Photo provided Mr. Handyman service technician David Jones caulks around a window, which can help reduce energy costs.

Filling in the gaps on energy efficiency

Local experts offer tips
to reduce heating bills

By Christa Buchanan
C & G Staff Writer

In the midst of the coldest stretch of winter, home heating bills are at their peak, leaving many local homeowners looking for ways to reduce energy costs.

One of the biggest culprits of high heating bills is the loss of heat — in warmer months, cool air — through air leaks within a home. Heat loss typically occurs around openings, such as doors and windows, electrical outlets, light fixtures, fan and dryer vents, and through ductwork, which, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, is responsible for 25 percent to 40 percent of heating or cooling energy loss.

“Drafts are a big thing. After drafts, installing a programmable thermostat is a simple change that can save a good amount of money,” said Todd Mailloux, owner of Mr. Handyman, serving West Bloomfield and Birmingham. It should be set to turn down the heat when homeowners are away and at night.

The experts agree that sealing leaks is key to energy efficiency, but how can a homeowner determine where the leaks are located?

“Basically, what is creating drafts is where there’s a change in materials. … I’ve seen people go around with an incense stick to see where air is coming through,” said Greg Oman, owner of ACE Hardware in Macomb, who noted that “no matter how good your insulation is, if you have gaps with air leaking into (or out of) the home, it doesn’t matter.”

For those looking for a more comprehensive, high-tech approach to locating air leaks, Flame Heating, Cooling and Electrical offers the Energy Efficiency Evaluation, or E3, program — a whole-house energy audit designed to help homeowners reduce energy costs and wastes by providing a detailed analysis of a home’s heat loss, along with tips for improving energy efficiency.

The E3 program uses a combination of technology — infrared cameras that detect hot and cold spots, smoke wands, a fan/blower system with a control panel that reads inside and outside air pressure and controls the fan speed, and a laptop in which to enter all the data — to get extremely accurate readings.

“We use what’s called a blower, set in a doorway, that pushes the air out of the home and creates a vacuum. The house tries to balance the pressure, which makes leaks easy to detect. … When the fan is on, to find leaks, we use the infrared camera and smoke wand,” said Trevor Clor, Flame’s home energy expert.

All the data, along with measurements of the home and infrared pictures, said Clor, are downloaded into the laptop, which provides an analysis of the home’s total leakage. They then provide the homeowner with a list of suggestions for improving the home’s energy efficiency.

“Unless you’re fortunate enough to live in a newer energy-efficient home, making several investments or changes around the house can significantly alter your heating bill,” starting with sealing air leaks, said Mailloux.

Caulking or weather stripping around any and all openings to the outside and adding extra insulation in the attic, especially those with pull-down doors, are simple ways to keep in heat.

“Weather stripping can be kind of tricky — it needs to be tight enough to prevent drafts, but not so tight that the door won’t close.  … As for caulk, generally, around windows, painter’s caulk is sufficient — the better the quality, the longer it will last,” said Mailloux.

“The big difference in caulk is in terms of flexibility and how long it lasts. … We usually recommend some with silicon added that’s paintable,” said Oman, adding that caulk can only be used on smaller gaps, about one-eighth of an inch. For larger gaps around outlets or baseboards, Oman suggests using spray foam sealant.

While caulking outside is out of the question during the cold winter months, said Oman, there are a number of places inside that can be caulked, sealed or insulated.

“For outlets, we carry die-cut foam sealers that are placed behind the faceplate. Also, for windows, people often use insulation kits. It’s a plastic film that is applied using a hairdryer, which is great for sealing glass,” said Oman.

Drafty attics can also cause heat loss, said Mailloux.  “Put an insulating blanket or cover over pull-down attic stairs or attic access panels to keep cold … air from seeping into your home.”

As for ductwork, sealing it can be tricky, said Clor. In basements, ductwork can be sealed with foil tape, but “the problem in Michigan is that most ductwork is in walls and floors.”

To seal these tough-to-reach spots, Clor said, Flame contracts with Arrow Seal, a Lansing-based company that invented a spray-in polyurethane mist that dries to form a seal inside the ductwork. 

Leaks aren’t the only problem — dirty furnace or humidifier filters can also wreak havoc on heating bills. Typically, filters should be changed once a month.

“Changing filters is easy and important not only for efficiency, but also for the lifetime of the furnace.  There’s been a lot of advancement in filters. They’re getting better at trapping smaller dust particles … higher quality filters can be changed every three months,” said Oman.

Once all the drafts are sealed and your home heating system is clean and well-maintained, said Mailloux, it’s a good idea to “take advantage of the sun during the day … to naturally heat your house” and “install Energy Star products … (to) make your home more efficient.”

For more information on Mr. Handyman and the energy-efficient home improvement services offered, call Mailloux at (248) 642-2282.

For more information on Flame’s E3 program or to make an appointment, call Clor at (586) 582-8714 or visit www.flamefurnace.com to view a video demonstration of the E3 program.

ACE Hardware Macomb is located at 51254 Romeo Plank Road, at 23 Mile Road, and can be reached at (586) 786-9040.

You can reach Staff Writer Christa Buchanan at cbuchanan@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1061.