Its heating up

NEW?GLASGOW - With the cost of oil still volatile, homeowners can't help but worry about the cost of heating their homes this winter.
The only thing worse than paying astronomical prices for oil is losing the heat due to a poorly insulated home. Dwaine MacDonald, owner of Trinity Inspection Services, knows how to help keep the heat you pay for. Right now, his business tests about 30 homes a week for minor problems that can cause a house to lose more than half its heat.
MacDonald said the first step to energy efficiency is insulation. Proper insulation in basement headers, walls and the attic is crucial. But any old insulation won't make do. MacDonald has seen some strange substitutes for insulation in his time, everything from seaweed to newspapers to clothes. Even the classic fiberglass insulation (the stuff that looks like cotton candy) is on its way out, he said. Blown-in cellulose and spray foam are better choices. Spray foam is the more expensive of the two but MacDonald said it pays for itself.
"Spray foam is the top of the line."
Another reason to ditch the fiberglass insulation: any bit of moisture can lead to mould. Cellulose and spray foam lock out moisture.
The next step is to make sure all doors, windows, fixtures and outlets are properly sealed. MacDonald said even a one-inch gap allows for eight litres of water in moisture laden air to pass through, making air inside the house harder to heat.
An air exchange system is also important. MacDonald making sure the system is properly balanced to the size of your home is key.
"Not all air exchange systems are the same."
Because a house works like a flue, drawing cold air in from the bottom and blowing it out through the top, keeping your basement free of cold and moisture is a major factor in reducing heat loss. MacDonald said many people don't realize the importance of keeping a basement free of moisture. A dehumidifier can help. This is also where insulating the basement headers comes into play. MacDonald said years ago, people would pack seaweed around the outside of the house to keep cold and moisture out. Insulating your basement headers is essentially the same.
"They had the right idea."