Weatherization is the act of installing measures that will save money on /heating/cooling bills. This can be done by air sealing, insulating, installing new appliances, etc.
An energy audit is when a certified auditor comes to your home and finds ways to save energy within your home that will save you money on your energy bills.
The main difference between cellulose and fiberglass insulation is that cellulose insulation is shredded newspaper and is blown into a specific area by a hose connected to a powerful machine. Fiberglass insulation is in long batts that are set in place.
When there is a draft coming from a window there are a few options to resolve the issue, the window can be caulked (air sealed) to seal all openings, heavy drapes can be used, or if the draft is bad enough it would be beneficial to install a new window in place of the old drafty window. Low E storm windows is a cost effective solution. -Usually when there is a draft coming from the sides of a door, a weather-strip is installed to seal around the door. If the draft is coming from the bottom of the door, a sweep is installed to seal the bottom of the door. If the gaps around and under the door are to significant and a weather-strip and/or sweep will not do the trick, it would be beneficial to have a new door installed.
An easy way to see if your attic has enough insulation is to look over your attic. If your insulation is the same height or below the joists, most likely you need to add more insulation. If you are unfamiliar with the term joist, get a ruler and stick it in the insulation all the way through to the bottom, if it is under at least 6″, you should have more insulation put in. Having the right amount of insulation can be useless if the home is not properly air sealed. Make sure you home is fully clear of air leaks before you insulate.
A water heater should be replaced as soon as possible if your water heater is rusty. When a water heater rusts, it eventually rusts through the tank causing the water you use to be dirty/contaminated/ and have rusty particles in it. It also means the tank is damaged and not working properly. A new tank should definitely be a consideration in this case.
An easy/accurate way to tell is by having a test ran on your refrigerator, this test shows the KWH (Kilowatt-hours) the refrigerator uses, then based on an up to date formula we use determines if the refrigerator passes or fails the efficiency test. We also have many database resources that can tell us home much energy you refrigerator is using and how much you can save if you choose to purchase a new one.
The most common places to find air leaks in your home are windows, window frames, doors, door frames, lighting fixtures, electrical sockets, etc. This is due to the fact that most of these are placed on exterior walls, which lets air directly in from the outside. Just because you can’t see any gaps or openings does not meant they are not there. A blower door test can be performed to detect air leaks throughout the home. This is a very easy and efficient way to spot air leaks.
The process is simple, it starts with a phone call to the office and a free estimate will be set up by the end of the phone call. When the estimate is complete, it is put in to our system immediately upon return to the office, the estimate is sent to you via fax, email, mail. Once you agree and confirm the estimate you will be given a phone call to set up the date for the actual work to be done. That’s as easy as it gets!
Properly insulating your home really pays, by reducing your utility bills and by also adding comfort and value to your home. A professional installer will save you time and money . They have the specialized products and technical expertise to insulate your home quickly. For example, a professional installer will know your proper installed R-value as well as have the latest information on building codes.
Insulation increases the overall comfort of a home and adds to its resale value. It keeps a home cool in the summer and warm in the winter because it resists the flow of heat. By reducing heat flow, a properly insulated home uses less energy for heating and cooling. When installed in walls, floors or ceilings, insulation also acts as a sound.
The amount of insulation you need depends on where you live. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has established thermal (or R-value) recommendations for homes Energystar.gov R-Value or, call our office.
Typical areas to insulate are attics and outside walls. You should also install insulation in areas including basement walls, floors above vented crawl spaces.
There is no need to remove what you already have since R-values are cumulative.
Fiber glass insulation is available in two types: loose fill (blown in) and blanket. Loose fill insulation comes in bags. Blanket insulation comes in batts and rolls in various R-values, widths and lengths.
Fiber glass insulation typically contains 20-40% recycled glass, depending upon the manufacturing facility and product type.
A certain amount of fresh air is needed for good indoor air quality and there are specifications that set the minimum amount of fresh air needed for a home. Our energy specialist can perform an air leakage test with a “blower door” if you are concerned. If your home is too tight, fresh air ventilation can be added.