No. Here's why: Don't wrap insulation over heat tape. Yeah, it's hard to see, but that is heat tape that has burned through the protective cover and was melting the insulation that it was under. My crew found this when they were removing R3 foam pipe insulation that Read more »
The traditional approach to crawlspaces is to leave them outside of the building envelope by insulating the floor between the house and crawlspace. Enclosing a crawlspace is an alternative approach. Exposure rated rigid foam and spray foam are used to seal and insulate all foundation walls and rim joist Read more »
Bath, kitchen, and whole house ventilation fans have become standard in homes and they serve vital roles. They remove poor quality air from homes, cause fresh air to enter the home, reduce humidity, and improve the durability of the home. However, due to poor installation, they are often doing Read more »
During a blower door test, a fan installed in the front door pulls air out of the house, creating a slight vacuum. The amount of air that flows through the fan is measured in cubic feet per minute, and is compared to a mathematical model of the house to determine Read more »
A cold floor in a room over a garage is a common complaint. Often, the walls are insulated, the attic is insulated, and the ductwork is in good condition to the room. Here is the culprit ... This view is looking at the insulation in the floor of the room Read more »
Sounds counter intuitive, but if you want to dry out your crawl the best time to ventilate is during the coldest days of winter. Why? Warm air holds more water than cold air.In the winter, the air in the crawl will be warmer than the air outside. Substances move from areas Read more »
The Appraisal Institute just released a new form for home appraisers that helps quantify the additional value of energy efficiency upgrades to a home. The Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum form is available here: http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/education/downloads/AI_82003_ReslGreenEnergyEffAddendum.pdf. The areas of the home appraised include insulation, water efficiency, HVAC, windows, daylighting, appliances, Read more »
This is an example of vermiculite in an attic. Vermiculite is a naturally occurring rock, much of which contains asbestos. The most common form is short cylinders, that fracture into small pieces easily, with a grey metallic color. Vermiculite was once used to insulate attics and walls, until someone Read more »
An infrared photo of drapes hanging over an electric baseboard heater. Baseboard is running left to right across the center of the photo, and had only been on for a few minutes before I took this photo. The drapes were hot to the touch when I turned off the heater. Read more »
After arriving onsite, the auditor talks with the client about the home, and the client’s experience in the home. The auditor and client tour the home, and the client is able to point out any areas of concern. The auditor measures the footprint and interior spaces of the home, and Read more »