Photo Gallery

The house as a system:

There are many areas in a house (as well as a building) that are susceptible to heat loss and air infiltration (air leaks). Click on the diagram above to view these common areas, and the direction of heat flow. Affordable Energy Solutions can locate these problematic areas and solve the issue, helping you save on energy costs.

Common problematic areas in a house or building:

Areas allowing warm air to leak into attic, reducing the effectiveness of the insulation:



Digital photo of the upper corner of a room with a slanted ceiling and adjoing interior. Common construction practice, especially in older homes.	Corresponding infrared picture shows that the area is open to the attic, thus making the bathroom next to it very uncomfortable and contributing to ice dams. Darker shade shows colder temperatures.	Infrared digital picture of the same walls after work is completed. Lighter shade confirms that the work was done correctly.

Another common location for heat loss (or cold air loss in summer) is open cavities leading into the attic and out of the house or building. This is the number one reason for ice dams /icicles on a home. Our technicians can locate these air leaks so they can be sealed. It is critical that these be sealed prior to insulating.


	Open attic bypass #1.	Open attic bypass #2.

Snow melting patterns and ice damming:




	These photos show snow melting patterns on rooftops, which is evidence of air escaping or poorly insulated ceiling. In these three cases, heat is escaping out of the house and into the attic, which melts the snow on the roof. The lack of insulation causes high heating costs, as well as ice damming issues.

Moisture-related / structural problems:


			This picture (left) shows an improperly installed exhaust vent. The moisture is not being exhausted out of the house or building, which causes deterioration of the wood as well as mold/mildew problems. This can also deteriorate the roof sheathing before the shingles need replacing.

	Condensation on the windows is an indication of high moisture and lack of proper ventilation in the house. This can eventually lead to the deterioration of the home or mold problems.

			Improper water drainage around the foundation (left) can lead to moisture problems in the inside walls of lower levels and basements, and potential for mold growth on the basement walls or floor.

Safety and air quality:


	Rusted flue pipes and other leaky piping can cause safety problems such as potential carbon monoxide poisoning. We check appliances for carbon monoxide and proper draft to protect the occupants of the home.

PHOTOS OF COMPLETED WORK

Sealing of air leaks into the attic space:



	These photos show open cavities that have been foam-sealed. Note the dirty insulation (black on yellow insulation) indicating air movement through the insulation for years. Air sealing is most important in increasing the performance of a home's energy use.

	Sometimes the air leaks are big enough that they require a blocking installed and air sealed around the blocking, as is shown above.		This technique is more effective than trying to fill a large cavity with foam.

Exterior wall and ceiling insulation:






	Exterior blown-in insulation. Removal of only one row of siding is needed for the installation of insulation in lap siding. It is important that the insulation be blown in to full capacity and with the proper density.		Interior blown-in insulation. For some homes, installation from the interior is the best option. This requires patching which is done by the contractor. Light sanding and painting is generally done by others.