Find Your Home's Cold Spots

Knowledge is power, and if you don't know the particulars about how well your home is insulated, you won't have the power to do anything about the fact that you're probably warming the squirrel nests in the oak trees outside your house all winter.

Check out the blue spot in the middle of the Infrared image in the photo. That's a scan of one of our walls where the heat is making a run for it rather than keeping things cozy in the dining room. You can call your local insulation contractor for a free efficiency audit to find out how well your home is holding its heat (and coolness in the summer). When you call, ask if they use an infrared scanner and if they will give you a print out of the results.

Local utility companies also often provide energy audits that include your lights and appliances, so call and ask to set up an appointment. Once you know what you're working with efficiency-wise, then you know what you can do and how much you can improve.