Signs You May Have A Leaky House

Beyond the purchase price of your home, your greatest investment might just be in the energy it takes to maintain it. The cost of heating and cooling a home in Wisconsin can be astronomical. The Badger State has extreme weather that perpetually takes its toll on our structures, and drafty houses that radiate heat and lose precious AC are all too common here. So, if your monthly energy bills are high, you are certainly not alone.

Nevertheless, you might be surprised to learn that there are some very viable ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency. With the right roofing materials and insulation in place, you can solve the problem of an inefficient, leaky house and reduce that big bite out of your bank account to a mere nibble.

So, just how leaky is your house? Here are some signs that may indicate you have a problem.

The Presence Of Water

Sometimes, signs of a leaky house can show up as a water leak. When your roof or other exterior materials have become compromised, water finds its way into the home through holes, crevices, and seams. Over time, those breaches become more pronounced and can cause serious damage. They can also cause excess humidity, mold, and bacterial growth, creating health hazards. And bear in mind that you may not even see water, as it can often show up as stains or warping on walls, ceilings, and floors. Of course, those same openings allow air to pass through.

Ice Dams

If you’ve noticed large sheets of ice accumulating on your roof during the winter or giant cascading clumps of icicles hanging off the gutters, that’s a sign of energy loss and a leaky house, too. A substantial amount of warm air is escaping from the roof, causing the melting and refreezing that creates those ice dams.

Inconsistent Indoor Temperatures And Drafts

If some rooms of your home feel toasty warm while others feel chilly or drafty, that’s another sign of poor energy distribution and a leaky house. You might even see signs of drafts around doors and windows, which are often the biggest culprits of all. Those curtains that appear to be moving on their own are surely not a paranormal event.

A Noisy, Overworked HVAC System

When your home leaks energy, this is often accompanied by the near-constant running of your HVAC system as it struggles to keep up and regulate those temperatures. If your heat or air conditioning seems to be continually kicking on and off, that’s a sign. (And it can shorten the life of that equipment and require more repairs too.)

Excessive Noise

If your previously serene home suddenly sounds like a day at the bird sanctuary, air rushing through dried-out or cracked weatherstripping may be the culprit. However, the sounds may be from actual birds whose chirping can enter through unknown openings.

Out-Of-Control Utility Bills

If your monthly energy bill seems to be consistently high and perpetually climbing, your leaky home isn’t just leaking energy, it’s leaking dollars.

A Leaky House, By The Numbers

Nearly half of your energy usage goes towards heating and cooling your house. On average, it’s a whopping 47% of your bill, compared to just 14% for your water heater, 13% for laundry appliances, 12% for lighting, and roughly 14% for everything else.

Now, take a moment to consider that 47% again. If you have a leaky house, as much as 35% of that figure can be wasted energy. That’s a lot of precious money spent every year essentially warming up the clouds.

The Path To Home Energy Efficiency

There’s a better way to spend that money and one that can solve your energy loss problems. Roofing and insulation improvements can make a huge difference. It’s one of the best pathways to achieving energy efficiency, and it can give you a happier, healthier, and more comfortable house in general.

And perhaps best of all, these improvements are an investment that pays for itself and continues to save you money. Furthermore, there doesn’t even have to be a significant out-of-pocket cost. Government incentives and tax credits are available to encourage energy conservation, making your roofing and insulation needs very affordable.

The Smartest Choice For Your Roofing And Insulation Needs: Northern Generations

Fixing leaky homes and attending to your home’s roofing and insulation needs are just a few of the things we do best. Taking advantage of those incentives is just smart, and smarter still when you choose Wisconsin’s leading roofing and insulation specialists to assist you. Northern Generations Construction provides complete and comprehensive construction services of the highest quality throughout the Southeast Wisconsin area. Contact us today for a quote or more information about our services.