by Charles Hendricks | Mar 22, 2018 | architecture, Building Science, Green Building
Check to see where the snow is melting faster than other areas. Of course, sun exposure and shade will change the patterns. You are looking for the spots where it seems like it should still be there and it has melted. Why did it melt faster? Could that be an area where the heat from inside your home is escaping to the attic? That is the most common issue. Spaces above recessed can lights typically melt quick as that is a big leak to your attic. The attic access is another source of heat escaping from your inside to your attic. Finding these leaks will help you seal the leak and improve the comfort of your home and reduce your energy bills.
If you find icicles on the exterior of your home, this could cause bigger problems. Ice dams can form on the edge of your roof if you have big heat leaks. This could create a dam along the edge and push water back under the shingles on your home. This could result in water damage in your exterior walls or ceiling. Even if there is not an ice dam, try to determine the cause of the icicle. Why did the snow melt in that location faster than others?
While I don’t enjoy snow at all – this is a great time to do a visual inspection of your home’s energy performance. Pay attention to the clues your home is providing for you.
by Charles Hendricks | Jan 30, 2018 | architecture, Building Science, Indoor Air Quality
Air leaks at light switches are a big cause of comfort issues in your home. There is an old saying in the construction industry that “you don’t want to build to tight.” So what window do you want to leave out of your home? The reality is leaks around light switches, electrical outlets, doors, windows, recessed lights, water pipes… and on and on are how we achieve “not too tight.” The unfortunate part is air leaks hurt the comfort in your home and impacts your monthly energy usage. It also impacts your indoor air quality.
Sealing up all the leaks is difficult to achieve in an existing home. These pictures show the drastic impact air can have around one light switch on an exterior wall. Read this post to see what fixes you can make, but if you want to save money and improve the comfort in you home – schedule an energy audit today. Give us a call at 540-437-0012 to start the process.
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 17, 2017 | architecture, Building Science
It is important to have the right amount of insulation in your attic:
The minimum amount of insulation you should have in your attic ranges from 8 – 12″ depending on your insulation type. Spray foam could need less. Adding insulation over what you already have is an easy solution to cut your monthly energy use and increase your comfort in your living room.
Other things to look at while in your attic:
There are some other things to look at in the attic while you are there. Make sure there are no vents from dryers or bathrooms that vent into the space. You want to keep your attic as dry as possible. Adding moist warm air into that space only leads to problems. Also, check for any critters that have decided your attic is a nice warm place to hang out. On a recent energy audit I found what looked like multiple nests. This is not uncommon as your attic is a much nicer place on a cold winter night to sleep. Check to make sure you have complete coverage in the space. You want the entire attic area insulated. You also want to make sure the attic is as air tight as possible from your conditioned home.
Last check before leaving the attic:
As you are leaving the attic, make sure your attic access is covered with insulation.
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 9, 2017 | Building Science, Green Building, green term defined
I went out to do an energy audit at Massanutten yesterday. The home was clearly well maintained. It was 30+ years old, and was not showing signs of neglect. We took a moment to talk about their concerns and I learned they just wanted to make sure the home was in good shape as it pertains to energy efficiency. They told me about adding insulation in various places around the home. They talked about keeping the thermostat higher than normal because they like it warm. The talked about appliances that were a little old and had concerns they might have to replace them.
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Dryer vent problems
They did not mention high electric bills – so I asked. They have average electric bills. So overall – the house was performing really well, keeping them comfortable, and the electric bills were not killing them. So I found the normal leaks – around electrical outlets, doors, windows, cabinets, and attic access. The framing intersection at the top of basement wall glowed from all the energy leaking through. The light bulbs could all be changed to LED to cut energy usage. The doors needed a little weather-stripping attention.
So it was a normal energy audit. They could probably cut their energy usage by 30% with a few minor changes and I gave them names of people who could help with fixing it. So was it worth my trip out? YES. I found two major issues for them that neither of us expected.
The two major issues we found doing an energy audit:
- Their dryer vent was long, had multiple dips in it, and from a brief test, appeared to be mostly clogged in one place and had considerable lint build up in several other places. This can easily lead to a fire. So I asked them to have that looked at immediately.
- The second major issue was multiple, more than 6, places in the attic that appeared to either be roof leaks or nests. A more fit energy auditor – like Building Knowledge – would have gotten up in the attic to verify the issue. Fixing this issue and adding a layer of insulation (while plugging the holes causing the problem) will certainly make their home more comfortable and eliminate any uninvited guests from living in their attic.
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Attic nest
by Charles Hendricks | Feb 15, 2017 | architecture, Building Science
It is supposed to be windy later today. The wind blowing on one side of your home will create a positive pressure on that side. The other side of the house will form a negative pressure. This causes your home to expand and contract – hopefully and not likely enough to see it, but you will be able to feel air moving. Use the wind today to find the air leaks in your thermal envelope (wall system) and seal them up. If the leaks are around doors and windows, you can add weather-stripping to stop the leaks. Also check around the electrical outlets and light switches in the walls. The attic access is another place I often find air leaks. You can use a candle or just put your hand next to the suspect place. Caulking the gaps around penetrations – medicine cabinets, recessed can lights, electric outlets (behind the covers) will reduce your energy usage and make your home more comfortable. If you want me to help find the leaks, call us for an energy-audit.
by Charles Hendricks | Nov 29, 2016 | Building Science
As the weather changes and we are all looking for ways to stay warm, small changes around your home could make a big difference. Look for those forgotten places where insulation is missing or air is leaking. Think about your insulation line between inside and outside. This is the barrier keeping your energy bills low and your home comfortable. Remember to insulate your attic access, it is an exterior door that should be sealed and insulated. This is often an overlooked area in a house. Insulating your attic can tell you if your house is energy efficient, so keeping your attic properly insulated will also keep your home healthy and comfortable.
Don’t forget to look at our projects on houzz.com. If you are looking to update your home’s efficiency and have a “green” way of living, give us a call and we will help you through every step.
If you find icicles on the exterior of your home, this could cause bigger problems. Ice dams can form on the edge of your roof if you have big heat leaks. This could create a dam along the edge and push water back under the shingles on your home. This could result in water damage in your exterior walls or ceiling. Even if there is not an ice dam, try to determine the cause of the icicle. Why did the snow melt in that location faster than others?
It is supposed to be windy later today. The wind blowing on one side of your home will create a positive pressure on that side. The other side of the house will form a negative pressure. This causes your home to expand and contract – hopefully and not likely enough to see it, but you will be able to feel air moving. Use the wind today to find the air leaks in your thermal envelope (wall system) and seal them up. If the leaks are around doors and windows, you can add weather-stripping to stop the leaks. Also check around the electrical outlets and light switches in the walls. The attic access is another place I often find air leaks. You can use a candle or just put your hand next to the suspect place. Caulking the gaps around penetrations – medicine cabinets, recessed can lights, electric outlets (behind the covers) will reduce your energy usage and