Whole-House Approach
The Whole House Approach uses building science together with the realization that your house works as a system to holistically solve common home performance issues. Home performance issues would include: High energy bills, mold, mildew, musty odors, damp basements, cold floors in winter, drafty rooms, excessive dust, moisture on windows, ice dams, peeling paint and dry indoor air in winter.
Like a well-oiled machine, your home or building works as a system of interdependent parts. This is commonly referred to as the Whole-House Approach. Each and every component impacts the performance of many others. When the parts work together in an optimal way, your reward is a durable, comfortable, healthy and energy-efficient environment. Murtha Construction professionals are trained to make this happen in just a few steps. Careful installation is key. Your investment now to control moisture and eliminate air leaks will pay off with lower energy bills, improved comfort, reduced maintenance and greater durability in the months and years to come.
Control Moisture
Rain, humidity and condensation can all create moisture problems. Once inside a building, they can cause structural, health and comfort problems. Water seeps through failing roofing, improperly installed flashings and gaps around windows and doors. Moist air flows in through holes in wall cavities, where the foundation meets the framing, and via crawl spaces. Moist air can also flow out, into your attic through plumbing penetrations, mechanical chases and recessed lighting fixtures. Water wicks through porous materials or between small cracks, and vapor moves by diffusion through permeable materials.
Seal the Air Leaks
Would you leave a window wide open in winter? Believe it or not, if you could collect all the little gaps and cracks in your home in one place, they would be equal to an open window or two! Air leaks can reduce a home’s durability, provide entry points for pests, cause drafts, lower or raise humidity levels and increase heating and cooling bills.
Insulate for Comfort
Sealing your home makes it air tight while minimizing risk of mold and mildew; insulation makes it affordably comfortable. After plugging the leaks, install proper insulation and energy-efficient windows to keep the heat inside in the winter and outside in the summer. Quality installation is the key to success; insulation is often installed without regard to air and moisture control, or with gaps, which can greatly decrease its value. The vast majority of homes could greatly benefit from additional insulation that has been properly installed.
Right Size to Optimize
An air tight, well-insulated home offers another bonus: it will probably require a smaller (and less expensive) heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. An oversized or poorly installed HVAC system can increase utility bills, reduce comfort and lead to moisture and air quality problems. A contractor can size it right using the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Manual J procedure.
Ducts should be designed using ACCA’s Manual D, located in conditioned spaces (if possible), and sealed with mastic.
Install energy-efficient lighting
Inefficient lighting generates a lot of heat and increases the load on your air conditioner. ENERGY STAR qualified lighting requires one-third the energy of standard lighting, generates one-third the heat and lasts up to 10 times longer.
Install and use kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans
When you make a home more air tight, it is imperative to exhaust unwanted moisture by installing and using kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans. New, quieter models increase the likelihood that they will be used while cooking and during and right after showering. Make sure the exhaust fans are vented to the outside, not re-circulating moisture inside the house or releasing it into the attic where it can cause mold.
Maintain HVAC system for continued operation and efficiency
HVAC systems must be maintained regularly by qualified professionals to provide long-lasting, efficient and healthy operation.
Just Say “No” To Shortcuts!
Cutting corners may save time now, but shortcuts will come back to haunt you later. Remember that your home is a system of interdependent parts. Take the time now to ensure it runs smoothly for years to come. Contact the building scientists and Murtha Construction today or Request a Home Energy Audit Online to get started. You won’t be sorry!
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