Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Uncategorized

Prevent Energy Loss in Your Home this Winter

Winter is slowly creeping in, and the colder temperatures have already given our furnaces a workout.

Assuming we experience typical temperatures this Winter, MUD estimates on average residential customers will pay 17-18% more on their natural gas bill this winter. Add this to higher costs across the board due to inflation, and many homeowners will be feeling a pinch this year.

We can’t do much about the weather, but we can take steps to reduce costly energy loss in our homes.

The Prairie Construction team share these tips for homeowners:

  • Make sure your attic is properly insulated. Without it, rising heat will escape through the roof.
  • Insulation can be blown into wall cavities, which will reduce air circulation and prevent energy loss.
  • Seal cracks and fill gaps around windows and doors to prevent air from escaping.
  • Seal off an unused chimney with a chimney balloon inserted into the chimney, or with airtight glass doors.
  • Cover air conditioner units to prevent cold air from entering the home through them.

Taking these steps will help reduce the loss of energy through your home this Winter, combatting the rising energy costs that will impact all of us.

Posted on By Julie Swartz Categories Uncategorized

Prepare Your Home for Winter

It won’t be long before Winter settles into the Midwest. Before the first snowfall, the Prairie Construction teams recommend you take some precautions to avoid ice jams and costly energy loss in your home.

One important aspect of winter home preparation is ensuring that you have a reliable and efficient source of heating fuel, such as oil. If you use oil to heat your home, it’s a good idea to read the FAQ’s from GreenSeal Oil Tank Service or a similar company before the winter season starts. This can help you understand the process of ordering and receiving oil deliveries, as well as any policies or procedures that you need to be aware of. Knowing what to expect can help you plan and budget accordingly, and ensure that you’re never without heat during the winter months.

Ice jams occur when precipitation, like snow, is in a pattern of melting and refreezing. Snow will melt as the temperature climbs during the day, and refreeze as the temperatures dip in the evenings. This forces the water and ice under shingles and the roof underlayment which can eventually lead to water leaking in your house. But the problem is not the roof, it’s what is happening under your roof that is to blame.

Inadequate insulation in your home allows heat to escape into your attic, which can be a costly loss of energy but can also be the cause of ice jams. As the heat in the attic reaches the roof, the roof deck warms and melts the snow on top of the roof. The melting/refreezing cycle causes a layer of ice to form under the snow on the surface of your roof, which can lead to roof damage and leaks in the home. You may then have to contact a roof repair company (check roofing marietta ga if you need your roof fixed) in your vicinity that can fix the roof damage. Therefore, insulating your home properly before winter could be necessary.

The Prairie Construction recommend tips to avoid energy loss and ice jams this Winter:

  • Make sure your home has enough soffit vents, and they are clear of debris.
  • If your attic is unfinished, you should see light from the outdoors. If you are unable to see light, your soffit vents may be plugged with debris. Clean plugged vents, or replace with newer vents that don’t get plugged as easily.
  • The attic should have a few feet of insulation. If you are unsure if your home has enough insulation, have a contractor check it out.
  • Seal up holes and cracks which can be a source of energy loss. Caulk and weather strip around windows to reduce air leakage.

This Winter, watch for icicles to form on your roof. They can be an indication of an ice jam. Take the time now before the cold settles in to avoid costly damage and energy loss this Winter. If you have concerns, give us a call!