A Brief Introduction to Weatherization and Its Benefits
Most homeowners are aware that the main function of their home is to protect them and their belongings from the elements. This is the foundation of what it means to Weatherize a building. When weatherization professionals are assessing a structure they focus on four main factors that impact comfort, energy efficiency and quality of life within a home. These factors are energy transfer, water and moisture, air leakage, and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Each of these elements, when not treated properly, can make a home hard to condition, and possibly even unsafe. Let’s take a closer look at each one and discuss a few things that can be done to ensure that your home is as safe and comfortable as possible.
Energy Transfer:
This refers to the way that heat moves into and out of your home. In the summer months we want to keep the air in our home cool and dry to maintain optimal comfort. In the winter, the focus is on keeping the heat that we pay to generate inside the home. A good weatherization expert will focus on creating a comprehensive plan to address the three forms of energy transfer; conduction, convection and radiation. Though it can be effective, in most climates, controlling radiant energy transfer is the lowest priority. Adding adequate insulation is essential to creating a barrier against the conduction of heat into and out of the conditioned space. The insulation, or thermal barrier, should be installed evenly, with no voids, gaps or depressions. There are varying levels of insulation required to ensure proper thermal resistance, depending on what climate zone your home is located in. The thermal resistance is measured in a term called R-value. Most climate zones in Pennsylvania call for a minimum of R19 in the floor, R19 in exterior walls and R44 in attics.
Moisture:
The element that can cause the most harm in a home is water/moisture. Improper control of moisture entering the home can cause everything from discomfort and high energy bills, to mold and structural failures. When weatherizing a home, it is imperative to create a well thought plan to control the transfer of moisture into and out of the building. Addressing any source of bulk water entering the home is a top priority. This would be roof leaks, bad gutters, drainage issues, pipe leaks, etc. The other critical area to control is the way that moisture moves in and out of the home in the form of water vapor. Establishing a correct vapor barrier on a home can be tricky and can cause serious issues if it is not done properly. The most common issues related to poor vapor control is the build of condensation. This condensation can cause building materials to rot and creates conditions that are favorable to mold and mildew growth. A well-trained weatherization expert will spend significant time identifying flaws in a building’s moisture control systems and will devise a plan to remediate those flaws.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ):
When considering factors that impact a home’s performance, IAQ can have the most profound impact on residents’ overall health and quality of life. There are many types of contaminants that can impact a home’s IAQ. Mold spores, off gasses from furniture and carpets, soil gasses from a basement or crawlspace, high levels of humidity, outdoor contaminants, and combustion appliance exhaust can all cause significant air quality issues. Identifying sources of IAQ issues and installing measures that will help to mitigate and prevent future problems is paramount to ensuring comfort and safety in the home. There are standards set that need to be rigorously followed to ensure a home is healthy and safe when performing weatherization work. A weatherization expert will ensure that areas of concern are treated appropriately and that minimum ventilation standards are met. Proper home ventilation is essential to ensure that a building has good indoor air quality.
Air Leakage:
The most essential element to address and control when weatherizing a home is air leakage. Air leakage is the movement of air molecules into and out of a structure. Air leakage has a role in every other element previous discussed; noxious matter is moved by air, humid air entering a home is the largest source of moisture, hot and cold air can dramatically affect the temperatures in a building. The top priority of any weatherization professional is to establish a proper air barrier and control the movement of air into and out of a house. This is done by identifying leaks and sealing them proper materials. The air barrier should be contiguously aligned with the thermal and moisture barriers. Aligning these barriers is essential to create optimal building performance conditions. Again, there are industry standards with regards to the amount of air movement in a building. Adhering to these standards requires proper testing to verify that work was adequately and safely completed. The latest energy codes for residential new construction call for homes to be built as tightly as possible, and then fitted with adequately sized mechanical ventilation systems. Following this standard creates a home environment where the air in the home is properly controlled, cleaned and conditioned. This ensures the highest levels of comfort, indoor air quality and safety in a home environment.
If your home is difficult to keep comfortable, if you fear you may have issues with poor indoor air quality, or if you have issues with moisture or mold in your home, it may be time to contact a weatherization expert. Weatherization professionals specialize in building performance and address the entire home as a system. As building performance specialists, we are trained to inspect and address every part of your home to create a plan that will ensure that your home’s systems are all working together to create the best environment possible for you and your loved ones.
