Comfenergy Case Studies: Making a Home More Energy Efficient in Round Hill, VA

Monday, June 3rd, 2019 by Crystal Bonner

Challenge

Mr. and Mrs. R owned a beautiful home in Round Hill, VA. They wanted the entire house to be more comfortable and energy efficient, but especially their 5th bedroom and kitchen. This house had a poorly insulated vented attic, which allows air that was heated or cooled to escape outside. It also had features like a multi-level attic which allows radiant heat in the summer to alter room temperatures. When one room under the attic has a higher ceiling than another room it leaves a short section of interior wall exposed in the freezing cold or baking hot attic. Air was escaping from around the metal chimney pipe, the can lights, and knee walls as well. Furthermore, this home also had an unsheathed wall over the porch ceiling, allowing air to leak through the home.

Solution

Comfenergy took many steps to stop all of this air flowing in and out of the house. We air sealed and insulated the attic with polyurethane spray foam and blown in cellulose insulation and built a dam around the HVAC to protect it from insulation. We created two openings to access the front of the house to insulate the roof and knee walls with cellulose and Foamax. We insulated the porch ceiling with SilverGlo foam board, and sealed the chimney chase with metal flashing, fire caulk, and rock wool. Expanding spray foam and SilverGlo foam board was used to air seal and insulate between the two ceiling levels in the attic and TiteShell recessed can light cover were installed and sealed.