Winters in Chicagoland can be brutal. During the freezing temperatures, snowstorms, and icy winds, your home becomes your sanctuary for a greater percentage of your time than in warmer times of the year. But how do you know if it is truly prepared to keep you safe, comfortable, and energy efficient during extreme cold? This winter home performance checklist can help you evaluate key areas of your home and determine whether it’s time to call in the experts at ARC Insulation.
1. Is Your Home Holding Heat?
Signs that your home is actually leaking heat include cold drafts around windows and doors, uneven temperatures between rooms or floors, a furnace that runs constantly, and high heating bills. If you are noticing any of these symptoms, your insulation and air sealing may be underperforming. Heat loss can occur through your attic, walls, basement, or crawlspace if these areas are not properly insulated. Air leaks also allow cold air to enter and warm air to escape, making your heating system work overtime.
Solution:
ARC Insulation provides whole-home energy assessments that can use tools like blower door tests and thermal imaging to pinpoint problem areas. Professional insulation upgrades and air sealing are the most effective ways to retain heat and lower your heating costs without overhauling your heating system.
2. Are You Protecting Your Indoor Air Quality?
Watch for condensation on windows, musty odors, increased dust or allergy symptoms, and stale air or poor ventilation. Cold weather means closed windows and less fresh air. Combine that with poor ventilation and you have a recipe for poor indoor air quality. Moisture buildup and air leakage can also lead to mold, mildew, and other contaminants.
Solution:
ARC Insulation addresses indoor air quality concerns by sealing air leaks, sealing ductwork, and improving ventilation. Our energy audits assess your home’s ventilation and moisture levels so we can recommend solutions that improve your air quality while maintaining energy efficiency.
3. Are You at Risk for Ice Dams?
Icicles forming along roof edges and water stains on ceilings or walls are major warning signs that your attic and wall insulation are leaking your home’s heat. Inadequate insulation and air sealing allow warm air to escape into your attic, melting snow on the roof that then refreezes at the colder edges, forming ice dams.
Solution:
Our attic insulation and air sealing services help regulate attic temperature, prevent ice dams, and reduce the risk of water damage.
4. Is Your Heating System Working Harder Than It Should?
Short cycling, uneven heating, and cold rooms (even with the heat on), can indicate your home is not well insulated or sealed. This forces your furnace to work harder to maintain comfort in an area that is losing heat. This not only increases your energy bills but also shortens the lifespan of your HVAC system.
Solution:
A tighter, better-insulated home and tightly sealed ductwork allows your heating system to operate more efficiently and last longer. ARC Insulation’s upgrades reduce heating demand, helping you save on energy bills and future repairs.
Take Action Before the Next Cold Snap
Chicagoland winters are serious business. Do not wait until a furnace failure or frozen pipe forces your hand. Use this winter home safety checklist to identify signs of trouble:
- Cold drafts or uneven room temperatures
- Frequent furnace cycling or high heating bills
- Condensation on windows or musty odors
- Icicles, water stains, or frozen pipes
- It has been years since your last home audit
Call ARC Insulation for a free energy assessment. We proudly serve Naperville, Chicago, and surrounding suburbs with expert insulation, air sealing, and home performance solutions.
