Home Insulation Savings

Your guide to home insulation savings

Heating accounts for more than 60% of your energy bill. Use the following resources to keep the heat in while keeping energy costs down.

Visit the Energy Hub for additional tips and tricks and explore energy saving resources for your home.

Visit Energy Hub
of your home heating costs may be attributed to leaking through doors, windows, outlets and vents. Proper air sealing and insulation can reduce energy use, make your home more comfortable and lower your carbon footprint year-round.

Top signs you need more insulation and sealing

Mold in the basement or on walls

Unusually high heating and cooling bills

Cold walls and floors during the winter

Drafty rooms

Stopping air leaks

Step 1: Detect where air is escaping.

Tip: On a windy day, light incense and move it slowly around windows, doors and where walls meet the floor and ceiling. If smoke flutters, you may have a leak. Spider webs can also be a sign of air leaks.

Step 2: Perform a thorough job of caulking, weatherstripping and insulating to help reduce your heating and cooling costs significantly.
Floor, walls and ceiling
31%
Ducts
15%
Fireplaces
14%
Plumbing penetrations
14%
Doors
11%
Windows
10%
Fans and vents
31%
Electrical outlets
2%

Shopping tips

Caulking comes in a wide variety of colours and applications. Use this buying checklist to help chose the right type for the job.

Important Reminder:

Always ventilate properly when calking to let fumes escape.

Is it for use indoors, outdoors or both?

Is it the right colour or paintable?

What surfaces will it adhere to?

What size gap will it seal?

What preparation is required?

How long will it last?

How much insulation is enough?

Insulation is rated with an R-value, and the amount a home needs depends on the climate zone. Higher levels of R-value in your insulation will help reduce energy loss. Most homes in northern Ontario are in Zone 3 and need more insulation than homes in Zone 2

Learn more

Invest to Improve

Attic

  • Seal around the attic hatch, plumbing stack vent and any recessed lights.
  • Add insulation over ceiling joists.

Windows and Doors

  • Consider replacing single pane windows and uninsulated doors with more energy-efficient models.
  • Check windows for rot, mold, glass condition, putty and paint. If they are beyond repair, consider high-efficiency replacements.
  • Check out our Guide to Window Savings to learn how to save energy by upgrading to ENERGY STAR ® certified windows.

Basement

  • Seal around the dryer vent and outdoor faucet.
  • Seal around the sill plate (a large source of air leaks). Use butyl rubber caulking or an acoustical sealant to fill gaps. If the joists rest on a wooden sill, caulk around the joists, too.

Walls

  • Seal around your kitchen fan vent and the exterior top plate.
  • Insulating interior walls is easiest when doing major renovations; once drywall or plaster is off, you can lay insulation between wall studs and joists.

For some projects, you may need to hire a qualified contractor. Be sure to get at least three quotes to compare, check references, and ask about installation options and warranties.

Low-cost, no-cost tips

Close your damper: No fire burning? The open flue damper sucks warm air out of your home. If you no longer burn wood, consider sealing it.

Seal outdoor outlets: Don’t forget your home’s exterior. Make sure to use insulated electrical outlet boxes with proper sealing to prevent air leaks.

Clean the tracks: Remove dust and debris from the tracks on sliding glass doors.

Add a skirt: A properly fitted door closes firmly and does not allow air to leak in on the sides, top or bottom. For a few dollars you can purchase rubber weatherstripping to skirt the doorframe.

Where to save next?

laundry-machine-1
Appliances
heater
Home Heating
renewable-energy-wind-turbine
Home Cooling
wall-socket
Phantom Power
table-lamp
Home Lighting
water-fountain-jet
Hot Water Heating
swimming-pool-stairs
Poolside Savings
family-outdoors-swing-tree
Landscaping
asian-interior-windows
Window Savings
humidity-high
Insulation

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