There most cost effective and best first step from an economic perspective is often to determine if their is considerable air leakage and/or insufficient insulation in the building envelope. Often the largest leakage is out of sight channeling through multiple sections of the structure such as through wall assemblies. We use specialized equipment to diagnose, locate, and eliminate air leakage. Old or incorrectly installed heating and cooling equipment and poorly sealed/insulated ducts could also be present. Contrary to some common thinking, new windows and doors are often relatively low on the priority of high return on investment (ROI) efficiency upgrades. Air sealing and weather stripping windows and doors is, however, often a high ROI process.
Mold, Mildew, and Musty Odors
Water has sculpted the face of the planet and is one of the most amazing and powerful forces in nature. In the built environment, water damage is a serious and common problem. Water can come from a variety of sources including improperly installed or aging sections of roof, flashing, gutters, leaders, foundation, slab, siding and incorrectly sized or functioning air conditioning to name a few. Water can also enter the building in air through air leakage and condense as the temperature of the built environment is different from outdoors. We use specialized equipment to locate, diagnose, and eliminate water migration pathways. We also repair elements of buildings damaged from moisture.
Damp Basements
It is the moisture migrating through the foundation, maybe, we can find and fix the source of damp basements.
Cold Floors (Particularly in Winter)
Check your floor covering material, insufficient insulation or air infiltration.
Drafty Rooms
This could be air coming into or going out of house through leaks hidden in the attic, basement, and wall assemblies. Our home performance professional staff can find out.
Condensation, Frost, or Pools of water near windows
Could be due to inefficient windows or high indoor moisture levels from air leaks.
Hot or Cold Rooms
Some common sources are inadequate insulation, air leakage, poor duct performance, and improperly installed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
Dry Indoor Air
It could be air leakage, which allows warm humid air to escape the living space to equalize with the dry cold air outside the thermal and pressure boundary of the building. We can test the building and find out.
Icicles and Ice dams
Warm air inside your home leaks into the attic and warms the underside of the roof, this melts the snow and cause the icicles and eventually ice dams and moisture damage to the building.
Do any of these apply to you?
Your home or business may be consuming energy inefficiently, let us help! Schedule an energy audit today!