Why You Should Enclose Your Home's Crawl Space

Most homes have either a crawl space or a basement. Crawlspaces have several advantages to basements. Crawlspaces elevate the home above the ground and are much less expensive than a basement. Crawlspaces also make space for duct work and plumbing to run and are easily accessible for contractors. Crawlspaces are great however, without taking proper precautions they can breed mold and mildew and allow moisture to compromise the structure of your home. Insulating a crawl space is in your best interest for many reasons. Here I have outlined the top reasons to insulate and seal your home's crawlspace.

Installing Plastic Window Insulation

Not all home improvement projects will break the bank. Insulation Denver CO home owners will tell you, is important to the comfort of your home. Window insulation is easy, very cheap and effective. Window insulation film is carried in most hardware stores and fits almost any window. This product is a heat-shrink film that is stretched over the interior side on a window frame to block drafts.

If you decide to insulate your windows using plastic film, you'll need to choose which window to use this method on carefully. The windows you seal using this method cannot be opened after the film is applied. If you only have one window in your kitchen, you should not insulate it with film in case it needs to be opened due to a small kitchen fire, or burnt food. Also, if you don't plan on removing the Denver insulation after winter, it is important to keep windows on opposite sides of your home uninsulated so that you can open them to enable a cross breeze during nice weather.

After deciding on which windows you'll insulate, you need to gather supplies. For this project you need a window film kit (or more if you wish to insulate multiple windows), tape measure, scissors and a blow dryer.

Step One: Prepare the Window
Clean the window frame with soapy water and then wipe it dry. Allow for additional drying time, if needed. After the window has dried enough, apply the adhesive tape included in the window insulation kit.

Insulating Tips for a Shed

ByDoItYourself Staff

Insulating a shed may seem silly at first but your shed has many uses and adding insulation can further increase its usefulness. In essence, the shed on your property is an extension of your home. For many people it is used as seasonal storage and for others it can become a home away from home. Sheds are often used as workshops from wood working to motorcycle maintenance. Some are being converted to small recreational spots where couches, chairs, televisions and small appliances are being placed and used. The following article will help provide you with some useful hints and tips on how you could insulate your shed.

Siding and Air

One type of insulation is commonly known as an air barrier. These are sheets of treated plastic commonly found on the outside of a new home. This does not mean you cannot use it on your shed. The air barrier material helps keep air outside where it belongs and this keeps the internal temperatures at bay. The air barrier is wrapped around the shed and tacked in place. On top of the air barrier you would then place some sort of siding. The kind you use on the shed is irrelevant and can be plastic, wood or aluminum. The combination of the two keeps drafts out of the shed to create a more stable internal climate.

Using the Pink Stuff

Fiberglass is the most commonly used insulation material you can find. You install it in the inside of the building between the studs. You then have to cover the fiberglass with more wall material. Fiberglass is a good vapor barrier and will protect against humidity which can cause your wood in the shed to warp and potentially rot.

Want a Warm House? Don’t Just Insulate.

Air seal! The most boring word and concept that can make all the difference in energy saving and comfort. Granted, I once said rising damp was the least interesting but important building science term, I think we can make a case for air sealing. Why is it important (and possibly more important) than just adding more insulation?

What Folks Think the Problem Is

When a house is cold and uncomfortable, the first thought is adding more insulation. This is a compelling thought for a few reasons. First, it’s a problem most homeowners can solve in a weekend. Assuming we’re talking about an open attic, a trip to the local big box for some rolls of fiberglass or a blower machine is all the solution needed.

Second, it’s a known and understood problem. The average homeowner may not have a clue about installing a fuse box or replacing the wax ring on a toilet but we all (we think) understand that more insulation = warmer.

This thinking causes a common issue: a fluffy pink fiberglass band-aid over a gaping wound that allowing heat to stream out. Folks pile on the insulation but haven’t air sealed. I’ll say this as clear as I can: Do not add more air permeable insulation until you air seal.

What The Problem Actually Is

The building enclosure has several control layers: the thermal layer (insulation), air and vapor controls. If there are paths for air to escape, your walls and ceiling are only doing a part of the job.

Home Insulation Tips to Save You Money

High heating bills are something all of us have become accustom to. As the prices of heating gases and oil go up, homeowners pay more and more to keep their homes comfortable. Some of the price increases can be offset by increasing home insulation. Most homeowners can save 25% or more on home heating costs by making a few home improvements!

Older homes typically need a denver insulation upgrade much more frequently than newer builds. It is a mistake, though to assume that your newer home is as well-insulated as possible. Many homes built after 1980 have inferior insulation ratings because building codes are not up-to-date with DOE recommendations. Also, occasionally home-builders do try to save money on little things like insulation to lower build costs.

 

The following are simple and inexpensive steps you can take to lower your heating costs this winter:

Three DIY Improvements That Lower Hot Water Costs

Your parents were right, paying more than you need for hot water is the same as pouring money down the drain. Making some small improvements to your home can help you save money on your energy bill. Whether it's cleaning a dryer vent, or fixing a leaky faucet, small investments can make big changes to your energy bill.

Aerators
Installing a faucet aerator is sure to save you money. Aerators work by mixing air into the water stream. The result is a high pressure stream of water that uses less water than a solid stream. An added benefit to aerators is that the aerated stream does not splash. In normal household use aerators installed on you kitchen and bathroom faucets can save the BTUs needed to heat several hundred gallons of hot water a year.The best aerators are rated for a flow of 2.5 gallons per minute or less for kitchen faucets and 1 gallon per minuet for bathrooms. Aerators are made to fit faucets with spouts that are threaded either on the inside or outside. Some aerators are available with a swivel feature to direct the stream where you wish. When installing a new aerator place the washer (this should be provided with your aerator) on the aerator and screw it on by hand.

Replacing Old Shower Heads

When you replace an old shower head with a newer low-flow head you can save an enormous amount on your hot water costs. The new shower head should be rated no higher than 2.5 gallons per minute. To install the new shower head, tape the jaws of a pipe wrench to avoid scratching the finish. Use the tapped wrench to keep the shower arm from turning while you unscrew the old shower head using an adjustable wrench or a second taped pipe wrench. The new show head will screw directly onto the shower arm unless it has a pivoting ball joint at the end. If your new shower head has a ball joint, you'll need a

Top 8 Ways to Save Energy At Home

Upgrading your home to a more energy efficient living space is not only beneficial to yourself by saving money, but it also helps the environment as well. Looking at your high cost heating and electricity bills may motivate you to start a change within your house.

Remodeling requires some spending of your own money, but it is definitely well worth it for you and the planet. Here are ten ways you can save energy at home.

1. Insulation – The easiest and cheapest way to save energy is to insulate your house better. The roof is where most heat escapes, so this should be your main focus. The outside of your home can be insulated correctly by using caulk to seal cracks between sheathing, doors, and windows. Do the same inside by filling in gaps around windows, doors, ducts, floors, etc.

2. Ventilation – Make sure your rooms are well ventilated to regulate temperature. Check to make sure your windows and ceiling fans work properly to help draw heat out.

3. Tankless Water Heaters – Replace your bulky water heater with a smaller tankless one that requires less room and will use less electricity.

4. Upgrade Appliances – Energy Star appliances are approved to be energy efficient and can save you money every month on your electricity bill.

5. Placement Of Windows – If you are able to remodel and change your location of windows, choose the sun-facing side of the house so that you can take advantage of the free energy. Skylights are also a great way to let in natural light and save money on your heating/electricity bill.

6. Roofing – Choosing light colored shingles will provide you with the optimal energy savings. Dark colors absorb heat, so the light shingles will help keep your house cool during the summer time.

7. Fireplaces - Using a fireplace to generate heat within your house is a great way to stay warm without using any electricity.

5 Common Mistakes of New Energy Auditors

No doubt if you follow energy or environmental issues, you’ve heard over and over again that the least expensive way to tackle our energy difficulties is through efficiency. One report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) suggested that $168.6 billion could be saved through energy efficiency by 2020. Still, some of those close to the ground have heard horror stories on how the whole process is sometimes carried out in real life.

Significant energy savings cannot happen without a comprehensive energy audit. Quality energy audits followed by sound retrofits result in substantial energy savings. Poorly executed energy audits, no matter how good the retrofit, result in lower-than-expected savings, wasted investment, angry building owners, and a bad name for energy conservation.

Studies have shown a wide discrepancy in actual savings after energy audits. While some projects have delivered energy savings of less than 10% of original energy costs, others have successfully delivered savings of 40% and more.

This divergence is not a mystery. Experienced energy auditors have learned to avoid the mistakes that lead to underperforming retrofits, disappointed customers and a struggling referral business. Persuading homeowners and businesses of the benefits of energy efficiency can often feel like an uphill battle; there is no need to add the barrier of a poor review by committing the mistakes others have made.

Mistake #1 – Underestimating Installed Costs and/or overestimating savings

One can reasonably expect that if they install energy efficient light bulbs, they will lower their energy bill. But exactly how much will they save and how much more do the efficient light bulbs cost?

How A Home Energy Audit Can Save You Money

Whenever your local electrician performs an energy audit, the principle that they follow is fairly simple. During the audit, they will check throughout your home to help identify the areas that are using electricity inefficiently. After they have pinpointed the wasteful areas, they can suggest and implement steps to remedy this. Most electricians are trained in the areas that are most common inefficient energy consumers and can conduct a home energy audit for you. While it may be tempting to try to do your own energy audit, you can expect much more accurate results and long-term solutions by hiring a professional.

One of the first things that your electrician will check is your lighting. They will start by examining your fixtures and the bulbs that are being used in each one. Because incandescent light bulbs are incredibly inefficient (they result in more heat than light), your electrician will recommend replacing them with much more energy efficient compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs. Although it may seem like a small step, replacing all of the incandescent light bulbs in your home with energy efficient alternatives can have a huge impact on your electricity usage.

In addition to examining the type of lights used in each fixture, an experienced electrician will also look at the purpose of the lights in each room. If a room can benefit from dimmer switches, timers, motion sensors or any other type of lighting automation technology, then it may be recommended to you. These types of technologies can help turn lights on and off only when needed so that you are not wasting electricity when you are out of the room.

5 Tips on How to Save Home Energy

By Orlando Racelis

In today's economy, every little thing you do that will lead to trimming off your expenses will go a long way. Check out the following 5 tips on how to save home energy to get you started on saving some money by cutting down on your bills. At the same time, you will also be doing your part in taking care of and preserving the environment.

1. Maintain your furnace properly. Keep it well lubricated, clean, and correctly adjusted. A well-maintained furnace will function much more efficiently and use lesser energy. This will significantly decrease the cost of operating it. Also, check your filter. You should clean it at least once every two months. If it is too dirty to clean, consider replacing it with a new one.

2. Get a programmable thermostat for your home. A programmable thermostat is very useful in helping you save home energy. You can save 2% of your home heating needs for each degree that you turn down your thermostat. With the use of a programmable thermostat, you can automatically lower your thermostat setting even when you are asleep at night or when there is nobody home.

3. Make the most out of your appliances. This goes especially for your washing machine and your dishwasher. As much as possible, always use these appliances with a full load. If you are looking for a new washing machine, choose a front loading model. This type of washing machine is much more efficient than other models. It actually decreases your laundry water consumption by up to 40% while decreasing your electricity consumption by up to 50%. Some dishwasher models on the other hand have an "energy saver" mode for air drying your items. If your dishwasher has this setting, use it.

Blanketing Your Water Heater

Heating your water is an expensive task that usually represents 20-40% of your utility bill.  Wrapping your water heater with an insulation blanket can save some of this money by slowing the rate of temperature drop as the water rests in your tank.  With the water staying hotter for a longer period of time, the water heater remains off more of the time and will save you money and energy use.

Not all water heaters need a blanket however, some energy-efficient models have a thick layer of insulation inside the tank that is sufficient enough.  Insulation blankets for water heaters less protected against heat loss are available at home centers and hardware stores.  You can install one in a few easy steps that requires a few cuts for fitting.  Some blankets are even manufactured to fit certain models and require no cutting at all.  For these blankets, you need to know your water heater size in gallons and usually the manufacturer.

Weatherstripping Your Doors

Doors are much easier to seal than windows as they have fewer moving parts.  To add weather stripping so it doesn't cause binding, it is best to even out the gaps around your door before starting.  If possible, shim the door hinges to create a uniform gap all the way around your door.

The weatherstripping you should use is the same used for windows. Plastic V-strips and spring bronze are great for the top and sides of the door.  You must use a different material for the bottom as you deal with heavy foot traffic.  There are special seals designed for door bottoms including door sweeps, door shoes and thresholds.

4 Common Problems In Energy Audits

Energy audits are a growing in popularity and energy auditors are popping up all over the country. Choosing a good energy auditor is the best way to save money, and gain efficiency. Good Denver energy audit evaluations and well executed repairs and changes will result in substantial energy savings. A bad audit, though will not provide monetary or energy savings. Knowing the difference between a good and poorly executed audit will help home owners make wise decisions when choosing a contractor. Below are some of the most common problems in energy audits.

Missing Improvements
Comprehensive home energy audits are crucial to suggesting the correct improvements for the home. Energy auditors can miss needed improvements for many reasons including rushing through the audit and insufficient budgets. Evaluating all aspects of a home's efficiency is imperative to a proper energy audit and doing so takes time.

Weak Improvements
An audit must clearly define the scope of the  proposed improvements for the home owner. Without a clear description of the scope of improvements chances are high that incorrect or incomplete scope will be put in place and the expected energy savings will not come to fruition.

Improvement life not provided 
Improvement life defines how how long the improvements will last. Having this information allows homeowners to make educated decisions with life-cycle costing information. If the improvement will take longer to pay back than the life of the improvement than the investment is not worth the cost of the improvement.

Incorrect Cost Estimates of Improvements
Underestimating cost of installations can be a huge mistake. An installed cost estimate of an energy audit often serves as the home owner's initial budget for the improvements and if the estimate is lower than the actual cost the homeowner may agree to take on too many retrofitting projects. If the cost estimate is too high the homeowner may abandon the projects all together leading them to continue to waste money on a faulty home energy system.

Make sure to ask your potential home Denver energy audit specialist. make sure to ask about these issues. Talking to potential contractors about their improvement suggestions and cost analysis process you will end up saving yourself from bad investments.