These Leesburg, VA homeowners wanted to fix a cold pantry. During our free home evaluation, we discovered they were going to replace 4 windows next to their dining room table to the tune of $5,000!!! After a thermal imaging exam, we found the problem to actually be the pantry! The builder didn't insulate the top of the pantry well, and cold air was traveling down the walls of the pantry during the winter. This made the pantry so cold that cooking oil stored inside actually solidified.
Solution
We did the normal attic air sealing, covering can lights, and sealing up the attic hatch. But, we were also able to open the top of the pantry and finally insulate it properly. All for less than the $5,000 for replacing 4 windows....That wouldn't have solved the problem to begin with! The homeowner would have wasted that money and still would have the same problem - Comfenergy to the rescue!
The top of this pantry was poorly insulated. This was causing cold drafts to flow into the dining room. The homeowners thought the windows were the issue.
See the cold air entering the top of the pantry through the soffits? Brrrrrr...
This is a picture of the top of the pantry from the inside. We ended up filling this void with insulation and air sealing it.
This picture shows some of the air sealing in progress.
Recessed can lights allow air to travel to/from the attic and the living spaces below. We seal them up to stop this energy loss.
Recessed can light covered and air sealed using rock wool fire-resistant covers and one part foam spray.
New soffit air baffles were installed to allow air flow after the new TruSoft cellulose insulation is blown.
Another picture of the main attic as Comfenergy blows in more TruSoft cellulose over the existing insulation.
