Upgrading a furnace in a drafty house is like pouring hot water into a leaky bucket. Seal the leaks before you pay to generate the heat & lower your emissions and cost.
Jim... what a terrific post to take folks through your experience and show the infrared pictures. I was pretty well versed in blower tests but learned a lot here about the details that infrared testing can show. The other thing that jumped out to me as well was the insulated cover for the fireplace, so simple and inexpensive, yet so effective! I'm going to me looking for one of these for sure. I also second your suggestion (below) to contact Let's Go Electric for folks who live in the Asheville area. Is there some website that is a good directory for services like this one and for contractors like Conservationpros that covers national or regional services like these?
Thanks for this very important and informative information. I know that our house has issues. Damage from hurricane Helene revealed areas that needed insulation and there are no doubt more areas that need it as well. It’s drafty in the house due to single pane windows(where we also see occasional mold spots)and the whole place gets too warm in the summer months.
This becomes a health issue also. I’ve become more sensitive to cold as I’ve gotten older and mold can cause serious problems. Do you have a ballpark figure for how much an audit might cost? Our entire house is around 4000 square feet in size. Andrea and I live in the basement apartment which is roughly half that size. Also, are vented attic fans a cost effective option for heat relief along with addressing insulation needs? Thanks again for sharing all of this with us. I think it again underlines the fact that we can do things as individuals that help our planet to heal.
Specific to living in Buncombe County / Asheville, I'd recommend exploring the free Home Energy Navigator session that is provided by Let's Go Electric with support from Buncombe County and the City of Asheville. Here's a link to explore and/or schedule a free session: https://www.letsgoelectric.com/electrify-asheville-buncombe/ Also, I recommend calling Conservation Pros (conservationpros.com) who did good work on our home - they may be willing to come out and provide some recommendations with firm quotes if you are considering contracting out any of the work.
Jim... what a terrific post to take folks through your experience and show the infrared pictures. I was pretty well versed in blower tests but learned a lot here about the details that infrared testing can show. The other thing that jumped out to me as well was the insulated cover for the fireplace, so simple and inexpensive, yet so effective! I'm going to me looking for one of these for sure. I also second your suggestion (below) to contact Let's Go Electric for folks who live in the Asheville area. Is there some website that is a good directory for services like this one and for contractors like Conservationpros that covers national or regional services like these?
Thanks for this very important and informative information. I know that our house has issues. Damage from hurricane Helene revealed areas that needed insulation and there are no doubt more areas that need it as well. It’s drafty in the house due to single pane windows(where we also see occasional mold spots)and the whole place gets too warm in the summer months.
This becomes a health issue also. I’ve become more sensitive to cold as I’ve gotten older and mold can cause serious problems. Do you have a ballpark figure for how much an audit might cost? Our entire house is around 4000 square feet in size. Andrea and I live in the basement apartment which is roughly half that size. Also, are vented attic fans a cost effective option for heat relief along with addressing insulation needs? Thanks again for sharing all of this with us. I think it again underlines the fact that we can do things as individuals that help our planet to heal.
Marty
Specific to living in Buncombe County / Asheville, I'd recommend exploring the free Home Energy Navigator session that is provided by Let's Go Electric with support from Buncombe County and the City of Asheville. Here's a link to explore and/or schedule a free session: https://www.letsgoelectric.com/electrify-asheville-buncombe/ Also, I recommend calling Conservation Pros (conservationpros.com) who did good work on our home - they may be willing to come out and provide some recommendations with firm quotes if you are considering contracting out any of the work.