Heat Losses

What is heat loss and how do I prevent it?

Heat loss is the natural tendency of heat to escape from an area of warmth (such as your home) to an area of cold. Heat loss is determined by your home’s construction and the amount of insulation used. Increasing insulation and reducing air leaks throughout the home are the most significant steps you can take to reduce your heating costs.

Did you know that on average a single family home can lose as much as 25 per cent of its heat through air leaks? Your consultant can help develop a detailed heat loss analysis of your home to detect key areas where overall efficiency can be increased by reducing heat losses.

Steady State Efficiency

Steady State Efficiency is the term used to measure how much of the fuel you burn is converted into heat for your home. A modern boiler should provide Steady State Efficiencies in the range of 85 to 90 per cent. Older boilers and furnaces may only provide 60 to 70 per cent efficiencies from the fuel. Steady State Efficiency ratings are tested and maintained according to regulatory agencies such as the Canadian Standards Association.

Heating equipment operates most efficiently when it runs frequently. Heat will escape from the equipment through the chimney and the unit’s outer casing when the equipment is not running. The system’s overall efficiency increases when you combine heating requirements such as space heating and domestic hot water heating through one boiler. This way you effectively reduce the amount of off-cycle losses.