Job Stories

During a free home evaluation in Belmar, NJ, we discovered leaky ducts and connections in the attic that were causing significant energy loss and driving up the homeowner’s utility bills. The supply duct was leaking conditioned air into the unconditioned attic, while the return duct was drawing in unconditioned attic air, leading to inconsistent indoor temperatures and poor air quality. By properly sealing the ducts, connections, and attic, we can help this homeowner reduce energy waste, lower their bills, and enjoy a more comfortable, healthier, and efficient home.

This home in Belmar, NJ is showing clear telltale signs of the stack effect. During our free home evaluation, we found unsealed rim joists and sill plates in the crawl space, allowing outside air to leak into the home. Thermal imaging revealed cold air moving up through the walls and being drawn into the attic, where we also discovered inadequate insulation, poor storage coverage, leaky lights, and a lack of proper air sealing. The attic top plates, recessed lights, and wire penetrations are major leakage points, and as air escapes at the top, it pulls in an equal amount from below. By air sealing the attic first, we can reduce the stack effect—preventing cold air from being drawn in while heated air escapes. As shown in these photos, air enters through the rim joists, travels up the walls, and exits through the attic, wasting energy, raising utility bills, and causing uncomfortable temperature fluctuations throughout the home. If you’re experiencing similar issues, give us a call to improve your comfort and lower your energy costs.

In Sea Girt, NJ we have a homeowner with poor insulation in the attic. We can see exposed fiberglass insulation that is doing next to nothing to insulate the attic. Also the attic is not air sealed which means air the owner is paying for is leaking into the attic. After removing the old insulation we created retaining walls and a new decking. Dense-packing underneath the new decking with our TruSoft cellulose insulation will allow a catwalk and storage area for the owner. Finally we blew-in TruSoft cellulose insulation to an R-Value of R-60. This homeowner now has a more comfortable and energy efficient home.

Upon inspecting the attic of this homeowner in Sea Girt, NJ, we discovered that the floor was not properly air sealed. Without air sealing, warm air from the homes conditioned space escapes into the attic during winter, needlessly heating the attic and increasing energy bills. This also leads to discomfort in colder months. In summer, the attic can reach temperatures over 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and without proper air sealing, this heat infiltrates the indoor space as hot air seeps through gaps in the attic floor. Upon examining these images, we can observe gaps in the floor that are approximately 1/2 inch wide, including gaps around the pipe and several open drill holes. To solve these issues, we use ZypFoam sealant to seal top plates, sill plates, and any exposed holes or gaps in the attic floor before insulation. This process creates a more effective thermal barrier between the attic and conditioned living space. By air sealing the attic, we significantly enhance comfort and energy efficiency in this home.

During our free inspection of a crawl space in Sea Girt, NJ, we discovered inadequate insulation. The foundational exterior walls lack insulation, and the porous cinderblock walls allows air to infiltrate, potentially leading to moisture issues and discomfort throughout the house due to the "stack effect." Additionally, the rim joists are unsealed, contributing to cold floors. To remedy these issues, we installed SilverGlo rigid foam boards on the crawl space's exterior walls to create a thermal barrier, preventing outside air infiltration. Sealing the rim joists with spray foam will further enhance insulation and comfort. Finally, we recommend encapsulating the crawl space floor with a 20 mil thick CleanSpace liner featuring Ultrafresh anti-microbial properties to improve indoor air quality. We're improving comfort and energy efficiency in New Jersey homes, one house at a time.

We recently worked on a project in Sea Girt, NJ, where a homeowner needed proper insulation for their small attic. After removing the old insulation and air sealing the attic, we installed TruSoft Cellulose insulation to achieve the optimal R-value of R-60. Despite the attic's challenging truss configuration, our experienced crew navigated it seamlessly. Now, this homeowner enjoys a more comfortable and energy-efficient home.

During our free home evaluation in Sea Girt, NJ, we often encounter homes that lack proper air sealing and insulation. As part of the assessment, we inspect the attic to evaluate insulation levels and pull back existing insulation to check for adequate air sealing. We never insulate an attic without first ensuring it is properly air sealed. Air sealing is crucial to prevent conditioned air from escaping into unconditioned spaces; ensuring homeowners aren't paying to heat or cool their attic. By combining air sealing with proper insulation, we can help make the home more comfortable and energy-efficient.

Attic entrances, such as hatches or pull-down stairs, can allow conditioned air to escape into the attic. This example from Sea Girt, NJ shows how radiant heat can also seep into the home. During our walkthroughs or free home evaluations, we use thermal imaging to pinpoint these types of problem areas. In this case, captured at the start of summer, the imaging clearly shows radiant heat at the attic entrance. Gaps around the attic hatch allow conditioned air to escape into the attic, wasting energy and increasing heating and cooling costs. With energy bills already high in New Jersey, homeowners shouldn’t have to pay extra due to preventable air leaks. We can solve this issue by sealing the hatch frame and installing a David Lewis Hatch Cover, which creates a tight seal and reflects radiant heat, keeping conditioned air inside the home and helping reduce energy costs.

Our customer complained their house in Spring Lake, NJ, had cold and drafty rooms. The homeowner stated that their house was too cold during the winters. Also the homeowner suggested during windy conditions the house would become even more uncomfortable. Many older homes like this 100 year old house were built with no insulation in the exterior walls. Nearly all walls leak air, insulated or not, causing drafts. The cold wall surface cools interior air which then sinks and travels across the floor and up the warmer interior wall, and across the ceiling back to the exterior wall. This is called a “convective loop” and makes rooms feel even draftier. Our solution must be to eliminate the convective loop by insulating the exterior walls. To accomplish this we must temporarily remove the siding of the house and drill small holes through the wall sheathing. Next we must fasten the fill tube by inserting it up and down into the small hole to dense pack the exterior wall cavities. We use our TruSoft Cellulose insulation to dense pack and insulate the exterior walls. Our Cellulose insulation is environmentally safe and is treated to be highly fire, mold and pest resistant. Finally, the holes are plugged and the siding is put back on the house exterior walls. The results of insulating the exterior walls are a less drafty, warmer, quieter and a lower fuel/electric bill.

During a free home energy audit in Spring Lake, NJ, we inspected the homeowner's attic for common insulation issues and leaks. We found that the attic was poorly ventilated, causing moisture buildup and dry rot on the roof rafters. After pulling back the exposed fiberglass insulation, we discovered that the attic was not air-sealed and had open drill holes and leaky can lights. The insulation was inadequate and had gaps. Additionally, the AC return plenum was uninsulated, and there was evidence of leaky ducts. These issues contribute to uncomfortable living conditions and high energy bills for homeowners. Our BPI-certified staff are trained to resolve all these problems.