Crawlspaces Can Help Or Hinder Energy Consumption, Depending On These Factors

Name: Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric
Address: 325 Hopping Brook Rd, 01746, Holliston, MA
Telephone: 508-321-3089
Rating: 5

An inefficient crawlspace can be likened to a hole in the bottom of a boat. Even if you plug up all the leaks in the sides of boat, it's still going to take on water.

Crawlspaces can be big energy wasters or savers, depending on several factors.

Air leaks - Once upon a time, it was believed that vents would pull air into and back out of a crawlspace. Theoretically, this kept air circulating, and many crawlspaces were constructed on this model. However, this is all wrong. The air isn’t pulled into one vent and out the other, but directly up through your house, much the way it moves up through a chimney. It’s called the stack effect, and it can waste energy and lead to serious moisture problems in your home. Seal the vents with vent covers, and plug all possible leaks.

Moisture - If your crawlspace has a dirt floor, or vents, it draws in moisture from the earth. A moist crawlspace is a perfect environment for mold, microorganisms, insects and rodents. Thanks to the stack effect, this unhealthy, humid air will be drawn straight up into your home. Humid air is more difficult than dry air to heat and cool, and the temperature in the crawlspace will transfer to the floor above, meaning your HVAC system has to work that much harder. A strong vapor barrier prevents moisture trouble.

Insulation - Sealing air leaks and creating a barrier against moisture are important aspects of insulating crawlspaces. If moisture gets in, it can ruin insulation, and moisture can get in through air leaks. Dirt crawlspaces are especially troublesome. If there is any exposed earth in your crawlspace, install metal flashing, and cover it up with your vapor barrier before installing insulation. Don't forget to insulate around ductwork and pipes.

Complete encapsulation is the best way to maximize the efficiency of crawlspaces. The idea is to close up all air and moisture leaks as tightly as possible. If you have more questions, contact Rodenhiser. We’ll be happy to help you improve the performance of your crawlspace.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about maximizing the efficiency of crawlspaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.

Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning serves the Route 495/128 area of Norfolk MA. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

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^*Conditions apply, not applicable with any other offer, nor off any trip or diagnostic fee, or previous service. No cash value. Call For details. ^*For WEB-AC-CHECK Offer also: Promotional price limited to 1 system per home, additional units will be billed at full price. Refrigerant not included. Includes standard 1in air filter, other sizes subject to additional charges. Residential systems only. Must reside within our service area. *For WEB-A-50 Offer also: Not valid on preventative maintenance nor prior purchases. *For WEB-A-75 Offer also: Call or see specials page for more information. *For WEB-H-3250 Offer also: Subject to rebate eligibility and qualifying system choice. The $189 A/C System check examines and assesses the mechanical parts of the air conditioning system. Refrigerant not included. Promotional price applicable to 1 unit per household, additional units will charged at standard rate. Limited to residential homes within our service area. *$79 per drain. The $79 drain evaluation offer does not include any modifications, such as the installation of cleanouts or access points, required to perform the inspection on older homes with limited access to existing plumbing infrastructure. Conditions apply, not compatible with any other offer or discount.
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