Techniques of Weatherization

Air Sealing

Air-sealing is typically one of the first steps taken on any weatherization job. While many people think that insulation is all they need for their attic, they don’t realize that insulation alone doesn’t actually stop air movement, just slows it down. We use combinations of rigid foam board and spray foam to air seal your home. Many different types of foam exist for different applications including 1-part, 2-part, expanding, fire retardant versions are available. Your home energy audit will outline areas in your home in need of air sealing work so that you can undertake these retrofits yourself or guide other contractors through proper installation.
 

Blown Insulation

Cellulose insulation is made of recycled newspapers treated with borates for protection against fire, mold and pests. Insulation should always be added after all of the gaps and cracks that air could leak through have been sealed. Our professional air sealing teams make sure to blow the insulation consistently, bring insulation in places like the attic up to the recommended value of R-50. Besides helping to lower enery bills, cellulose insulation also helps reduce noise from the outside.
 

Weatherstripping

 
Along with the standard insulation, home air-sealing, HVAC duct maintenance, and replacement windows, the EDGE team performing your energy upgrades can also install a host of door and window weatherstripping options. Depending on the application, weatherstripping is available in different materials – rubber, plastic, wood, vinyl, metal, and others
 

Duct Sealing

 
Sealing a leaky duct system can be singlehandely the most cost-effective way to reducing your homes heating or cooling bills. In some older homes, and those that have ducting built into stud bays, our energy retrofits can improve the air handlers performance by over 50% and drastically reduce indoor air quality problems, and sources of pollution.Your family’s daily health and safety can be influenced by your HVAC duct performance, so do not let this area of your home go unchecked!
 

Replacement Windows

 
The first thing we will tell you is that replacing all your home’s windows is rarely, if ever, a cost-effective energy upgrade. In most homes, the time to recoup your investment from a whole-house, energy-efficient window upgrade could well extend past 20 years of reduced energy savings. Now, that being said, if you need to replace a window, then our usual advice is to spend a little extra and get an EnergyStar rated one. These windows can be priced from a number of window and door contractors, or you can ask your EDGE representative about our low-cost replacement options.
 

Crawlspace Treatment

The typical crawlspace in our area looks like a space that time forgot! Low levels of insulation, large moisture problems from ground sources, and air leakage are among the three largest problems. Look at our photos on right to see an example of a correctly insulated and sealed crawlspace (unvented)
 
 
 
 

Spray Foam Insulation

Sprayfoam insulation not only delivers on the insulating side, it also acts as a fantastic barrier for both air and moisture. It can be used to seal and insulate ductwork, band joists, attic knee walls, and other trouble spots. Furthermore, it also adds strength to the building structure.