Skylights & Sun Tunnels
June 5, 2011
Skylights have always been a great addition to a home to allow more light into rooms that dont have alot of light, the downfall being the sometimes long tunnels. Then came along the reflective tunnel skylight which they are great for adding light into a bath room, laundry room or other room you can’t install a normal skylight. The room has a round cover on the ceiling and then a small dome on the roof. The downfall was you would typically not want the dome on the front of a home for appearance. Now comes Velux with their introduction a new sun tunnel with the same great interior appearanceand still allow natural light in an interior room but no dome on the outside, it can now look like a skylight!
Now the options are endless. Want a simply skylight, maybe a 2′x2′ or 2′x4′. You can go big with a 4′x4′ or get into venting or shaded skylights too. When you don’t want the long ceiling tunnel you can go to a sun tunnel. Dependant on your choice and options, tax credit may be eligible.
For any questions on skylights or windows, let Modern Homes, Inc. in conjunction with our Exterior division help with any questions. Contact Modern Homes, Inc now.
Ice Dams & What To Do!
February 1, 2011
During a snow winter many homes are plagured by ice dams.
An ice dam forms when the heat from your home escapes into your attic and melts the snow on your roof. The water will then trickle down your roof until it reaches the cold of an overhang, which it then freezes. Over time the Ice will get thicker and thicker which will form an ice dam. The ice dam is a small area that will hold water, which if it gets large enough it can back up under the shingles and into your home.
The most common method to fix ice dam is to do a little Waetherization to you attic. Sealing Air leaks between the warm interior and the attic is the first on the list. Then you will likely want to add insulation to your attic to help keep the heat in your home and not your attic. An additional step to be done it to add additional ventilation to your attic to help keep the temperature in your attic, below freezing.
For any questions on Ice Dams, Weatherilzation, or Insulation for your home, Contact Modern Homes, Inc.
Energy Savings by Insulating Air Leaks
January 12, 2011
A homes average air leaks are equal to that lost through an open window. With gas and electrical cost continuing to increase it has became crucially important to save energy by reducing air leaks in your home.
An obvious choice in this is to add insulation to your home. This is typically done in the home’s attic and can also be added to the walls of your home. Insulating an unconditioned spaces such as crawlspaces is also a great way to add efficiency to your home. When making these types of insulation modification it is crucial to ensure the venting it proper to avoid moisture issues in the future.
Sealing the home from the exterior elements is a great way to increase efficiency of your home. Detecting and sealing leaks around windows, doors, outlets etc can improve efficiency with the proper weatherization procedures. One way to find areas that may be a significant heat loss you can check for a drafts on a cold windy day. Repair these items usually will include to add weather stripping, caulking, etc. yet it all needs to be done properly to ensure the maximum benefit and that no damage is done to the windows, doors or home.
A significant difference is possible if properly done with all the necessary steps as well as all at a reasonable cost. Other options would be re-side your home with siding and a building wrap or possible installing insulated siding. As an alternate insulated foam board can be installed on your home prior to the siding. New Energy Star Windows and Door with upgraded glass packages can also be a feasible options with substantial improvements in energy efficiency and air lose.
For any questions on weatherzation options for your home, Contact Modern Homes, Inc.
Tips for Deciding When to Replace Windows
September 18, 2010
Tips for Deciding When to Replace Windows
Are you looking for tips to help evaluate the effectiveness of your windows and doors in a home, or a home your looking to purchase? Consider some of there for starters:
You can determine how many panes of glass are in the windows. Single-paned windows are the least energy efficient. You can replace them with double- or triple-paned Energy Start compliant windows to enhance energy efficiency and make a home more comfortable during all seasons.
Look for condensation inside the glass on double- or triple-glazed windows. This could indicate seal failure or an inefficient window.
Do your windows open and close easily? If your windows are hard to open or close—or they won’t stay open or locked—this could be a sign that the windows need replacing.
Have someone stand outside your window. With a small flashlight, stand inside and “travel” around the window’s perimeter. If the person outside sees areas of light coming through, this is an indication of seal failure—and probably energy loss.
Does it seems especially noisy in your house? Do you live near a busy street? You can consider replacing your windows with laminated glass windows to help reduce noise transmission.
Did your neighbors just build a new home that’s too close to your bathroom? For added privacy, request decorative obscure glass in your windows. This will allow light to flow into the home, but will keep your privacy!
For any questions on windows, Contact Modern Homes, Inc.
Improve Air Quality in Homes
August 11, 2010
Tighter homes and more stringent residential energy-use standards are putting whole-house heat- and energy-recovery ventilators in the spotlight.
Soon homes that will meet Energy Star standard will require to provide an adequate amount of outside fresh air intercalation but because it is not required doesn’t infer that it is not ideal for your family and your home. Tight home provide an energy saving home although you still need fresh air to your home to control air quality and humidity.
How They Work
Simply, HRVs and ERVs provide a balanced, controlled, and measured amount of fresh air into the house to cycle out pollutants, while also capturing and exchanging the heat—or sensible energy—from the exhausted indoor airflow with the incoming air. This exchange preheats incoming air in the winter, or “pre-cools” it (if to a lesser extent) in the summer, reducing the energy demand on the home’s primary heating and cooling equipment.
Also because furnaces and air conditioners don’t have to work as hard or as long with an HRV or ERV supplementing air to them, they also might perform longer at optimum levels and achieve better investment values.
The equipment design of an HRV is fairly simple that two fans pushed a balanced amount of air through fixed filters while allowing to facilitate and exchange of heat between the two flows. ERVs follow the same general design while having an seperate chamber to manage humidity. Basically they are circulating the indoor air with the outdoor air with minimal heat loss. These systems must be connected to the homes central forced air heating and cooling system.
The effect of introducing preheated or precooled air into a room or rooms will not only freshen the indoor air but also reduce demand on the heating or cooling equipment to condition the incoming air.
For any questions on indoor air quality or energy saving items, Contact Modern Homes, Inc.
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