Home Heat Loss: A Complete Guide To Avoid It
Last Updated: Mar 10, 2025Nobody enjoys being cold in their own house. Typical homes in the United States and Canada lose significant amounts of the heat they produce from their central heating units due to improper insulation and construction. So, to keep their house warm, many people are forced to increase the thermostat temperature settings. These actions lead to enormous amounts of energy waste due to the heat that escapes the home. According to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), about 27% of all US households' energy consumption came from space heating units. Finding ways to improve our homes' insulation to minimize heat loss is an essential aspect of an energy-efficient and sustainable home.
Unfortunately, the problem is that many people have no idea where the heat is escaping from their homes. While you may be able to feel a draft of cold air passing through a poorly built window, most home heat loss occurs in less visible areas. Below, we look at the most common places where heat loss occurs in homes. We offer suggestions on improving the insulation in your home to reduce heat loss, increase energy efficiency, and save money on your monthly heating bill.
Table of Contents
- How Much Heat Do We Lose Through Our Walls?
- How Much Heat Do We Lose Through Our Basements and Floors?
- How Much Heat Do We Lose Through Our Attics?
- How Much Heat Do We Lose Through Our Windows and Doors?
- A Quick Guide to Insulation Options
How Much Heat Do We Lose Through Our Walls?
Roughly 35% of all heat loss in a home occurs through the walls. This loss generally occurs through conduction or physical contact since a home's walls are in physical contact with the colder temperatures outside. The heat energy inside your house is primarily transferred by conduction through the walls. Most homebuilders try to slow this natural process by filling the space between the outside and inside walls with some material with natural insulation properties. Unfortunately, for homes built with poor wall insulation, it can be an expensive remodeling job. You'll have to take off all of the interior drywall, replace the insulation, and then purchase new interior walls.
How Much Heat Do We Lose Through Our Basements and Floors?
About 15% of all heat loss in a home is through the floors and basement if your home has one. Foundation walls for a basement and the cement slab, which sits just underneath the floors of your home, have inferior insulation capabilities. "R-Value" measures insulation capacity. An 8-inch poured concrete slab or wall will only have an R-value of a little over 1, meaning that heat will quickly be lost through these spaces. However, most houses have little to no insulation in the floors of a home, making this a significant source of heat loss. Here's a quick Rise guide to insulating your basement like a pro.
Tobias Roberts
Tobias runs an agroecology farm and a natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador. He specializes in earthen construction methods and uses permaculture design methods to integrate structures into the sustainability of the landscape.
