Winter is here, and it’s time to crank up the heat…or is it? This winter, a lot of Australians will be reaching for the heater, or reverse cycle air conditioning to warm up their homes, but what if we said your roof could help keep your home warm and save on your energy bills? As a better alternative to parting with the better part of $10,000 for central heating or even a reverse cycle air conditioner, these little tips could save you the extra expense and help keep your energy bills lower. Who would have thought a few small changes to your roof would have such an impact! Read on for our heat saving tips for your roof this winter.
Whilst Australia certainly isn’t known for its cold weather, parts of the southern states have been known to snow and for temperatures to plummet in the winter months. We have put together just some of the heat saving ideas you can put into action this winter, which will help keep your home warm naturally and in turn, help keep it cooler when it comes to the summer months.
Insulation
Have you checked your insulation lately? On newer homes, this isn’t much of an issue, as your home should have been properly and adequately insulated during the construction process. For older homes, this could be an issue, especially if there are gaps in the insulation in your roof. There are two ways to check the level of insulation in your roof. Pop your head into the roof cavity to see if there are any gaps or spots where the insulation looks to be lacking or disintegrating. Alternatively, you can call a professional roofing team like the guys at Horizonline and we can come out to have a look and provide a quote for any work that may need to be completed to fix your insulation concerns. Insulation is so important, because it is the most effective way of improving the way your home responds to temperature changes outside; including the significant drop in winter and the drastic rise in summer.
It is not just a case of checking you have insulation, you should also check you have the right type of insulation. This is something your roofing contractor should discuss with you before beginning work on your roof. It may be that you already have the appropriate insulation for your home and area, but it never hurts to check. If you do not have the right insulation, discuss your needs with your roofing contractor, so they can recommend the best option for your home.
Ventilation
Sounds like a redundant point, however ventilating your roof actually has a year-round benefit. So whilst in summer ventilation is known to keep your roof space cooler by removing the hot air from the space, in winter it can help take the moisture out of the air, preventing issues like mould and mildew from occurring in your roof. Mould and mildew are notoriously hard to remove once they have set in, and the increased moisture in the roof can make it that much harder to warm your home in winter, increasing those heating costs.
Ventilation is an option to consider and its best to discuss the appropriate options with your roofing contractor, as they can provide a clearer picture on what can and cannot be completed with your roof and whether ventilation is a viable option.
If you need an expert to take a look at your roof, contact us today for a regular roof check-up. Avoid costly mistakes and discover how Horizonline Roofing can help you and your home by getting in touch today. Call to speak to one of our friendly team on (08) 8380 5796, or you can fill in our contact form and we will be in touch shortly.