Tips and Information Sharing
The following tips and information will help you make smart decisions regarding your project. Remember that every home is different, so it is always important to consult a professional.
Comfort
Comfort issues can be solved. A contractor with building science knowledge and experience can solve many comfort issues and recommend the best, most cost effective way to solve them. We recently made upgrades to a home that made their bonus room habitable, and other rooms more comfortable as well. There is hope for a more comfortable home.
Home Energy Audits
"Never start a major renovation without a home energy audit." ~
This Old House Magazine. Certified Home Energy Ratings analyze how your home is performing. A rating, or "audit", can identify solutions to energy efficiency, comfort issues, health concerns and maintenance problems. A rating can be performed on existing homes and from building plans and specifications.
DECA is a rating provider. To find a rater near you, visit
www.energyvanguard.com or
www.resnet.us.
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Before you replace your HVAC system, make sure you have the installer perform a "Manual J Load Calculation." Not only is this required by building code, but it will make sure your system is sized correctly for your specific home. If your HVAC unit is over sized, it will not perform efficiently and could lead to significant moisture control issues, health problems and poor indoor air quality.
Test your duct work for efficiency. Make sure that connections in different ducts are sealed properly with mastic and foil tape. Duct tape is not for ducts! If your ducts are leaky there is a significant possibility that you are introducting nasty air from you crawlspace or attic into your living space, not to mention you'll be loosing valuable conditioned air into those spaces.
Building code requires atleast 6 inches of fall within the first 10 feet from the foundation of your home. Some existing homes don't have this and it's not practical to re-grade the site. French drains around the perimeter of your foundation can help. Also, make sure your home has a vapor barrier on all exposed earth in your crawlspace - seal the seams in the vapor barrier with tape and mastic and make sure it runs all the way to the walls and piers. Dehumidifiers are a good idea too. If you don't have any bulk water issues in your crawlspace, encapsulating the crawlspace is a great idea. Consult a qualified building professional. Check out www.crawlspaces.org for research information on encapsulated crawlspaces.
Proper Bathroom moisture management is important for healthy homes. Make sure your exhaust fans are ducted to the exterior of your home and that they are sized properly. For some good information visit www.hvi.org.
Insulation and Air Sealing
Before you insulate, make sure you do proper air sealing. Most homes are very leaky. Penetrations in walls, floors and ceilings need to be sealed to stop air movement. Air movement around and through insulation defeats its insulating ability. The Building Performance Institute and the Home Performance with Energy Star programs require air sealing before insulating. A well sealed and insulated home will use less energy, be healthier and may be able to use a smaller HVAC system.
Energy Efficiency Tips
Air Sealing, Weather Resistant Barriers, Window Selection, Wall Insulation, Attic Access, Energy Saver, Attics & Ceilings, Basement Insulation, READ THIS BEFORE YOU RENOVATE, Whole House Checklist, Energy Pyramid. Don't see what you need? Contact Us!