When most people think of a drafty home, they picture old windows and poorly sealed doors. While these certainly contribute to air leaks, they are not usually the primary cause of draftiness. According to ENERGY STAR, most drafts are found in the basement or the attic. If you’re trying to seal your home and reduce energy waste, you need to take a more comprehensive approach.
Window replacements will fix an isolated air leak, but insulation and air sealing are often needed alongside them to solve draftiness entirely. Learn why drafts develop in the first place, how you can determine the right services to fix them, and how you can save money with state rebates.
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Why Drafts Occur and How They Reduce Comfort
Air leaks (or drafts) are any place in your home where exterior air is getting in, and interior air is escaping. Some people only feel them in certain areas of the house, whereas others experience them across all rooms. They’re often noticed more in the winter because of the intrusion of cold outdoor air.
Drafts can develop for several reasons. Some are just caused by normal wear and tear, such as when an old home settles and creates small gaps in the foundation’s sill plate. Other drafts come from service holes created for plumbing and electrical conduits. Most commonly these air leaks are found in places like the attic and basement.
Your home functions much like a chimney, a phenomenon commonly called the stack effect. Warm, less dense air rises and escapes through air leaks in the attic. This reduces pressure in the bottom floors of a home, which causes cold air to be sucked in from air leaks in the basement. This creates problems with:
- Comfort: The constant introduction of cold air chills the entire home. It can be difficult to feel comfortable no matter how high you turn up the heat.
- Energy Efficiency: Excessive draftiness wastes heat, and you’ll start to notice dramatically higher utility bills. In fact, air leaks account for 25% to 40% of heating and cooling energy in a typical home.
HVAC Wear and Tear: Since heat is easily escaping, your furnace has to work harder to maintain a stable temperature. Repairs and maintenance become more frequent.
When Replacement Windows in MA Are Not Enough
Many homeowners overestimate the energy savings of a door or window replacement. These installations can help with minor drafts if the frames and sealant have degraded over time. In addition, new double or triple-pane windows can improve thermal performance. But at Neeeco, we’re always honest with our customers. You usually can’t resolve draftiness just by investing in replacement windows for your MA home.
Insulation and air sealing are often necessary alongside new windows to fully seal the home. Certain types of insulation, such as spray foam, can achieve both at the same time.
By investing in window replacements, air sealing, and insulation altogether, you create a sealed building envelope. This will minimize the stack effect and eliminate draftiness, no matter where it’s coming from. And of course, while air sealing and insulation do not provide visible benefits, windows can add modern curb appeal to your home. Neeeco specializes in these types of comprehensive, whole-home upgrades, ensuring that your home is just as stylish as it is comfortable.
Enjoy Mass Save Window and Insulation Rebates
One of the biggest benefits that you have as a Massachusetts resident is the Mass Save program. This provides direct savings and rebates when you invest in energy-saving upgrades for your home. And guess what? Neeeco’s window replacements, insulation, and air sealing are all eligible services. If you qualify, you’ll receive:
- Up to 100% off your insulation upgrades
- No-cost air sealing
- $75 per ENERGY STAR Most Efficient certified window replacement
Identify the Issue with a Home Energy Assessment
You should always schedule a no-cost home energy assessment before investing in any services. Offered by Neeeco as part of the Mass Save program, this assessment will help you pinpoint exactly where air is escaping from your home. You won’t have to consider air sealing vs window replacements vs insulation, because our energy specialists will find the definitive root causes.