The  homeowner had just purchased the home and during the inspection mold was found on the roof sheathing being caused by bath fans that were exhausting into the attic space. She had also noticed that the home was warm during the summer when she had purchased the home despite the HVAC running. Mold growth was present on the roof decking where the the bath fans ducting was being directed. The home was also not keeping a constant comfortable temperature shortly after the HVAC would turn off. The problem within the attic were caused by fans not being directed out of the attic space and lacking a proper thermal boundary of insulation between the attic floor and the conditioned space below. The homeowner chose to have the problem fixed because she had just moved in and has mold allergies. She also did not want to pay more on her energy bills if it could be fixed with adding more insulation to the attic. The homeowners biggest concern with the problem was removing the mold from the sheathing of the roof to eliminate allergens in the home.

  The homeowner chose our company because we were able to deliver a proposal and solution at the time of the inspection that would improve the health of the attic along with the energy efficiency of the home that would make the rooms warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer upstairs while reducing the amount of time the HVAC would be active. Our solution was to increase the ventilation in the attic by installing rafter venting (baffles) after removing the insulation covering the soffits allowing the soffits to breath that were previously blocked with existing insulation. We then treated the attic with Mold X2 products and then got the current R19 insulation on the attic floor to a much more comfortable and energy efficient R60. We had a few challenges that occurred during the installation process that did make the job take longer. One of the two misting nozzles that attaches to the misting collar broke so we had to remove it to install one of our spares. The hose that connects inside of the water line wheel came disconnected by quick connect and we had to unravel the entire hose to reconnect the water line hose. A cathedral ceiling had made it difficult to reach down to clear the soffits and install baffles. We used MoldX2 Products, SilverGlo, fire caulk, weather stripping and Stabilized TruSoft Cellulose Insulation. The homeowner now has a healthy attic free of fungal contamination and a more comfortable energy efficient home. Her HVAC is running less to keep up with the warm/cool air loss previously lost to the lack of a proper thermal boundary between the attic floor and the conditioned space below.

  The homeowner stated that he had cellulose insulation installed years ago but didn't think there had been enough insulation installed because he is still experiencing high energy bills and some of the rooms in his home were more comfortable than others. The front office of his home was uncomfortable and always colder in the winter and warmer in the summer that the rest of the home. The problem was caused by not having enough insulation installed on the attic floor for the recommended amount of insulation for Michigan Zone 5. He had inconsistent levels of insulation on his attic floor ranging between R19-R30 blown in cellulose insulation but should have the recommended amount between R49 and R60. The homeowner chose to have the problem fixed because his office was always uncomfortable and could never spend a long period of time in it. He also wanted to lower his energy bills because his home is a large home and the cost to heat/cool the home was quite high. The homeowner's biggest concern with the problem was that his office was too uncomfortable to be in because the temperature would fluctuate so much which would cause his HVAC to come on constantly to compensate for the difference. 

  The homeowner chose our company because he had other quotes for insulation done by other companies and we were competitive in our price but he was astonished at our attention to detail and the thorough inspection we did compared to the other companies. None of them actually went through the entire attic and one company he got a quote from didn't even look in his attic just measured his square footage from below. Our company was to blow more cellulose insulation on top of his existing insulation to get his finished R-Value to R60 throughout the entire attic floor. We did face a couple challenges during the installation process. The first challenge was that we got about half of the insulation installed when the techs came across a bat in the attic and had to exit the attic till the customer was able to have a bat removal company come out and let us know it was safe to return. The challenge was that the attic was built architecturally complex with multiple levels to climb to in order to access each location. We used SilverGlo, Weather-stripping and TruSoft Cellulose. The homeowner now has the highest recommended insulation R-Value for energy efficiency and comfort in our Zone 5 of Michigan. His office is now more comfortable and the HVAC is not coming on as often which is saving him money on his heating and cooling bill.

Insulation Installation and Home Comfort

Are areas in your home freezing cold in the winter and super-hot in the summer? Or just looking to improve your homes energy efficiency and comfort? the attic should be at the top of your priority list. Insulation and air sealing in the attic have a dramatic effect on the home's overall energy performance, and upgrades in this area can lead to significant savings on heating and cooling costs. 

Most homes in Michigan have R-30 (just under 10 inches) which was the previous code. With increasing to the current code of R-49 (approx. 15 inches) our homeowners experience significant savings on their heating bills and savings on their electric bills during the summer months when air conditioning is used. Think of your home like a large bag surrounding your living environment. If you turn your furnace or air conditioning off how long will the hot or cold air stay within your home? The more thermal barrier to the outside environment you have the less your equipment will run saving you money and increasing comfort

How the attic impacts home comfort

Cellulose insulation can be installed over existing insulation without interfering with your storage area

About 50% of energy costs are typically attributed to heating and cooling, making it one of the biggest expenses for many homeowners. The attic has a major impact on home efficiency for several reasons:

• Air leaks and drafts between attic and living space
• Air leaks and drafts between attic and outdoors
• Poor or incorrect ventilation
• Insufficient attic insulation
• Uninsulated ductwork in the attic

Best methods for improving attic efficiency

Air sealing: The first step to improving attic efficiency is air sealing. Your attic is full of gaps and cracks that allows conditioned air to escape from the living space into the attic and unconditioned air to enter from the outside. Sealing these air leaks helps to keep your attic isolated from the outside and keeps conditioned air inside your home.

Attic insulation: Many attics are lacking proper insulation, which is one of the biggest causes of energy waste and uncomfortable rooms. Raising attic insulation to proper levels prevents heat transfer between the attic and the living space, meaning your HVAC system will run less because conditioned air is being contained in the areas you want to heat and cool.

Ductwork services: If you have ducts in your attic, they are affected by the extreme hot and cold temperatures that occur in that space. When you try to send cold air through hot ducts or vice versa, the air in the ducts is heated in summer (and cooled in the winter), making it difficult to heat or cool your home. Having ducts in attics is extremely inefficient, which is why duct sealing and duct insulation are smart upgrades for homeowners with ductwork in the attic.

Where Does Mold Grow?

First, it's important to know where to look. Mold tends to prefer cold, dark, and moist spaces. You probably won't find it in your living room, but your attic and crawlspace are much more likely hiding spots.

Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.

And that's not all. You might also find it in doorways, windows, heating, and air conditioning systems. It enters your home either through the air or by being attached to other moldy items like old shoes or newspapers. Once it's there, it's difficult to get rid of.

Signs of Mold

The health risks of mold make looking for early signs that it's growing into your home absolutely crucial. If you see even subtle signs, it might be time to call for professional help to take care of the remediation. Some of these signs include:

Irritated lungs and breathing, similar to allergy symptoms.

A musty smell in the home or areas of the house.

Visible mold, both black and with potentially colored spots.

Water leaks, past flooding, or persistent condensation.

Rust and warping of materials due to humidity.

Most of these don't necessarily point directly to mold growth. They just point towards an environment that encourages this growth. That's why simply looking for them doesn't tend to be enough. A more comprehensive inspection is vital to making sure you know about any potential problems.

Can Mold Harm Humans?

The problems with mold are much more than just an inconvenience. Studies have repeatedly shown the many health risks that spores can bring with them. In fact, mold has been linked to anything from chronic coughs to allergic reactions, skin rashes, red eyes, and more. In some cases, it can get worse.

The reason mold removal services tend to be so important is what mold does to the health of some of the most vulnerable people around us. Most are particularly dangerous for those of us with autoimmune disorders, chronic lung disease, strong allergies, or asthma. And of course, it's worse for infants, children, and the elderly, whose immune systems might not be able to fight against it.

The lesson is clear: you don't want and probably can't afford to have mold in your home. Unfortunately, due to its favorite locations, it could also be difficult to find at times. A thorough inspection can help you find it, but looking out for early growth signs is also important.

Mold Prevention Tips

Ideally, you never let it get to a point where removal becomes a necessity. In the interest of your health and your home's value, you want to make sure that you can prevent rather than remediate the mold. A few tips can help you achieve that goal:

Keep the humidity in your home low, preferably under 40%.

Regularly check your home, particularly the potential problem spots mentioned above, for growth and take care of it early when needed.

Don't let wet areas stay wet. Dry them to make sure they don't become a hospitable environment.

During renovations, invest in mold-resistant drywall and sheetrock to create a less preferable environment.

Regularly clean your roof gutters to avoid any potential leaks or water entering the home in hidden spots.

Clean mold problems immediately, rather than letting them grow into a more significant problem.

It pays to be proactive. Still, you can't be expected to know every square inch of your home. In addition to these general tips, it pays to have regular mold inspections, both for your peace of mind and to be able to detect issues before they become major problems.