Weatherization Program Update

 

A couple of months ago,
we had a weatherization audit done on our home.
This program, which is free to those who qualify,
does testing to see how energy efficient your home is.
We had pretty good results,
but several contractors were sent our way
to button up our cozy nest just a bit more.
So far, this is what has been done.

A whole house fan was installed in the hallway bathroom.
This fan replaced the builder-grade fan that was there,
and it has Smart technology.
The fan cycles on automatically,
according to the humidity in the air.
It is designed to pull the dampness out of the whole house,
not just the bathroom,
thereby creating a healthier environment,
with less chance of mold or mildew being formed inside.
This fan is so quiet, you can hardly hear it running.
Astounding!



On another day,
a crew came to take care of quite a few items on our list.
One task was to seal the ductwork at the registers.
They also went under our crawlspace and sealed all of the ductwork there,
and wrapped the water tank in thick insulation to retain heat.

The same crew added a few inches of insulation to the attic,
as well as insulation under the crawlspace to improve our efficiency.
We're almost looking forward to this year's power bills,
so that we can take note of any difference in cost.

A different team came to put a moisture barrier all through the crawlspace,
to keep condensation from building up under there.
We are so grateful to all of the workers who did such a wonderful job
and were extremely professional and easy to work with.

We should have one more contractor coming sometime soon
to check out our HVAC unit.
Before long, we'll be as buttoned up as we can be!

If you want to see if you qualify for this free program,
check out this website.

Weatherization Take Two

our NC home

Back in Florida,

we had the Weatherization Assistance Program

come and do an evaluation on our home.

You can read that story here. 

In fact, we did a whole series based on the findings of that service.

The Weatherization Program helps qualified families

to improve the energy efficiency of their home.

As soon as we closed on our house here in the Piedmont,

we applied for the program.

After almost two years on the waiting list,

we were able to have an assessment done on our home.

 The energy auditor was here a couple of weeks ago

and did a series of assessments to determine

what systems might be improved upon in our 30-year old home.

 

Some of the possible improvements include:

1.  Sealing air leaks or ducts

2. Performing tune-ups on heating and cooling units

3.  Replacing existing lighting with energy efficient bulbs

4.  Determining carbon monoxide levels and resolving poor levels

5.  Installing insulation where needed.

 No, we haven't changed out our front door for a splash of bold color,

this is actually one of the tools that our auditor used 

to determine how much our home leaks air.

The auditor said that it looked pretty good

and was most likely due to the age of the house. 

As our home is newer than many of those evaluated,

there may not be much we qualify for,

but we wanted to make sure our home is as efficient as possible,

so we are not wasting money and resources.

Now that the evaluation has been done,

independent contractors will be scheduled to determine specific needs,

such as our heat pump system and possible insulation deficits.

We will be grateful for any improvements that can be made.

 We'll provide an update as the contractors give us the results.

To see if you qualify for the program in your state,

start here.

Weatherization Series-Water Heater Installation

Recently, the last facet in the weatherization program of our home was completed.
It all started when we had a home inspection done.
That was featured here.

This time around, 
we were scheduled for some plumbing work.
Mike from Sun City Center Plumbing in Tampa came to do the job.

He and his assistant installed a brand new water heater.
It replaced the tank that came with the house almost 9 years ago.

The energy guide lets us know how much to expect
to pay for its use throughout the year.
As our house is on the market,
we hope it adds to the sales appeal.



Mike also installed new aerators in both bathroom sinks
and a new low-flow shower head.
All of these efforts should decrease our water usage
and save on our monthly bill.
And what a great asset to include in our real estate ad.

The weatherization program is worthwhile
for anyone concerned about conserving resources and saving money.
You can find out about the program here.

Here are the links to the other posts about our weatherization upgrades:

insulation

air conditioner maintenance

solar screens

Weatherization Series-Solar Screens

This is the third post in our series on weatherization.
We had an evaluation done in February after applying
for the weatherization assistance program last year.
Last week, we talked about Central Air/Heat maintenance.

Today we're looking at Solar Screens.

This is not window tinting,
but actual screens that fit over your windows.

Here's the back of our house.  It faces south.

The window to the left is the Master Bedroom,

the other two look into our living area.

Here the original screens are in place.

Lil' Guy's window is also on the south side.

He likes his room darker in the mornings,

so he can wake up at his own pace.

These two windows are on the west side.
We have one more window on the east side of the house, which I haven't shown here.
The north side of the house has one window and our front door.
The program doesn't provide screens on the north side of the home.

Maurice came out on two different occasions to measure our windows.

"Measure twice, cut once."

He then ordered his materials and made the screens in his shop.

Each screen is custom-made to order,

to ensure a perfect fit on the windows.

The bonus?

Maurice cleaned the windows before installation!

If you'll notice on the first pictures shown on the post,

these screens are much darker than the originals.

They block out 90% of the sun's rays.

One of the things I liked best about this house,

was all the natural light that came into it,

so I wasn't sure I would really like the light being blocked.

Each window is fitted with a metal channel to hold the screen in place.

The installation took the better part of a day.

We've noticed a big difference in the amount of heat felt through the windows.
It's also helped with privacy, as we have no back fence.

So far, I'm doin' okay with the decrease in light,
and being outside as much as I am,
I think it'll work out okay.



The best part of these screens is that,
unlike window tinting with film,
when you open up your windows in the cooler months,
you still get the protection from the sun,
but ventilation is not compromised.
They are also supposed to help retain the heat 
during the colder part of the year. 
With our house now on the market,
we think these screens will add to its resale value,
and it didn't cost us a dime.
Thanks, Maurice!




 

It's too early to tell what the change will be on our power bill,
but I'll bet it will be significant.
I'll post an update after we get our next bill.

Maurice can be reached locally at 863-661-1533 
or email him at solarscreenandmore@yahoo.com.
Tell him daisy sent ya.
Here's the company's website for more information.


Those in Central Florida can find out more
about the program here.

Weatherization Series-Central Air/Heater Maintenance

This is the second post in our series on weatherization.
We had an evaluation done in February after applying
for the weatherization assistance program last year.
Last week, we covered how we had our insulation boosted.

This week, we review how our Central Air Conditioner unit was serviced.

Outside, the contractor flushed the coolant lines,
cleaned the condenser coils,  
and ensured that the unit was running smoothly
and free from debris and blockage.



Our air handler is actually up in the attic,
over the garage.  Not an easy place to access.
We always thought that was one of the worst places
someone could put an air handler,
but we didn't build the house, so it is what it is.
While the contractor worked on cleaning the evaporator, 
and sealing any leaks around the lines,
his assistant was inside the house working on the ventilation system.

All of the vent covers were removed and a mastic was used around the openings to prevent air leakage.

They also left us with several air conditioning filters,
so that we can change them monthly.
One thing I learned was that the more expensive filters (for allergies) 
are not really worth the price unless someone in the household has severe respiratory issues.
Good to know that we don't need to spend more than necessary.

This type of maintenance is suggested once a year.
We are so grateful that we were able to have it done by professionals.
The A/C is used most of the year here in Central Florida,
so it is vital to make sure it is properly maintained.

Next week:  Solar Screens


You can find out more about the weatherization program here 
or attend a weatherization awareness event near you.