Comfenergy Case Studies: Drafty Kitchen in Ashburn, VA

Challenge

This Ashburn, VA homeowner was complaining of cold air drafts throughout the entire back wall of their home, more specifically in the kitchen.  They could feel cold air coming in through the outlets and switches on the back wall of the home. 

Comfenergy performed a full comfort and energy evaluation.  During the evaluation, thermal imaging found little to no insulation in the back wall of the house, especially around the areas where wiring and other items were located in the wall. 

Solution

Comfenergy offered a solution of "dense packing" the rear wall with recycled "TruSoft" blown-in cellulose insulation.  Access was made by pulling off a few pieces of the vinyl siding and holes were drilled in the thin exterior sheathing to access the wall stud cavities.  Cellulose was pushed or "dense packed" into the wall cavities to fill all of the air voids and stop the drafts.

Finally, the holes were plugged and the vinyl siding was re-installed to look good as new! The kitchen and rest of the back wall of the home are now draft free, cooler in the summer, and warmer in the winter.

Project Summary

Evaluator: Andrew Garnsey