Residential Comfort & Energy Efficiency

 

 

Look to building science and having a proper assessment performed to help you make the right improvement choices for home comfort in the hot summer months. 

A new HVAC system is likely not the right solution for a cooler home when it is blazing outside!

Temperatures in the attics of Maryland homes during summer months can go as high as 150-160 degrees.  It is a brutal place with stifling air and high amount of humidity. 
 

Healthy Attic  vs. Unhealthy Attic 

When an attic is not properly vented, air sealed and insulated the stagnant hot air and pressure is too much for an old insulation system making summer days at home a drag. 

Add leaky ducts to the situation and it makes for a long, hot summer.
 

Watch how this BPI Certified Pro and Owner of Insulwise in PA
Breaks it Down in this Excellent Animated Video

 

Consider this:

Maryland homeowners that have a minimum insulation level in the attic equal to R-19, reflective roof shingles and proper ventilation can experience up to two-thirds less solar heat gain than those with characteristics such as little to no insulation, dark roofing shingles and no attic ventilation. 

There are five things we recommend to make an impact on your summer comfort.

1. Air Seal Your Attic
2. Insulate Your Attic
3. Seal Your Accessible Ducts 
4. Encapsulate Your Crawl Space
5. Improve Attic Ventilation

 

 1. Air Sealing Your Attic

If you want to know if you should air seal your attic, then you can ask yourself a few basic questions and quickly arrive at the answer. 

The easiest way to know is to determine if you have air sealing in your attic now.  If not, then you definitely need air sealing.

When the hot build up of air in the attic creates pressure then the cracks that are left unsealed are gateways for the heat to enter your home.

If you want to learn much more about air sealing and watch how it is done in different areas of your attic and basement then check out this cool article with demos...

2. Insulate Your Attic

If you are having comfort issues in your home there is no doubt that a good place to start looking for answers is in the attic.  

Maryland attic insulation projects can be better understood and considered with a little effort and knowledge.

To get things going you must identify two main things so use this recent write up as a guide to figuring out if insulation is your next move to beat the Maryland summer heat!

 

 

 

3. Seal Your Accessible Ducts

When it comes to improving home comfort and energy efficiency it is amazing how little attention is paid to sealing HVAC ducts.  Properly sealing leaky HVAC ducts should be a high priority for energy efficiency and comfort.

According to the EPA and other studies, the HVAC ducts in your home can be leaky enough to account for up to as much as 30% of a household's total energy loss. 

So, what can you do?  Check out this article with great information on next steps you can take to seal your accessible ducts.

 

 

4. Encapsulate Your Crawl Space

Let’s face it – you want nothing to do with your crawl space.  You just assume that it does not exist.  You ignore it.  You board it up, lock it and put it out of your mind! 

But, it keeps reminding you it’s there.  In the summer when you go down to wash the laundry and you get a whiff of that musty odor that only comes out when it is humid. 

A few years ago you poked your head in the crawl space for one reason or another and you noticed several pieces of insulation falling down.

Read this article on what to do with crawl space vents, walls and how to properly seal it up!

 

5. Improve Attic Ventilation

Typically, condensation in the attic starts due to a moisture issue created by introducing two completely different air masses.  A possible issue in summer if the attic is not ventilated properly will certainly contribute to an uncomfortable home.

In hot months a leaking AC HVAC duct in an attic and other HVAC related inefficiency can allow air to seep out and interact with the hot humid attic air, particularly if the attic is not well vented.  This will cause mold and can result in comfort issues.

Read this article to get more insights into how baffles work to ventilate your attic.

 

What next steps can you take if this all makes sense to you, but you are not sure where to start?

You should sign up for a home energy audit...

Through BGE Here

Through Pepco Here

For only $100 through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program - I am qualified to get all of the answers for you!

 

If you are always asking yourself, your spouse, your brother, a friend or just about anyone that will listen...

Why is my energy bill so high all of the time?

Then read this short article for key insights and actionable ways to fix your issue.
 

Three Dimensional Thinking

First, to make a house energy efficient you've got to tighten your building's shell and usually the first thing that comes to mind for most people is windows and doors.  

But, residential energy consultants know there are many other places that need attention due to physics and pressure inside your home, especially at the top and the bottom.

Have you ever noticed at one time or another that a door inside your house is particularly hard to open or that suddenly it slammed shut when otherwise on any other day, it would simply close behind you? 

The takeaway is that there are pressure dynamics going on inside your home and sometimes it is noticeable and other times you have no idea.

So, don't overlook this when asking yourself about your energy bill and use this article to begin the "hunt" for the places that can easily be fixed.  Once discovered, you will have more control over your comfort and the energy bill.

One great cost-effective example that the majority of homes have is some type of attic access panel.  In most cases, these areas are not insulated or sealed properly and they will greatly reduce the overall R-value of the rest of your insulation.

Click to watch treatment to the hatch for ideas about how you can do it at home.
 

Getting Control of Your Home's "Breathing"

How many times have you heard somebody say "a house needs to breathe"?

The "breathing" is the start of your problem.  Yes, we want our homes to "breathe", but we must consider uncontrolled breathing compared to controlled breathing.

Uncontrolled air leakage occurs when air moves through gaps or openings in walls, floors, ceilings, duct work, doors or windows to the outside and is often a major source of energy loss in homes.

Another way to look at this is by considering how we behave on cold winter days.  Most people jump out of their skin when they realize a window was left open and most people will close it right away.

Consider this:

What if all of the holes and gaps around your house are equivalent to three open windows? 

What if you could seal enough of those areas to close two of them? 

This would mean that you have a lot less energy loss and you can still breath!

In today's technologically advanced world, it is not difficult to figure out how much air a house exchanges with the outside on an hourly basis with just a few measurements and blower door test so that properly controlled ventilation can be added if a house gets too tight.

Why Air Sealing Your Home is So Important

For every little bit of conditioned air that leaves through the cracks and crevices around a home it gets replaced with outside, unconditioned air. 

And, that is very costly!

When reviewing information from an energy audit report, the story becomes much clearer in terms of where we must look to be more efficient and it is not because the lights are on too much.  Also of interest, windows and doors account for very little overall leakage when tested.

The green portion of the pie chart is the baseload.  Baseload refers to everyday stuff like lights, computers, fridge, etc. the largest load is the refrigerator so if you are already using ENERGY STAR then there might not be too much more room to save.  Efficient light bulbs will help too.

Next, look at the red and light purple.  Those show the heating and cooling costs.  

Consider the most important thing to understand when it comes to making an impact on heating and cooling usage/ costs:

You can put the world's most efficient HVAC system into a leaky house and get zero results.

In other words, don't put the cart before the horse. 

Sealing up holes, gaps and cracks around the "shell" of a home is a great way to really move the needle and will make any age HVAC system more efficient and seem like brand new. 

Where to Begin Looking for Opportunities

The pressure inside a home is greatest at the top of the building and the bottom of the building so looking in those two places will yield the lowest hanging fruit.

1. Seal Recessed Light Fixtures

The first thing you can do to save energy at home and reduce drafts is seal up you recessed lights in ceilings that are below the attic.  These common fixtures are secret gateways to the attic which means energy loss and comfort challenges. 

Most older recessed lights have ventilation holes so that heat from the bulb can escape.  Energy customers with recessed lights typically have some of the biggest bills and comfort complaints.

Check out this photo I took of a group of recessed lights from the attic. 
I turned off the flash and my headlamp.

A recessed light as seen from inside of the house.

You can seal your recessed lights from the inside with an LED recessed light kit.
 

2. Seal Attic Floor Cracks, Holes and Gaps

Similar to the recessed light problem, there are other holes and cracks in the attic floor that will lead to the communication of air between the inside of the home and the attic, or outside.  Foam sealant can be purchased at the hardware store and it can be applied to the tops of walls, around light fixtures and to seal up holes drilled for electrical wires.  All of these voids contribute to a high bill and uncomfortable living space.

Wires run through the walls to hook up to electrical outlets and switches
creating pathways for air to connect between the inside and outside (attic).

A properly sealed top of the wall looking down at the attic floor.
 

3. Seal Accessible Leaky HVAC Ducts

Saving energy at home can be achieved when you put resources in the right place.  According to the EPA and other studies, the HVAC ducts in your home can be leaky enough to account for up to as much as 30% of a household's total energy loss. Sealing ducts is not something that needs to be done by a contractor.  This is a "weekend warrior" type of project that requires a little patience, a few materials and a little know how.  Sealing ducts near the air handler will also help you the most and those are usually the places that are most accessible.

Disconnected ducts are big energy wasters!

One way to fix leaky ducts is to use two-part spray foam.

Sealing ducts with mastic is another option to save energy at home
 

4. Seal and Insulate the Basement Rim and Band Joist

If you want to save energy at home and improve comfort, be sure to think about the unfinished areas of your basement, particularly at the top of the foundation walls.

Watch this to Learn How to Seal a Basement Rim Joist

5. Install a Chimney Balloon

If you have a fireplace, then you have another great way to save energy at home.  Most people keep the damper closed when the fireplace is not in use, but usually it is made of metal.  Chances are there is nothing stoping the flow of air through the chimney damper flap and out.  Using a very simple blow up type device can really help to move the needle and decrease energy usage and improve comfort.

A great way to save energy at home and improve comfort is to seal the chimney with an attic balloon.

The attic ballon has a stem that can easily be accessed to blow up the device and create a nice seal in the chimney.

 

Conclusion

High energy bills also typically mean uncomfortable homes.  The two go hand in hand.  So, if you follow these tips or decide to get an audit done and take advantage of incentives to get the work done, you are not only lessening your carbon footprint, but you will also be more cozy and comfortable as well.

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Written by Eric Gans
I have over 1000 energy audits under my belt in Maryland.  I like to take my personal experiences with each of my audit customers and try to get the things that concern them out into the world so others can make good home improvement decisions - in the right order - according to their needs.
 

Did these ideas help you save energy at home?  We want to know if you tried any of our solutions and how they worked out for you in the comments below!

 

 

Written by Eric Gans
 

I have completed over 2000 comprehensive home energy audits and hundreds of post-treatment test-outs. I have performed the tasks described in this article and I have also overseen technicians performing the work so that results, once the work is complete, are achieved.

 

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Table of Contents 1. Signs You Need Attic Air Sealing 2. Why is Attic Air Sealing Important? 3. Air Leakage Variables 4. How to Air Seal Your Attic  5. Air Sealing Electrical Hole - WATCH  6. Air Sealing a Bath Fan - WATCH 7. Measuring Attic Air Sealing Results 8. Air Sealing Health & Safety Considerations

 

If you want to know if you should air seal your attic, then you can ask yourself a few basic questions and quickly arrive at the answer. 

The easiest way to know is to determine if you have air sealing in your attic now.  If not, then you definitely need air sealing.

If you are not sure whether your attic is air sealed (who really wants to get in their attic?) then there are several things you can look for around the house that will tip you off. 

Tell Tale Signs You Need Air Sealing in Your Attic

The first tell tale sign is spider webs.  If you see spider webs dangling in recessed lights, near corners around mouldings in the ceiling or near the attic hatch, then you likely need to air seal your attic.

If you are feeling drafts around your home and different rooms seem more comfortable then others, particularly on extreme weather days, then you likely need air sealing in your attic and around other key areas of your home.

So, what is air sealing anyways?  Let's figure it out...

Reasons Air Sealing is Important

You don't have to be a home builder to know a little about how a house is made.  There certainly is no disputing that older homes, in particular, are not completely air tight.  We are able to breath when we are inside, after all.

So why is it important to seal up your house?  You need air to breath so what is the end game?

The biggest source of energy usage in a household bill is directly related to HVAC.  The less your HVAC runs, the lower your bill.  Pretty much that simple!

But, if your lucky, during extreme temperature days, your HVAC will actually catch up for a few minutes.

So, the idea when it comes to air sealing, is to prevent the air from flowing through those cracks in your building's shell, thus keeping it inside your envelope and keeping your home temperature more evenly controlled and comfortable.

Without effective air sealing in the attic, the R-value of your attic insulation actually suffers and that only adds to your woes. 

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Envelope Air Leakage Variables

A super interesting physics concept should not be missed when it comes to air leakage in a house.  Without some force, air will not simply flow through a crack or gap.  Loss of energy through any imperfect connection point is dependent upon the following factors:

• Weather Dynamic Pressure**
• Size of Crack
• Shape of Crack
• Location of Unwanted Connection Point
• Material where the Weakness is Occurring

**Pressure related to weather also illustrates why on a severely cold day, for example, that it becomes difficult to regulate temperature and keep a modest energy bill. 

There are two factors at play. 

1. The weather outside creates a greater pressure inside, particularly when the gap between the two temperatures is very high (25 degrees outside/ 70 degrees inside).  Greater pressure acts to push your conditioned air through the cracks faster.

2.  It is cold outside so the HVAC is running and the additional pressure created by the air flowing actually works to push the air through those cracks simultaneously while trying to heat or cool a room to the desired temperature, effectively creating a conveyor belt of conditioned air being delivered to places that nobody in the family is hanging out (outside).

Making matters worse, of course, is the fact that all the while that is happening, fresh cold air is being drawn in from other cracks in lower portions of your home.

Typical Leakage Point in Basement

In summer the pressure in an attic due to heat forces air through the cracks and as a basic and general rule, hot follows cold.  So, in winter the warm air gets pushed up into the attic and in summer the hot attic air gets transferred down to wreak havoc on your AC unit and bills.

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How to Air Seal

The general idea of sealing up a house is rather simple from 30,000 feet up. 

But, it can be kind of tricky when you are up in the attic and different ways the house is assembled creates unique air sealing opportunities.  Sometimes different situations call for different solutions.

Common air sealing materials include:

• Caulk or foam
• Sheathing tape
• Sheet metal
• 1/2" Polyiso (Rigid Foam Board)
• 3/4" Plywood
• 1/2" Drywall

A noteworthy takeaway from the list is that many common building components are listed as air barriers.  The key is sealing up the gaps!

Take a look at this new construction wall/framing assembly and the attention to detail that is given these days in some instances to sealing up a home.

Obviously, unless we are doing a complete remodel, this is not practical for finished areas in preexisting houses.  But, it does demonstrate the ways in which a home can leak and how to seal around any areas that are unfinished.

In a retrofit air sealing project, most of the "juicy" spots to seal are in the attic and basement. 

The video below shows a skilled technician air sealing the tops of walls (top plates), light fixtures and electrical wiring holes that were drilled when the house was built.  These are all places that air is traveling through, effectively escaping the inside if your "envelope" and costing you comfort and money.

The insulation is missing at the attic floor in the video and air sealing can be done when insulation exists as well.

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Air Sealing Top Plates and Electrical Penetrations

When watching air sealing taking place it starts to make a lot more sense.  Of course, there is no way to actually see the air flowing through these tiny gaps in real time, but what does happen over time when there is insulation in place is that the air flows through and around around the insulation leaving dust and dirt in its track.

In the photo above taken at the top of the hallway push up attic access hatch is a great illustration of a few things. 

First, you will notice the electrical wires that are running through the top of the wall above.  The wires feed the hallway switch seen down below. 

The insulation around where the electrical wires are fed is discolored telling the story that is all too common in homes that are not air sealed.  Air is moving through those holes on the regular and air carries dirt and dust.  Over time it adheres to the insulation which proves this important point. 

Add all those holes up around your home and you have a nice big gap that can easily be the equivalent of having an open window in your home all year long.  Having the attic unsealed is actually worse than having a window open because of the pressure being the most at the ceiling pushing through more air leakage as a result.

Besides electrical penetrations, there are many other areas in the attic that should be air sealed.  More examples include:

• HVAC Chimney Penetrations
• HVAC Duct Penetrations
• The Attic Access Panel (pull-down stairs/ push-up hatch)
• Thermal Bypasses Due to Bulk Heads
• Knee Walls
• Recessed Lights
• Bathroom Fans
• Plumbing Vent Stacks
• Chimneys
• Electrical Box Bypasses
  
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Air Sealing Bathroom Exhaust Fans

Have you ever been in the bathroom on a cold day and wonder why it feels so cold in that area despite it being more comfortable in the adjacent room or hallway?  Sealing exhaust fans is an important nuance when it comes to attic insulation and they need special attention, particularly if you are experiencing temperature variance in rooms that they exist.

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How to Measure Air Sealing Results

While listening to a podcast recently, I was struck by something that one of the hosts of the show said.  Essentially, the saying goes something like this: 

A measured project is a managed project.

There is nothing more true than this statement when it comes to air sealing an attic.  One of the most difficult things to do is check on the work once the attic is insulated.  Moving insulation around once a project is "completed" is grounds for decreasing the overall effectiveness of the work that was done.  That is obviously counter-productive. 

If you are doing this project on your own then the dynamics change and what I am about to say is not nearly as critical.

But, if you need to hire a professional, you should make sure that the company is going to perform a blower door test or air leakage test - before the work is done and after.  This way, you can measure the results of sealing up the cracks.

The blower door measures the house's "leakiness".  So, getting a flow number after can be compared to the initial number and results can be taken away in the form of a before/after.  

The best way to have this done is to get a home energy audit if you have that available in your area.  In Maryland, the local utility companies work within the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR parameters and it is a great program for the residents of the state.

Watch this blower door test example and what we did to get the right results!
 

The test works by pulling all of the air out of your house and as each little bit of air leaves it is immediately replaced by air from the outside of the "envelope", thus creating a flow at the fan that is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM).

Here is another example of results with photos showing before the work and after with the accompanying signed test-out result form.

Air Flow at Test-In = 4949 Cubic Feet Per Minute After Air Sealing Air Flow at Test-Out = 3552 Cubic Feet Per Minute 28% Reduction

The actual result sign off sheet for the homeowner.

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Health & Safety Matters to Consider when Air Sealing

Two building science principles every homeowner should know

• Air Changes per Hour
• Indoor Air Quality

Air Changes Per Hour (ACH)

Air changes per hour (ACH) can be defined as the amount of times the volume of air inside your home changes with the outside air.  It is the house "breathing" in effect. If your house is calculated at 7 ACH then you can expect that on any given day and during any given hour, the inside air will exchange with outside air seven times. 

ACH in new construction homes has to be very low (3 or less).  New building codes for energy efficiency are making builders install energy efficient measures at the time of construction so that all of the typical leakage points are sealed before walls and ceilings go up which makes those areas very difficult to treat after they are in place (like in preexisting homes).

Controlled vs. Uncontrolled Fresh Air

But, when we tighten up the envelope and don't allow the house to "breathe" as much we have to find solutions to create the right amount of ACH for healthy indoor air quality.  The key to this is to make sure the introduction of fresh air into the building is controlled so that less energy is consumed to maintain good indoor air quality (the right amount of fresh air) rather than allowing it to infiltrate uncontrolled causing heating and cooling systems to work much, much harder.

Indoor Air Quality - What is it Actually?

So in considering indoor air quality, it is important to know that measuring indoor air quality is NOT to measure the amount of particles in the air.  Indoor air quality is actually making sure that a building has enough fresh air and in a manner that is cost-effective.  Good indoor air quality also goes a long way towards sustainability and the longevity of the buildings structural components.

Combustion Safety

A home environment is subject to many different dynamics including pressure.  Pressure inside a home varies from house to house, neighborhood to neighborhood.  When a combustion appliance, such as a hot water heater or furnace is running, the conditions in the house could change the way the appliance runs.  If the change is too much for the system, it could cause a hazardous situation inside the home to unsuspecting inhabitants.  

Combustion safety testing for gas fueled houses is a key to a safely air sealing a home.  Much like the blower door test where the air leakage is recorded before any changes and after, the appliances are tested prior to any work being done.  Once the work is completed, the testing is conducted again to see if the resulting "tightening of the envelope" creates any spillage or adverse conditions inside the home.

Get Your Scores Today! - Home Energy Audit

A comprehensive home energy audit is a great way to have your home evaluated.  Measures can be prescribed in a way that will address indoor air quality as well as energy efficiency and comfort.  It is the whole house approach that ensures that you can have the best indoor air quality and a less drafty house at the same time.

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What do you think about air sealing your house?  We want to hear in the comment section below!