Questions People Regularly Ask Us
A home energy audit is a one-time service. If you blink, you may miss a lot. Home energy auditors see the same things over and over. The repetitiveness is useful for a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. Attic Insulation Questions How much insulation should I get in my attic? In Maryland, the following guidelines for insulation should be followed: flat attic area R49; sloped attic area R38; kneewall R13; rim joist R19; floor R25. Can installing siding help with my insulation problem? Generally, no. Most of the gains that are made from installing insulation are having to do with treatment to the attic and basement. Siding can provide some benefits to the overall "tightness" to a house, but the main reason for replacing siding should typically be for protection and aesthetic reasons. I have replaced my windows and my HVAC, can insulation really make a difference? The answer to this question is that as much as 40% of a homes air leakage and energy wastes is through areas at the attic floor and in the basement/crawlspace. Installing insulation using the correct methods for the Maryland region will make a big difference in comfort and make your HVAC last much longer because it won't have to run as long. Why are my energy bills still high after adding insulation? Likely the thermal boundary was addressed (insulation) and not the pressure boundary (air sealing) and as a result your insulation is not as effective as it could be otherwise. Home Comfort Questions Why is the floor so cold in our new addition? There could be several reasons for this, but likely the reasons are tied to the foundation and improperly installed insulation. Investigation is required to determine the exact reason. Why is my closet always so hot in the summer and cold in the winter? Do you have an attic access hatch or stairs in your closet? This issue happens to homeowners all over Maryland. Your neighbors all have the same issue. If you don't have a hatch, then there is something else going on. Why was it so cold in my basement last winter? One typical reason for a cold basement during the cold Maryland winter months is an untreated rim joist. There might be insulation at the rim joist, but that does not stop the infiltration of cold air that is caused by pressure dynamics in the house. Have an audit done to find your cause. Why is my back bedroom warmer that the rest of the house in the summer? Reasons for bedrooms that seem warmer in summer than other parts of the house are typically uninsulated ducts that supply the room or disconnected ducts that supply the room. Other reasons could be wind washing from air getting into the soffit too rapidly and causing an uneven area of insulation. An attic assessment can solve this issue. Why is it so hot upstairs during the summer months? Sometimes the design of the home and the type of attic contribute to the reasons for having uneven temperatures on different floors during summer. An assessment of your attic and the insulation level and method should be checked by a professional. Why is the area around my kitchen sink so cold in the winter? A recurring reason that we see cold kitchen sink areas in Maryland during the winters is due to the construction style of the house. Sometimes the kitchen is made larger or extended with a cantilever and if not properly treated, it can be the source of cold air infiltration. How can I make the temperatures throughout my home more even? In Maryland, the best way to regulate temperatures throughout your home is to treat the basement or crawl space and attic with air sealing and insulation. Why is my home still drafty after having my windows replaced? Maryland homeowners replace windows all of the time in hopes of solving drafts and high energy bills. The true reason for drafts is related to building pressure and a homeowner should always look to the top and the bottom of their home for the answers. Is there a way to improve the air flow of my AC in the summer? Yes, sealing accessible ducts, insulating ducts outside of the living space and general upkeep and maintenance of the HVAC system can improve air flow. Why is the closet in my bedroom so cold all of the time during winter? One big reason for this issue is that the untreated attic access hatch or stairs are placed in closets and they are huge offenders when it comes to air leakage. Other reasons might be light fixtures, poor insulation or other thermal bypasses that can be found in attics. Will I ever be able to be comfortable in my basement or my loft? The answer is YES! With proper insulation, air sealing and HVAC sizing it is possible to experience comfort on all levels of your home. Is there a way to make the upstairs less hot without having to add a new HVAC unit? As with any retrofit, there could be inaccessible areas or areas that are impossible to treat, but as a general rule the answer is yes. There are usually several contributing factors to warmer upstairs temperatures in summer and there are ways to fight back! High Energy Bill Questions Why is my energy bill so high in the winter even though my basement is so cold? Another reason for a cold basement is a leaky dryer vent or other penetration through the rim joist to the outside. If this goes unchecked, it is equal to leaving a window cracked in the basement all winter. Why is the electricity bill so high in the summer? Typical reasons for high summer electricity bills in Maryland would be poor insulation levels around the home, thermal bypasses in the attic, disconnected HVAC ducts, un-insulated HVAC ducts that run outside of the living space (crawl space, attic). A home insulation assessment can determine the reasons for high bills. Why does the energy bill seem very high for the size house I live in? Typically, what we find when Maryland homeowners ask us this questions is insufficient insulation and no air barrier installed around the envelope of the house. Uninsulated HVAC ducts that run outside of the conditioned space also are big offenders when it comes to high energy bills for smaller footprint houses. Why does BGE keep saying I am using more energy than my neighbors? Typically the reason homeowners are finding this letter in their email is due to not having proper insulation levels and no air barrier in place. Have lots of recessed lights is also a possible reason for using more energy than neighbors if the recessed lights have not been sealed properly at the attic floor. Why are my energy bills still high after adding insulation? Likely the thermal boundary was addressed (insulation) and not the pressure boundary (air sealing) and as a result your insulation is not as effective as it could be otherwise. Why has my BGE bill increased by so much in one month? One reason for a drastic change in an energy bill amount might be if a BGE customer switched suppliers recently and got a good deal, but did not read the fine print and the price increased without warning. How can I lower my BGE bill and make it more predictable each month? The best way to get control of your energy usage is to understand the things that are costing you the most. If kneewalls, rim joists, top plates, thermal bypasses and air sealing are somewhat unfamiliar to you - get a BGE energy audit for $100 and unlock the answers. Sustainability Questions Why is my basement duct showing condensation on hot Maryland summer days? The location of the duct should first be taken into consideration in relation to any penetration that would allow warm, humid air to infiltrate into the area of the duct, causing it to "sweat". Do I need to replace my roof plywood if I have mold on the attic side? The answer to this question is that if you control the humidity problem in the attic that is causing the mold then you no longer have to be concerned about the issue and as a result the mold will no longer be toxic and you do not have to spend the extra money. What is the reason for my high humidity levels in the summer? Typical culprits for high summer indoor humidity in our Maryland summers are untreated recessed lights, attic access points that are not properly sealed, lack of insulation and no air sealing. |
 Building Performance Institute Eric Gans
Building Analyst Envelope Professional BGE Approved Energy Contractor |
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