your home is warm and comfortable to live in, whatever the weather outside. We offer a free home assessment and advice on how to improve the comfort of your home.
Beat the chill factor – chat to the expert team at Awarua Synergy today on 0800 WARM SOUTH for your FREE, unconditional home energy health check!
