Common
Household Problems
EDGE
Energy Solutions
Ice Damming
Problem: Warm air inside your home leaks into the attic and heats
the underside of the roof, causing snow and ice to melt and refreeze
as it runs off your roof. This forms icicles and ice dams that
eventually force the water to back up under the shingles and sometimes
into the ceiling or wall inside your home. In addition to roof
and water damage, ice dams can cause structural decay and mold
and mildew to form in attics and on walls.
Solution: EDGE Energy can prevent damage from ice by sealing all
infiltration points (recessed lights, leaky ducts, access doors,
plumbing and electrical penetrations, etc.) to and from the attic
and properly insulating your attic. Sealing these leaks keeps
warm air in your house were it belongs. Together, with adequate
levels of insulation, this greatly reduces the chance of ice damming
and large icicles.
Drafty
Rooms
Problem: Cold air leaking into your house around windows, doors,
electrical outlets, light fixtures, and gaps in corners, can cause
rooms to feel drafty and uncomfortable. As cold air is coming in
through leaks, warm air is escaping. The biggest air leaks are often
found in the attic, and recessed lights are a common cause. If you
add up all the hidden air leaks in your home, they can equal the
size of an open window or even an open door!
Solution: Air sealing can help stop drafts, improve the comfort
and energy efficiency of your home, and reduce your utility bills.
Some leaks are easy to find and fix - around windows and doors.
But holes hidden in attics, basements, and crawlspaces are usually
bigger problems. EDGE Energy can examine your entire home for air
leaks, properly seal ducts and holes, and make sure your combustion
appliances are venting properly.
Mold,
mildew, and musty areas
Problem: A water leak or high humidity can lead to mold, mildew,
or musty odors. Water can seep into your house from the outside
through a leak in your roof, foundation, or small gaps around windows
or doors. High indoor humidity caused by normal activities of everyday
living such as showering, cooking, and drying clothes, can also
be a source. Depending on the severity, conditions can lead to rot,
structural damage, premature paint failure, and a variety of health
problems.
Solution: Where the problem occurs can lead to what is causing the
problem. If the problem is localized (a spot on the ceiling, wall
or corner) it is possibly caused by a water leak. If the problem
is in a large area like a whole wall, room or basement then it might
be caused by high humidity. EDGE Energy can find the source of your
mold and mildew problems immediately. We can help stop water leaks
to minimize potential mold growth, ensure rooms and appliances are
vented properly to maintain humidity levels, clean ducts and drip
pans, EDGE Energy can also check your heating and cooling system
to make sure it is sized and operating properly. If your system
is too big or the airflow incorrect, your air conditioner will not
remove humidity like it should.
Window
Condensation
Problem: Inefficient windows (e.g., single pane with aluminum frames)
or high moisture with inadequate ventilation can result in condensation,
frost, or pools of water on windows and sills. Moisture in the air
condenses when it touches a cold surface. Continued excess moisture
can lead to mold, mildew, and deterioration of your windows and
sills.
Solution: It is difficult to completely eliminate moisture on existing
windows, but EDGE Energy can help by reducing humidity and ensuring
proper airflow and venting. Replacing old windows with windows that
exceed ENERGY STAR specifications can help eliminate most condensation
problems, as well as make your home more comfortable and energy
efficient.
Leaky
Ductwork
Problem: Ductwork leakage is one of the biggest energy wasters.
In houses with forced-air heating and cooling systems, ducts are
used to distribute conditioned air throughout the house. In a typical
house, however, about 20 percent of the air that moves through the
duct system is lost due to leaks, holes, and poorly connected ducts.
The result is higher utility bills and difficulty keeping the house
comfortable, no matter how the thermostat is set.
Solution: A duct system that is well-designed and properly sealed
can make your home more comfortable, energy efficient, and safer.
EDGE Energy can help you achieve this by ensuring your ductwork
is properly sealed, insulated, and sized and your home's heating
and cooling systems work as efficiently as possible an air flow
is optimized. EDGE Energy will also insulate ductwork in attics
and crawlspaces to provide maximum comfort.
Poor
and Missing Insulation
Problem: Insulation slows the movement of heat so it keeps your
home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. When correctly installed,
insulation can deliver comfort and lower energy bills during the
hottest and coldest times of the year. Most homes, however, have
insufficient or missing insulation.
Solution: EDGE Energy will properly install insulation in walls,
floors, and attics to give you more even temperatures throughout
the house and a quieter, more comfortable living environment. Insulation
works best when air is not moving through or around it. So it is
very important to seal air leaks before installing insulation to
ensure that you get the best performance from the insulation. To
get the biggest savings, the easiest place to add insulation is
usually in the attic.
Dust
and Pollutants
Problem: Air can carry dust, dirt, and other pollutants as it travels
through your home. Without good ventilation, they can become trapped
indoors and create health problems for everyone in your family -
including asthma, allergies, and cold symptoms.
Solution: As with everything EDGE Energy does in your home, we strive
to maintain and improve indoor air quality. We make sure your combustion
equipment is working and venting safely. Sealing air leaks and ducts
keeps pollution from entering your home and lowers dust levels.
Proper insulation and heating and cooling choices help prevent a
variety of air quality issues. Your home comfort and energy advisor
can recommend additional energy saving ventilation equipment and
devices to further clean your air and offer an even higher level
of protection.
Rooms
that are too hot or too cold
Problem: Slight temperature differences from room to room are not
uncommon, but often one or several rooms in your home are uncomfortably
warm in the summer or too cold in the winter. This condition can
be caused by several factors including inadequate insulation, air
leakage, poor duct system design, duct leakage, or a failure in
part of your heating and cooling system. Not only does this affect
the comfort and health of your family, it can also cause high utility
bills.
Solution: Air seal, duct seal, insulate, heating and cooling system
adjustment and replacement, and window and door repair and replacement,
are all things that can be done. Call EDGE Energy for a comprehensive
home comfort and energy assessment. Using the latest diagnostic
equipment, our trained advisors will evaluate your home and quickly
pinpoint the sources of the problem. We'll analyze the data and
generate a customized list of improvements to solve the problem
permanently, and do the work as needed.
Old
Appliances
Problem: Old and inefficient appliances can cause a variety of comfort,
health and safety, financial, and environmental problems. Old appliances
can leak carbon monoxide and other dangerous gasses. Inefficient
appliances can decrease comfort, increase energy usage, and make
your utility bills skyrocket.
Solution: EDGE Energy can help you determine if you need new, high
efficiency units to replace your aging and inefficient furnace,
boiler, or air-conditioner. We'll determine and install a properly-sized
unit, and make sure the air flows correctly and is evenly distributed
throughout the house. Often, if we do replace a unit, it is usually
smaller because the rest of the house is so efficient. This is very
cost-effective for you. We'll also test your combustion equipment,
such as the furnace, boiler, and hot water heater, to ensure they
are operating safely and efficiently. When all these systems are
balanced correctly, temperatures are more consistent, comfort is
increased, and overheating is reduced resulting in energy savings.
High
Energy bills
Problem: One reason for high energy bills is an increase in the
price of foreign oil. However, it is common to trace high energy
bills to inefficient windows, heating and cooling equipment, ductwork,
and insulation or a failure of one of these components to perform
as intended.
Solution: EDGE Energy can give you a complete home_energy makeover
designed to increase the energy efficiency of your home and lower
your utility bills by at least 25% - guaranteed. Your home will
be analyzed using state-of-the-art tools, including a blower door
and infrared camera. We conduct a comprehensive home comfort and
energy assessment to identify sources of excessive energy usage
including air leaks in the attic, ceiling, exterior walls, windows,
and doors; missing or insufficient insulation; leaking ductwork;
and more. Once the assessment is complete, we provide a customized
solution to ensure maximum energy savings. Common solutions include
air sealing, duct sealing, weather-stripping, insulation, replacement
windows, and furnace or air conditioner replacement.
|