1990s Colonial Style - Woodstock, MD

median cost per home in Woodstock is $422,290

According to Sperling's BestPlaces, Woodstock's cost of living is 49.9% higher than the U.S. average, and the median cost per home in Woodstock is $422,290.

Reason this BGE Customer is Getting the Energy Audit

The homeowner wants to determine if there are any measures that can be taken to improve the energy efficiency of the home before replacing HVAC.

Energy Audit Highlights

Priority setting is always a good practice when it comes to making a home more efficient.

This house showed that it has a lot of great opportunities to really make a difference in the energy usage and comfort without having to spend a fortune on new HVAC.

General Profile

Year Built: 1991-1995

Foundation Types: Conditioned basement, cantilevered addition

Typical Homeowner Concerns: High energy bills, uncomfortable upstairs in summer, low air flow from supply ducts

Insulation Condition: Moderate condition, too low in several areas, no air sealing with large gaps at the attic floor

HVAC Ducts: HVAC in attic, foil tape at important seams, under insulated ducts

Insulation Challenges: Working around an attic air handler, sealing below existing rigid duct runs, air sealing the attic above the room over the garage

Unique Features: The rear addition was build as a cantilever and the traditional fiberglass batt insulation was installed above the soffit and below the sub-floor.

Extend downspouts away from the foundation wall a minimum of 10'.

9 out of 10 homes are under insulated and this colonial style in Woodstock, MD is falling into that category as well.

Under insulated areas in Bowie Levitt Cape Cod homes is commonplace.

Huge openings at the attic floor like this one create all sorts of efficiency and comfort problems for the occupants inside.

Blower door results can be compared to similar style homes. It can be used as a guide and the actual test must be done for complete accuracy.

Duct connections in the attic cannot be an afterthought and using tape is not advisable.

An important section of the supply duct in this attic HVAC system has ZERO insulation. No need to plug a brand new HVAC unit up to these poorly sealed/insulated ducts.

How an energy audit typically helps a homeowner with this type of home:

-This energy audit was able to guide this homeowner towards air sealing and insulation rather than trying to plug a brand new HVAC system into those leaky ducts.

-This customer saw the great opportunity to seal the ducts as a first step towards making the system work better.

-The homeowner made a real connection between where the rain gets sent during a shower and the dampness/humidity in the basement (warm months).

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