Archive for November, 2009

ENERGY STAR® bathroom room fans are an important part of a home’s ventilation system. In the past, bathroom fans have been mostly recognized for their indoor air quality and health benefits. They remove odours from the house and improve indoor air quality. They also remove moisture, which decreases the level of humidity in the house. High humidity can damage building materials and can cause mold growth. In addition to indoor air quality and health, there are numerous energy-saving benefits to improving the ventilation system and these benefits are outlined below.

ENERGY-EFFICIENCY

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) estimates that ENERGY STAR® qualified ventilation fans, use on average, 65% less energy than standard current models. Right now, it’s difficult to quantify the energy-savings against older fans (15+ years) since, the equipment does not contain the energy-rating system that is available on current models. With that being said, annual savings of up to 6 – 7% of heating costs can be achieved by using economical ventilation fans rather than opening windows. Also, operating the ventilation fan continuously can cost less than $20 a year and will save hundreds in heating costs.

In addition, it’s estimated that bathroom fans utilizing a DC motor reduce the energy consumption by about 80% (under continuous operation) compared to older fans (15+years). Additionally, new bathroom fans are required to meet performance standards whereas older fans are not. Therefore, we know that we get significantly better air-flow, thus reducing energy consumption.

NOISE, INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HEALTH

Aside from energy-consumption, we’ve found that because of the “noise” caused by older fans, people aren’t using the existing equipment. Therefore, when you choose to open windows in order to ventilate your residence it wastes more energy. By using a bathroom fan to regulate air-flow, we’ll reduce consumption because it controls evacuation of stale and damp air. It’s a well known principle of building science that tells us that it costs more to heat cold, damp air versus the heating of fresh air regulated by a bathroom fan.

In terms of indoor air quality, lack of adequate ventilation sometimes has negative repercussions on the health of a home’s occupants. Pollutants and dampness trapped inside a house can cause serious respiratory problems and lead to the deterioration of the building’s structure.

If you are interested in improving the ventilation in your home and would like to find out more about bathroom fans, book a free in-home consultation, visit our showrooms or call 604.697.5700. Stay tuned for a new addition to our website on Ventilation and Insulation coming soon!

With “Going Green” being the latest trend in home improvement, many people want to take part but often do not know where to start. Having an ecoEnergy audit preformed on your house can be a great first step and help provide a clear step-by-step plan to upgrading your home in an energy-efficient manner.

An ecoEnergy audit is preformed by an outside organization’s certified energy adviser and the assessment will evaluate the energy efficiency of your home. The focus of the initial audit will be on windows, doors, the heating system and insulation and typically takes around two hours and costs around $150 per visit. A “blower door” test is completed in order to determine if there are any air leaks, a major contributor to heat loss.

Once the assessment is finished the certified energy adviser will present you with a report which will provide you with an analysis of the amount of energy you are using, where and will provide solutions to better allocate your “energy dollars” to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Accompanying the report will also be a rating of you home of how it compares to others with respect to energy efficiency.

By implementing the recommended upgrades it will allow you to reduce cold drafts of your home, identify moisture problems, improve your home’s ventilation, reduce overall energy use and save money on your energy bills.

These audits are done by organizations that are unaffiliated with Homeworks therefore, will give you a completely objective measure of your home. After, you have completed your upgrades you call the certified energy advisers back to assess the improvement of energy efficiency in your home. Having these tests done will typically qualify you for ecoEnergy federal grants and other incentives.

If you are interested in improving the energy efficiency of your home, book a free in-home consultation, visit our showrooms or call 604.697.5700.

Installation plays a huge factor in the ultimate efficiency of your window replacement. A quality install will ensure your replacement windows perform as expected. A poor install can erase any benefits that caused you to replace your windows in the first place. Water penetration is one of the biggest concerns when it comes to window installation. Below are three main methods of window installation:

1. FULL REMOVAL

During a full removal install, the glass is removed from the existing frame. Next, the cladding of the home around the window is cut back to expose the nail fin of the existing window frame. The type of exterior cladding of your home-siding, stucco or brick, will determine how much is removed. The old nail fin frame is now exposed and removed. Next the house wrap/building paper is repaired and reapplied and the bottom sill has a waterproofing membrane applied to it.

Advantages

* Complete removal using a brick mould or nail fin

* Windows are completely sealed and secured behind the weather barrier

* Provides the best protection against water infiltration

* The exterior of the home looks as if the windows are original and trims can add to the general appearance of the home

* The windows will be the same size as the existing windows

Disadvantages

* Installation can be time consuming depending on the desired exterior finish

2. STUCCO/ REBATE FLANGE

Following the example above, after removing the glass, the installer will cut off the nail fin around the frame. This method allows the installer to remove the frame without having to cut back the homes exterior siding or stucco. The old frame is then removed from the opening, leaving the existing nail fin in place. The new window is installed with either a flush fin or stucco flange depending on the application. The new window is sealed directly to the exterior of home.

Advantages

* Quick and easy

Disadvantages

* The exterior seal or caulking must be checked regularly for shrinkage to prevent water penetration

* Window will be slightly smaller than the existing window

3. PIGGYBACKING

When this installation method is used, the glass is first removed from the old window. At this point the old frame may or may not be trimmed down. The new window is set in its place over the old frame, sealed and secured.

Advantages

* Quick and easy install

Disadvantages

* Leaves the old aluminum frame in place

* Shrinks the window size so the viewing area will decrease considerably

* The exterior seal or caulking must be checked regularly for shrinkage to prevent water penetration

When you have replacement windows installed, be sure to ask the installer a lot or questions regarding their methods. At Homeworks, we recommend and stand by the Full Removal method and feel the other two methods will not do your windows justice. If you are interested in having replacement windows installed, book a free in-home consultation, visit our showrooms or call 604.697.5700.