Post image for Wet basement? Exposed dirt floor? add ground cover/vapor barrier

Wet basement? Exposed dirt floor? add ground cover/vapor barrier

by Tim I.

in Property Improvements

We hear it all the time, “my basement is wet/damp/musty in the spring and summer – but that’s alright, it’s supposed to be like that. We just run the dehumidifier for 6 months straight and empty it once or twice a day.” When a basement/crawlspace has high moisture, so does the rest of the house. The natural path for air to move throughout a home is up, which means that too is the natural path for moisture. This can lead to condensation on windows, mold/milder on surfaces, and overall sub par indoor air quality.

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The right way to insulate your foundation walls – option #2

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If you read through our previous post (option #1) and have realized that rigid insulation is not the answer for your basement/crawlspace, then option #2 most likely will be. Rigid board insulation works very well for flat foundation walls (i.e. poured concrete, cinder block, etc), but is not a viable solution for older stone, granite, [...]

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The right way to insulate your basement walls – option #1: rigid board

rigid board insulation on foundation wall

Properly insulating your foundation wall is one of the most important steps if you are interested in energy efficiency, finishing your basement, decreasing the moisture content withing your home, improving indoor air quality, and improving overall seasonal comforts.

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PACE Program – Energy Solutions for Free?

The PACE Program is a federally funded program in which municipalities elect to take part in. PACE is a Loan program offering a secure low interested APR designed specifically for residential Weatherization improvements, including: Air Sealing, Insulating, Heat & Hot Water system replacements, appliance upgrades, window & door replacements, and Solar Solutions (Thermal & PV).

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How do you heat your Domestic Hot Water?

How do you heat your Domestic Hot Water (DHW) in your home? If you’re from the east coast and have an oil boiler, chances are high that you heat with a Tankless Coil. What is a Tankless Coil System? Well, besides being very effective at producing extremely hot water, it’s one of the most inefficient [...]

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Energy Audit – What It Will Do For You

Fluke TiR Thermal Imager

Getting an energy audit done on your property is the first step towards understanding WHERE and HOW MUCH money you can save on energy bills. Most property owners think they have an understanding of where they are wasting energy, but until they receive the evidence from an energy audit it will be difficult to pinpoint [...]

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Ice Dams on Your Roof? Fix Your Attic Hatch!

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If you have an attic and you get Ice Dams on your roof, chances are that your Attic’s Hatch is contributing to heat loss! Whether you have a regular hatch or one with a ladder, air leakage through the hatch can contribute to heat loss and drafty areas within your home.

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Drafty Home? Ice Dams? Recessed Lights Could Be The Issue

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On a windy day, do you feel a draft that start upstairs or from your attic? Do you get uncontrollable ice dams on your roof no matter how much venting you add? Recessed Lights could be the issue! Most likely you have more issues than just recessed lights, but it is a great starting point.

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When & Why To Replace Windows!

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The majority of home owners still believe that replacing windows is the best way to lower energy bills and make a home more comfortable. In almost every scenario, this thought process is not entirely true!

If a window is not functioning properly (i.e. it will not open or close properly – it cannot be locked) than it should be replaced, but these are the only reasons we see fit. In order to explain this reasoning, see the photo above. Most air leakage that occurs via windows is actually from the window frame

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Unfinished Basements: Where to Start

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If your home has energy inefficiencies or uncomfortable performance (high moisture, drafty areas, ice dams, high energy bills) then solutions to your basement could very well be the starting point, and could also provide the greatest savings – even if your basement/crawl space is unheated!

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