EcoHomes - Boise, Idaho

Wall Insulation Tips

tmcgiverin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:18:31 +0000

Conductive heat loss through uninsulated walls represents a significant portion of the heating and cooling load and is usually cost-effective in older homes with little or no wall insulation. Most of the newer Boise homes have some insulation in the walls but many homes built before 1970 have little or no insulation in the walls. (wall insulation was not introduced into the building codes until the early 70s)

The insulation most common for walls are cellulose , fiberglass and foam. Foam insulation is injected into the wall as a liquid and expands into an insulating foam. The R value is higher per inch than fiberglass or cellulose but it does have drawbacks. Foam is the most expensive option and can also cause havoc with the electrical wiring in the walls because it is injected as a gooey liquid. Cellulose and fiberglass can significantly increase the R value of the wall and reduce air infiltration if properly installed. The important factor with cellulose and fiberglass installed in walls is that the density is sufficient. Without the proper density, air infiltration will not be reduced and the insulation will settle to the bottom of the wall over time

Installation of wall insulation can be achieved from the outside of the home or from the inside. Homes with vinyl or wood siding can have wall insulation installed from the outside. Small sections of the siding are removed allowing the insulation to be blown into the wall from the exterior and then the siding is placed back. Stucco and brick exteriors must be insulated from the interior which requires drilling holes through the sheet rock and blowing the insulation into the wall. The patching of the sheet rock and painting on an interior wall insulation project can cost more than the insulation itself.

Of all the insulation projects, dense pack wall insulation is the most technically demanding for installers. It is difficult to fully install the insulation at the right density around all the obstructions in the wall. Installing the insulation without sufficient density or coverage will not yield the best results.

At Ecohomes we will use a thermal infrared camera to identify the walls that could benefit from wall insulation. After the project is complete, we scan the home with the thermal camera again validate that all walls have been insulated from top to bottom. Call us today at 208-331-4115 for a free estimate on your wall insulation and a free thermal infrared scan.

Energy Efficient Tax Credits

tmcgiverin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:51:47 +0000

At the end of 2010 the tax credits were extended one more year through the end of 2011 The maximum credit had decreased from $1,500 to $500 in 2011. Unfortunately the tax credits are set to expire all together at the end of 2011. Boise homeowners have eight more days to take advantage of these tax credits. Tax credits apply to windows & doors, foam insulation for air sealing, dense pack insulation in walls, floor or attic insulation, water heaters, roofs, and heating and air conditioning equipment. Energy efficient improvements that help make a home more comfortable and save money are always a good idea and the incentives make them a better idea.

Boise Home Energy Audit Certification

tmcgiverin — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:31:38 +0000

It seems many Boise insulation, window and heating contractors are advertising a free energy audit with an estimate of their service. Boise home owners should be wary when considering a free energy audit and check to see if the person performing the audit is a certified energy auditor. There are two organizations in the energy auditing field that test and certify individuals as certified energy auditors. Those organizations are BPI and RESNET. An individual with BPI or RESNET certification has actually passed an exam and demonstrated their knowledge of building science and energy auditing. The exams are very difficult and usually require weeks of training to pass. The BPI exam also includes a field exam in addition to the written exam. Both organizations require ongoing education and training to maintain the certification.

Floor Insulation or Crawl Space Insulation

tmcgiverin — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:55:15 +0000

The attic seems to get all of the attention when it comes to adding insulation. While the floor of a home is not as important to insulate as the attic; 20% of the heat lost in a home is through the floor. Clearly the floor should not be forgotten. Fiberglass insulation can be installed directly under the floor or foam board can be installed on the wall of the crawl space. The better location to insulate depends on a few other factors such as the duct system, moisture issues, accessibility, air barrier and much more. Insulating a floor is more complicated than an attic and it is important to install the insulation in the right place, with the right R value and installed properly to maximize thermal resistance. When evaluating Boise insulation companies for your insulation project, make sure to compare their recommendations to the Dept. of Energy guidelines for floor insulation.

Attic Insulation Over a Garage

tmcgiverin — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:17:50 +0000

A common question homeowners ask an insulation company is whether or not insulation should be installed over an attached garage. In most cases; the short answer is no. Insulation is intended to slow the movement of heat through the roof, walls or floor of a home. So the real question is; is their a source heat in the garage? Are we trying to keep heat ‘in’ the garage? If there is no source of heat; then insulation will not help. It would be like insulating the tool shed and hoping that somehow the insulation will make the tool shed warmer. Save your money on the garage insulation and add more blown insulation over the living areas of your home for real energy savings and comfort.