DeWitt's Thoughts
Subscribe to our RSS feed!Important Questions to ask a Potential Home Inspector
Buying a home is often the most expensive purchase that people make. For such a momentous acquisition it is surprising how often there is little time and effort that goes into selecting the home inspector.
In Maine potential buyers will rely on their broker to advise them on whom to use. That can be a starting point, but it should not be the most important factor in making the inspector decision. Remember, the buying and selling agents make the same commission which can be a conflict of interest for the buying broker when helping the potential buyer make an inspector decision. Use the internet and referrals from neighbors and friends to gather a pool of potential inspectors.
Check the Chimneys Before the Blower Door Test
I always tell clients not to have a fire going in their woodstoves or fireplaces prior to my blower door testing. I also request that they remove all ashes from these areas to prevent ash dust from being pulled into their home.
I have now learned to do one more safety check prior to running the blower door test. A client had followed my recommendations precisely and told me that he had not had a fire in the wood stove for over 24 hours. It seemed that I was good to go with the blower door testing.
After about a minute of running the blower door, smoke began to back draft out of the junction of the woodstove flue pipe and the chimney. I shut down the blower door fan and then opened the clean out of the chimney used for the stove to see what was going on. With a mirror I could see a large glowing mass that was below the flue pipe entrance but above the clean out door.
The Importance of 3rd Party Verification
The value of Third Party Verification cannot be underestimated. This verification is the cornerstone of the “checks and balances” system. Every time I do a HERS or EnergyStar rating of a home my work is verified by another group. The Passive House and LEED certification ratings also require third party verification on all of the work done in the construction of the homes. It sets a level of excellence that reinforces the high standards that the most demanding energy efficiency programs require.
I strongly recommend that homeowners request third party verification on all of their projects. Using the third party verification system solves the debate over the independent verses One Stop Shopping audit style debate. With this model the One Stop Shops can do the audit and the efficiency upgrades work, then have a third party verify that the work is successful. It may sound cumbersome and costly but it is not.
A Real Super Sunday- Helping Reverse the Affects of Maine's Fuel Assistance Cuts
The symbolism of the day that Kevin from Upright Frameworks, Peter from Energy Circle, and I chose to go to the Hartford’s in Peru, Maine to see what we could do was not lost on me. It was the day of the Super Bowl. While we were trying to decide the best way to make the home more energy efficient and a healthier place to live, millions of people were trying to decide how to make their football parties fantastic. I am not criticizing sports revelers one bit. The day just showed the broad scope of what is happening in America.
There are so many misconceptions about people that end up needing assistance. Often times they are demonized for needing help. I was so impressed by the attitude and demeanor of the Hartfords. While we were helping them Mr. Hartford was in and out driving people to doctor’s visits and other places that they could not get to.
The Importance of Air Quality and Combustion Safety Testing
More and more homeowners are having significant insulation and air sealing upgrades done to their homes. This is a very positive step forward for Maine’s economy and towards energy independence. Unfortunately, if these upgrades are done improperly they can be a threat to your health and well being. To avoid the health risk of mold growth problems, the inhalation of chemicals released in our homes, as well as the potential poisoning by carbon monoxide, homeowners should have a complete battery of air quality and combustion safety tests done when the work is completed. If the installers do not do these tests a professional should be hired to perform this service. Remember, tight is good as long as you are ventilating properly!
Avoid the "Sales Pitch Audit"
There are two types of energy audit services available. One is provided by One Stop Shopping companies and the other is done by independent audit companies. The One Stop method has one company do the audit, recommend upgrades, do the upgrades, and do the quality control to decide if the work was done properly. I call these audits “Sales Pitch Audits.”
Governor Lepage is Wrong About Audits
Audits Prevent Ponzi Schemes
Governor LePage made news last week when he called energy audits a "ponzi scheme." He went on to say that “conservation is very, very good if you do it properly.” On the latter point, I agree with this statement by our Governor. Conservation is indeed very, very good and has shown to be a powerful stimulus for the economy. But he's dead wrong in his critique of energy audits.
Benefits of Storm Windows
Based on research presented in Home Energy magazine the average energy efficiency improvement of adding an energy-efficient single glazed exterior storm window to an existing single pane wood framed window is over 400%. Using an energy efficient fiberglass framed storm window increased the efficiency by 600% or more. The installation of a storm window with a wood frame is 300%. The most effective storm windows are considered energy efficient and have the smallest frames. Energy efficiency of windows is measured in U-value of the glass with the lower the score the better. Energy efficient U-values are in the 0.2 end of the spectrum while inefficient glass is in the 1.0 range. In R-value terms the 0.2 U-value is an R-value of 5.0 and the inefficient rating of U-value 1.0 also has an R-value of 1.0.
Weatherize Baby Weatherize
In Maine there has been a great deal of discussion about the cost of residential heating and what to do about it. The majority of the focus seems to be on replacing oil with natural gas. This will help but it is not the first step to take. We all know heating fuel prices can vary greatly. Right now natural gas prices are low but that could change at any time. There are no guarantees on the savings based on the volatility of fuel prices.
The first step in making home efficiency gains is to weatherize. The weatherization of homes immediately creates jobs, brings guaranteed savings to the home owners, and injects money back into the local communities. If a home becomes 30% more efficient it will dramatically reduce the annual operating costs for the owners. The improved efficiency will not change due to conflicts overseas, depleting supplies of fuel, or political shifts in ideology.
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