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This homeowner in West Springfield, MA called us out to their home to see what could be done for the prevention of their ice damming issues they had been experiencing. We conducted our Full Home Energy Evaluation and noticed that their attic had old, nasty fiberglass insulation. Since fiberglass insulation is light and fluffy it allows air to travel through it, not making as the best insulator. We knew that we needed to remove and replace this insulation with more efficient material.
For this specific attic, we needed to create an insulation catwalk so that the HVAC system was still reachable. We install our expanded polystyrene SilverGlo foam board insulation across the ceiling joists. SilverGlo insulation boards are infused with graphite, increasing the insulation value by 24%. WE secure the SillverGlo with 5” screws and 3” washers. Dams made of Oriented Strand board are installed to keep insulation off catwalk. These Oriented Strand boards are two times stronger than plywood! After this, TruSoft cellulose insulation is blown into attic, also covering any sace beneath the catwalk is filled. Thanks to Dr. Energy Saver by Eco Energy Solutions, the ice dams in this home will be drastically reduced due to new insulation and air sealage of the attic!
Vented attics are hostile places - 30˚F in winter and 125˚F in the summer. They are very bad places to store things, and the worst place to locate ducts because they are the extreme opposite temperature as the air in the ducts that you paid to heat or cool. The attic floor (your ceilings), allow air from inside the house to leak into the attic where it is lost. For each cubic foot of air that leaks out, a cubic foot of air from the outside enters the bottom of the house, making your lower levels cold and drafty. Heat from the house in the attic melts snow on the roof where it refreezes at the eaves causing destructive ice damming. In the summer, the sun heats your roof to 160˚F, which radiates to the attic and then to your ceilings and rooms. The problem, heat loss to the attic from house and ducts in winter, and heat gain in summer, uncomfortable rooms, more drafts upstairs and downstairs, higher fuel/electric bills.
The Solution, SilverGlo™ EPS foam insulation board with graphite is installed on the underside of your roof deck. The graphite gives it superior R-value and a foil face on both sides reflects heat out in summer and back in during winter. The roof is still vented, kept cold in winter to prevent ice damming. In summer, excess heat is vented out. No harsh chemicals are sprayed in your home, like spray foam. The attic is now part of the conditioned space in your home, and ducts in the attic are no longer in a hostile environment. Your attic is clean, less dusty and suitable for storage. You can even finish your attic! Results - Your home is less drafty, warmer in winter and cooler in summer, lower fuel and electric bills, and less dust.
This homeowner in West Springfield, MA called us hoping that we would be able to help him. He had rain coming into his basement through his window wells. When our Home Comfort Specialist came out to the home, he noted that the window wells had ill-fitting covers and, additionally, did not let light into the basement.
We had the perfect solution for this customer. We were able to help him by installing a SunHouse™ basement window enclosure with a drainage system (not pictured) to prevent flooding. SunHouses™ are sturdy and keep rain and leaves out due to their clear cover, and the bottom reflects natural light into the basement due to its light color.
Now, this homeowner is much happier with their window wells!
This homeowner in West Springfield, MA called us hoping that we would be able to help her with the house she shares with her mother. She needed new insulation and had some issues with mold in their three-season room. When our Home Comfort Specialist came out to the home, he noted that there was a small space above their three-season room that had not been insulated previously, and was not accessible previously.
We were able to help this homeowner! We started by getting access to the space above the three season room. Once we had access, we went around the room, air sealing all cracks and gaps in the floor of the space. This air sealing was done using our Zypfoam™ one part spray foam. After that, we insulated that space using blown-in TruSoft™ cellulose insulation. This was blown into the space using a long hose. Blown-in TruSoft™ insulation is able to fill all gaps and odd-shaped voids, meaning that there is a consistent blanket of insulation. Now, this homeowner will have a much more comfortable home!
This homeowner had old wooden door in the basement that let air in. So we replaced it with a new thick steal so no air would get through.