Repair & Improve

Fall Fix Ups For Energy Savings

Ideas and innovations from America’s popular home improvement radio team

Tom Kraeutler & Leslie Segrete

From House Beautiful Home Remodeling & Decorating

Tom Kraeutler and Leslie Segrete host The Money Pit, a nationally syndicated radio show that fields hundred of calls each week from listeners seeking advice on everything from floor boards to shingles.  In this issue, Tom & Leslie tackle your questions about keeping energy bills in check this winter.

Q:  Last winter the energy bills really hurt so this year we are thinking about installing new windows. Any tips or advice?

A:  Leslie:  Changing your windows is a great way to create a more energy efficient environment inside your home.  Faulty windows, whether by installation or just old age, can account for a huge energy loss and higher energy bills.  It is also a year-round problem because while cold drafts are obvious in the colder months, “warm” drafts also drain energy bills in the summer.

Tom - If the framing around your windows seems to be in good shape, then replacement windows your best option.  Replacement windows allow you to remove just the operable parts of the old window (like the sashes that slide up and down) but keep the original wood window frame.  The new window simply slips inside of the old window and with a little bit of trim and caulk, you’re done.  A big advantage of replacement windows is that you can install them quickly and with no disturbance to the siding.  The newest model windows offer low-e as well as double or triple-pane glass, all excellent options for energy efficiency.  This is also a great time to make this energy saving improvement as the government is offering tax credits for energy efficient improvements made through 2008.  For more information, log on to the Department of Energy’s web site at www.doe.gov.

Q:  Our roof is about 15 years old and we have asphalt shingles.  We are noticing deterioration on a lot of the shingles and it seems like it might be time to replace it.  What are some new roofing options that we might not be aware of?

A:  Leslie - Since asphalt roofs generally last 15 to 20 years, it sounds like you are right on target for a new one!  That being the case, we’d recommend you take a look at the fabulous new options with metal roofing.  Metal roofs are no longer just the corrugated sheets of steel you might have seen in the past.  They have now gone “high-tech” with a variety of energy efficient and affordable styles that can look like slate, cedar shake, terracotta, or just about any custom look imaginable.  Metal roofs are also resistant to shrinking or cracking and are virtually maintenance free.  By adding a metal roof to your home you can also save up to 40% in annual energy costs and increase the value of your home by about $1.45 per square foot.  Plus, metal roofs are made from 30-60% recycled materials, so you can sleep well under your new roof knowing that you have helped our very valuable environment.  For more information on metal roofs, visit the web site for the Metal Roofing Association at www.metalroofing.com.

Q:  We are thinking of building a new home and are hearing a lot about using individual Energy Star rated products.  We are wondering though, is it possible to build an Energy Star approved home?

A:  Tom - Yes – in fact it is a wonderful idea too.  Energy Star qualified homes are independently verified to be at least 30% more energy efficient than homes built to the 1993 national Model Energy Code or 15% more efficient than state energy code, whichever is more rigorous. These savings are based on heating, cooling, and hot water energy use.  What I really like about the program is that it requires independent verification, including rigorous testing, after the home is built, to qualify for the Energy Star approval.  Not only will an Energy Star rated home provide you years of energy savings, it may also qualify for an Energy Star mortgage with an interest rate that will deliver even greater savings.

Q:  Our home was built in 1962 and the fiberglass insulation in the attic seems to have shrunken.  Is it possible for insulation to wear out?  Also, how much insulation do we really need and is it possible to put in too much?

A:  Leslie - Over the years, it is common for insulation to settle and the shrunken insulation you described probably is no longer doing the job you need it to do.  Insulation is most effective when it is fluffy and traps air between its fibers.  Our advice would be to remove and replace what you have with new material.  We’d recommend two layers with the first one being installed in the spaces between the ceiling joists, and a second layer laid perpendicular to the first one on top of the ceiling joists.  In most areas of the country you should have 12-15 total inches on insulation. 

Tom - Having too much insulation is generally not a problem, so long as you make sure it is properly installed and that the attic is ventilated.  In the best case scenario, we recommend continuous ridge and soffit venting.  These vents are installed on the top ridge of the home as well as the underside of the soffit.  They  work together to circulate air up from the soffit to under the roof sheathing and out the ridge, flushing lots of moisture along the way.  This is important since damp insulation can lose as much as one-third of its ability to insulate.  They also help keep the attic cooler in the summer which improves air conditioning efficiency as well.

Q:  Our home’s heating system is extremely dry but I have had very bad luck with humidifiers.  The last two we had didn’t last more than a year.

A:  Tom – Humidifiers are an important part of keeping the inside of your home comfortable and are strongly recommended if your home is heated by forced hot air, the most common and driest type of heating system.  Keeping the air moist not only makes you more comfortable, it will also help lower your heating bills because moist air retains heat better than dry air.

I’m not surprised to hear that you have had bad luck with humidifiers though.  In the 20 years I spent as a professional home inspector, I frequently found them in all levels of disrepair.  There are basically three types of humidifiers: flow-through, drum and spray.  Drum humidifiers have rotating parts that frequently break down and since water collects in the pan under them, they can also breed mold.  Spray units aren’t much better as they spray water directly into the air above the furnace, where it often drips down and causes rust damage to the furnace.  The best type is flow-through.  Water trickles over a coil and evaporates into the warm air.  Better ones, like those from Aprilaire, even include computerized controls that measure inside and outside temperatures and calculate just the right amount of humidity based on current weather conditions.  For more information, go to www.aprilaire.com.

Q:  I have a very odd problem.  There is cold air leaking through the light switches and outlets on my outside wall.  Is there any way to stop this?

A:  Leslie – Actually, that is a very common problem!  The outside walls of most homes are chock full of holes like Swiss cheese.  It is a constant battle to identify and seal them up.  In this case, we woud recommend you install outlet or switch gaskets.  These are very inexpensive pieces of foam insulation that fit under the cover plate and around the outlet or light switch.  Once you put the cover plate back, the gasket will be invisible and the drafts will be gone.

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