Leaks are one of the most common reasons why Toronto residents pay far more for their heating and cooling bills than they should have to. If you have a radiant heating system, leaks could actually cause damage to your home.
Radiant heating relies on heating water and then moving it through a series of pipes throughout your home. It is considered one of the most efficient ways to heat your home, but forced air has become far more popular in the last few decades, mostly because forced air allows a central air conditioning system to be added to the ducts.
If you are not sure whether you have leaks in your heating or cooling system, here are a few things to look for (we’ll start with radiant heating systems first, then move to the forced air systems).
Check under the radiators for signs of moisture.
If you notice that there is moisture or water damage, this could be caused by a leak in the connectors to the radiators. If you disconnected (or had them disconnected) at any time, they might not be fitted together properly.
Check for water stains in the basement.
Whether you have an unfinished or finished basement, you should be able to spot water stains on the subfloor from upstairs or ceiling in the basement. If you notice these, try to determine their origination. Leaking pipes can cause a significant amount of damage to your home.
Run the heating or air conditioning system and check for drafts along the ductwork.
While most of the ducts are going to be in the walls, check the ducts that you have access to. Every joint is a potential leak. Feel for drafts.
Contact a professional HVAC company to conduct a more thorough test.
An HVAC specialist will be able to perform a series of tests regarding pressure and air flow in each room to determine if there are any significant leaks in your heating system.
Repairing a leak in the walls could be costly, but it will still be less expensive than throwing good money out the window due to increased energy consumption.