Come the first cold and windy days of winter, we become very aware of any drafts coming from the outside, or places in the home that just never seem to warm up right.

When you’re uncomfortable, it’s understandable that you want the problem solved as quickly as possible. But it’s important to have an accurate answer so you’re not spending good money on the wrong solution.

I Feel a Draft

PROBLEM: You can literally feel cold air coming through a window.
ASSUMPTION:  I need replacement windows.
RECONSIDER:  It could be air gaps around the window that need to be sealed.

This Room is Cold

PROBLEM: On room in your home is colder than the others.
ASSUMPTION: Increase insulation in the attic above this room.
RECONSIDER:  It could be an unbalanced HVAC system or a closed damper.

My Heating Bills are Outrageous

PROBLEM: You’re spending a lot for a minimum of comfort.
ASSUMPTION: I need a new or bigger furnace.
RECONSIDER: It could be air leaks or inadequate insulation creating chilly conditions.

How Do I Learn the Truth?

A home energy audit is the smart and cost-effective way to learn about the weak spots in your home. Have a certified energy auditor perform a series of tests to find the real problems, analyze the solutions, and give you a list of ways to improve the comfort and energy efficiency of your home.

It’s best to find the real cause rather than pay for something you may not need. Testing will ensure you’re spending wisely on long-term solutions for your comfort, health and utility bills.

Learn more about the Mosby Home Energy Audit here. And to get started with making your home comfortable for the winter, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Just as you change wardrobe from summer to fall, your home benefits from a purposeful transition into colder weather. Here is a list of things to do around your house to batten down the hatches for fall and winter.

WINDOWS & DOORS

• Remove screens right before the first threat of ice or sleet. Screenless windows also gain solar power, which can help with heating your home during the day.

• Check window seals. Fog or moisture between panes can indicate a broken seal, so now would be the time to invest in replacement windows.

• Seal air gaps around windows and doors. An energy audit from a certified energy analyst will show you exactly where these air leaks are. Caulking these gaps will bring you comfort and can reduce your heating bills.

• Inspect weather stripping around windows, doors and  thresholds. Replace them if they are damaged or rotted.

• Doors & windows have their tightest seal when they are locked, so be sure all windows are in locked position and deadbolts on your doors are engaged. This is also a safety tip!

HVAC & CIRCULATION

• Before you turn on your heat for the first time, change the furnace filter and have it serviced by HVAC specialists.

• Set thermostats and ductwork dampers to winter settings. If your furnace has a humidifier, also switch it over to the winter setting.

• Set ceiling fans to rotate clockwise, as seen from the floor when looking up at the blades. This change in direction moves warm air throughout the house. Keep it at the lowest speed to avoid the wind-chill effect.

• If you have a gas or wood-burning fireplace, have the chimney and flue inspected to assure clear passage.

WATER MANAGEMENT

• Disconnect garden hoses and sprinklers from outside spigots and store them inside.

• Before the first freeze, turn off the outside spigots at the interior shut-off valve to prevent water from freezing and cracking the pipes.

• To keep water draining properly during the rainy season, clear your gutters, downspouts, window and door wells of fallen leaves.

• Sealing your concrete driveway and sidewalks now helps protect them from the damage of freeze/thaw cycles, and makes snow and ice removal a bit easier.

For help with concrete sealing, window replacement or repair and all water management needs, work with the home improvement professionals at Mosby Building Arts. Call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

A home well-lit by skylights or solar tubes is a good way to reap the health and mood benefits of natural light all year long, and when placed correctly, can also save you some money on energy bills.

The popularity of skylights and solar tubes comes from how they bring light into dark corners, reducing or eliminating the use of electric light during daylight hours. Certain models of skylights with screens and operable doors also provide ventilation, which improves circulation and air quality in the home.

Installation

Quality skylight units come with flashing kits designed for the type of roof they are placed into, and are thoroughly sealed to prevent air leaks. When installed by qualified professionals, they have no more tendencies to leak than any other component that requires a hole in the roof, such as flues or vent pipes.

Location

Where a skylight is placed is one way to control heat gain and quality of light. Standard rules of placement are: north-facing provides a fairly consistent and cool light all day long; east-facing brings maximum light and heat-gain in the morning; south-facing is for heat-gain in the winter and can be shaded during summer months with remote-controlled interior shades.

Energy Efficiency

When properly installed and sealed, skylights are not prone to air leaks. As to heat gain, there are energy-efficient models with double pane glass that works exactly like insulated windows. And a low-e coating with UV deflection reduces heat loss in the winter while keeping heat from entering in the summer.

Natural Light Innovation

To light hard-to-reach spaces, the solar tube is perfect. A piece of bendable ductwork lined with reflective material channels sunlight into the home, and from inside, it looks like a flush-with-the-ceiling light fixture that does not come on at night. They are easy to install because they require very little construction work, and because the tubes are flexible, they bend around interior roof structures to bring light to spaces not conducive to skylights.

Mosby Building Arts regularly incorporates skylights and solar tubes into Metro St. Louis remodeling projects because of the design and health benefits they provide. To have them properly placed and installed, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

When you’re uncomfortable in your house, a logical thought is adding more insulation. Adding to the insulation in your walls can be cost prohibitive because it requires opening them up; while doing new siding on your home is the best time for improving wall insulation. But until that time, look to your attic for more immediate results.

Insulating your house against the elements is just as much about sealing air leaks, proper ventilation and using the right materials in the right way as it is beefing up existing insulation. And with the attic, it’s about properly separating it from the livable, conditioned areas of your home.

Start With An Energy Audit

Though not mandatory, a good option is to start with a diagnostic test from a certified energy auditor. This step helps by revealing weaknesses in your home, including air leaks and inadequate insulation, which are diagnosed through visual inspection and infrared thermal imaging.

An energy audit documents the existing conditions of your home and results in a list of recommended improvements that, once performed, assure you’re working smart and investing wisely for increased comfort and lower energy bills.

Seal the Gaps

You can increase the effectiveness of existing attic insulation by leveling out the existing insulation, and sealing all penetrations in the attic floor with spray foam. Penetrations to seal include recessed can lights, ceiling fixtures, bath fans, plumbing stacks and wiring holes. These are common ways for cold drafts to come in or energy to leak out.

But before closing all the gaps in your attic, understand that a house can be made too tight – homes have to breathe for healthy indoor air quality. This is why it’s important to have a home energy audit before you begin energy improvements.

Add to Existing Insulation

Insulation is measured by its resistance to heat flow, also known as R-value. The Department of Energy recommends a range of R-38 to R-49 for the Metro St. Louis climate. You can increase the R-value of existing attic insulation by leaving it in place and capping it with blown-in cellulose. But much care needs to be taken with keeping attic ventilation points clear and making special covers for non-insulation rated can lights. Please have an energy auditor or other insulation specialist give you precise recommendations or do the work for you.

Solar attic blankets are once again being advertised as a fast solution, and they are not a good way to save energy. Learn more about solar attic blankets here.

Attic Insulation Choices

Removing old insulation and starting over new is the best way for maximum comfort, efficiency and return on investment. This method allows for proper sealing of all potential air leaks

The three best insulation materials, in order of effectiveness, are:

1. Spray-Applied Foam Insulation for its air sealing properties and overall performance.
2. Cellulose for its insulation value and easier to use for retrofitting attics of older homes.
3. Fiberglass Systems are a good insulator though they do not seal air leaks

Don’t Overdo It

Whichever installation system is chosen, care needs to be taken so that your home does not become too tight, attic ventilation is not compromised, and that ceilings are not overloaded with too much weight.

To assess your current attic insulation system and find a new system that will increase your comfort and reduce utility bills, start with a Mosby Home Energy Audit, or invite a Mosby Home Consultant in to assess the situation. Mosby will test your home, and can recommend, design and install a new insulation system.

And if you act before December 31, 2010, Mosby Building Arts will help you take advantage of the 2010 Federal Tax Credits that apply to improved insulation. To get started, call the office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Temperature extremes are when you tend to notice how comfortable – or uncomfortable – it is inside your home. And when adjusting the thermostat doesn’t seem to work, it’s natural to concentrate on your heating and cooling (HVAC) system. But before investing in a new HVAC system, there’s important things to consider before you buy.

Start With an Energy Audit

Being uncomfortable in your home with high energy bills doesn’t automatically mean it’s time to upgrade your HVAC. There are many factors that contribute to energy waste, like air leaks or inadequate insulation, for instance.

To avoid investing in the wrong solution, you need to know where to begin, and that’s what a home energy audit is for. If diagnostic testing reveals that upgrading your HVAC is a good solution, a certified energy auditor can give you recommendations on the system type and size best suited to your needs.

Install New Heating & Cooling at the Same Time

Buy new heating and cooling as a system to avoid the waste of resources and money that results from buying them separately. An HVAC system needs to be correctly balanced and sized at the same time.

If a system is too small, it won’t effectively condition your house. A system too large will continually short cycle, which adds wear and tear and won’t properly balance your indoor humidity. Now imagine the problem if the AC installed 3 years ago is too large while the new furnace going in today is too small! Installing a new HVAC system at one time can eliminate the imbalances that wreak havoc on your comfort and utility bills.

Choose the Contractor Before Choosing the HVAC

When you go with proven brands such as Lennox, Carrier or Trane, you can trust that product itself is a good investment. But how it’s installed and serviced throughout its lifespan is just as important, so choose the right company for the job.

To find a professional, knowledgeable HVAC company you can rely on for years to come, research only registered, licensed and bonded candidates through Angie’s List and The Better Business Bureau. When you’ve narrowed it down to the company that you feel most comfortable and secure with, ask them for references from previous clients.

Identify the System Best For You

Once you have the right company, work with them to discover the best system for you. Because there are so many options available, let your HVAC expert educate you on which system will deliver what you want.

Important factors to cover include furnace efficiency ratings to air conditioner S.E.E.R. numbers; which energy source to use (natural gas, electric or geothermal); where the units should be located both indoors and out for the best air distribution. A knowledgeable HVAC contractor will make this important step easy to understand and help you get the proper system. And once you know which way to go, buy the most efficient system you can afford.

If you would like guidance in choosing the right HVAC system for your home, talk with the home energy experts at Mosby Building Arts. They can start you on the path to improved heating and cooling with a Certified Home Energy Audit, help you with any tax credits or rebates that apply (link), and share with you the HVAC trade partners who will deliver the knowledge and customer service you deserve. For all your energy efficiency needs, call Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

When it comes to your home, the cost of your comfort is highlighted when the weather turns cold. If your utility bills are sky high yet you’re still uncomfortable, the solution is most likely to improve your energy efficiency.

Making energy-related home improvements is many times a sound financial investment, both short- and long-term, and the upgrade to your comfort and health just increases its value. And the federal government is making a strong push to make energy improvements even more worth your while.

Uncle Sam wants to help you be energy efficient by giving you tax credits and/or rebates for home energy improvements and services like:

• Replacing Windows & Doors
• Sealing Air Leaks
• Improving Insulation
• Updating Furnace & Water Heater
• Performing a Home Energy Audit

Just announced on Monday, November 15, 2010 for Missouri homeowners, the Energize Missouri rebate program can net you up to $17,500 for improvements. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Missouri has $7 million available for improving the comfort and energy costs of your home, but these funds are first-come first-served, so acting now increases your chances of having a sizeable portion of your improvements reimbursed.

To qualify for the rebates, it must begin with a home energy audit from a certified energy auditor recognized by the Energize Missouri program. When approved work is performed, your home energy audit qualifies for up to a $500 rebate itself.

Learn more about the Energize Missouri rebate program here.

If you act fast, you may also have federal tax credits available to you for making energy improvements. Credits – up to $1,500 for items like replacement windows and doors, water heaters, HVAC, insulation and roofing – expire on December 31, 2010. Larger energy investments like geothermal heat pumps and solar energy systems qualify for a 30% tax credit until December 31, 2016.

Learn more about the Federal Energy Tax Credits here.

If you act quickly, it is conceivable that the cost of replacement windows could benefit from both a Missouri rebate and a federal tax credit, which would be huge savings. You can talk with the Energize Missouri-certified energy professionals at Mosby Building Arts to learn more about the details and timelines. Learn more about the Mosby Energy Audit here, and you can make the commitment to improve your comfort while lowering your energy bills by calling Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

If your energy bills are sky high but you still feel uncomfortable in your house, it’s time for an energy audit. Home energy audits test multiple facets of your home’s energy efficiency, and highlights which improvements can be made to increase your comfort while reducing energy bills. An added benefit of energy audit is that it also verifies the safety of your home by checking its air quality, carbon monoxide levels, and structural integrity to help spot issues before they become major (and costly) problems.

But the many benefits of an energy audit only work for you if it’s done right. With the help of Federal and State tax incentives, homeowners are embracing the value of this service, and there are now more companies offering the service. However, not all of them are fully qualified to deliver the solutions you expect.

The Steps of a Proper Energy Audit

Once you’ve made the smart choice to have an energy audit, here’s what you expect during the visit to ensure you get your money’s worth:

• Interview with you about issues and concerns

• Visual inspection of your home, indoors and outdoors, top to bottom

• Diagnostic Tests

• Blower Door – measure air tightness of the house
• Infrared Thermal Camera – find insulation inadequacies and air leaks
• Combustion Safety Testing – check carbon monoxide levels and the performance and safety of gas appliances (water heater, furnace, etc.)

• Review findings with you

• Receive a written report with recommendations of improvements for your home

You Need a Blower Door Test

There are companies that conduct an energy audit without doing a blower door test, which means they are only estimating the air tightness of a home. Your health and safety are far too important to guess at how many times an hour the air exchanges in your home, so an audit without a blower door test is a substandard audit, and potentially dangerous.

Understand How the House Works As a System

An auditor will test to your home to find what’s working well and what is inefficient, and make recommendations on how improve problem areas. But it is important to understand how all the systems in your home link together to create the atmosphere you live in. For instance, sealing all the air leaks around doors and windows stops energy from escaping, but if the ventilation in your home is not adequate, the home could become too airtight, which is dangerous because a house must breathe.

A fully trained and certified energy auditor thinks of the house as a system, and knows to check all systems to make sure they are all perfectly balanced for your safety and comfort.

In order to take advantage of state and federal energy tax incentives, you must use a properly trained and certified energy auditor .  The Missouri Department of Natural Resources recognizes professionals trained and certified through the Building Performance Institute (BPI) and Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET).

Other programs that add to an auditor’s knowledge and comprehensive understanding include becoming a Certified Green Professional (CGP) through the National Association of Home Builders, and adherence to guidelines recommended by Energy Star, Ameren Missouri, and Ameren Illinois.

Professional energy auditors continually train to stay atop improved testing technologies and are versed in the details of energy efficient tax credits and incentives on the state and federal levels. They will guide you through the details and ensure that you have the paperwork you need to claim your tax credit for 2010.

Energy Efficiency Incentives

The Federal government, as well as Missouri and Illinois state, have tax incentives and credits for energy improvements made to your home. The newest Missouri incentive is rebates for energy upgrades and geothermal through Energize Missouri Homes, and there’s still time to make energy improvements that qualify for tax credits in 2010.

While there are many different programs to explore, most of them want you to begin with a home energy audit (which can also be applied to the tax credit), because you need a comprehensive understanding of what is wrong with your home before it can be effectively corrected. A certified energy auditor knows the details of these various programs, and can guide you through which ones will bring you the greatest comfort, savings and return on investment.

Once You Have Results, Make the Improvements

A home energy audit is the first half of the energy improvement equation; the second half is actually making the improvements recommended because of the results of the test.

A Mosby Building Arts energy audit helps you solve both halves of the efficiency equation because you get comprehensive testing and analysis backed with the experience and knowledge to make the improvements that will bring you the greatest benefit.

Mosby’s energy auditor Eric Fick is a Certified Green Professional accredited through BPI and recognized by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. His post-audit detailed report categorizes improvements by immediate, mid-term and long-term improvements that will give you the greatest return on investment, improved health and reduced energy bills. And for maximum efficiency, Mosby’s team of building professionals can do the work for you, and the scale and depth at which they work on energy improvements makes them unique in the Metro St. Louis area.

Learn more about a Mosby Home Energy Audit. To improve the comfort and energy efficiency of your home with certified and experienced energy experts, call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

With fall underway, it gets dark earlier every day leading up to Daylight Savings Time on the first weekend of November. Along with Trick or Treaters coming to the door, now is the perfect time to think about the outdoor lighting around your home.

There are four aspects of outdoor lighting to consider:

SAFETY

Avoid tripping and falling accidents for you and guests by lighting all the areas people use. All stairs, walkways and the driveway need constant, low-level illumination so you are sure of your steps. If safety lights are too bright or shining up into the face, it creates a glare that can be just as dangerous as no light at all. And all entries of your home – front, back and side – need a constant light that allows you to see and to feel welcomed into the home.

SECURITY

It is understood that well-lighted areas keep crime away, so use a mixture of steady dusk-to-dawn lighting (like a lamp post on the lawn and porch lighting) as well as motion detector lighting around the exterior of your home.

Security lighting should not be too bright, as strong lighting in a specific area increases the darkness elsewhere, creating convenient hiding places for vandals. And for your safety, control the glare and intensity with down-facing, shielded lighting of medium intensity.

Dusk to dawn and motion activated lighting is a good idea, but Hi/Lo Motion Activated lighting improves on these concepts. Specified lights stay on continuously but at a low level, and when movement is detected, that light amplifies.  And place these motion detector lights so you can see them from indoors and be aware of when they pop on.

AESTHETIC

Instantly increase the curb appeal of your home at night with special lighting that plays up significant features of your home. Place lights under favorite shrubs or trees for the drama of their shadows against the home. You can also accent architecturally pleasing points of the home like columns, keystones, or bay windows.

For your outdoor entertaining areas, avoid harsh, overhead lights that attract bugs and make it hard to see others. Opt for table lighting, strands of colored lights strung through trees or across the deck railings, or soft light outdoor light pendants or globes. And take advantage of the allure and flattering light of outdoor fireplaces or fire pits, which also come in handy during the cold autumn nights.

TYPES OF LIGHT

Americans are moving away from traditional incandescent and halogen lighting because the long lifespan and energy savings of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) is undeniable.

Another energy-saving choice is LED lighting, which have the same lifespan and energy savings as CFLs, but with some additional benefits. LEDs do not heat up, increasing safety and – in the case of uplighting among landscaping and greenery – eliminating fire hazards. Because LEDs are manufactured as a solid piece with no glass or filament to break, they are resistant to shock, vibration and impact. And they dim as they begin to lose power, which gives you a heads up that it’s time to replace them rather than suddenly losing light.

The necessity and beauty of outdoor lighting is apparent, but it also encompasses many layers of detail. Work with the architects and planners at Mosby Building Arts on the lighting design that’s right for your needs, and they will install them for you, too. Call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

There is much talk about recouping the cost of remodeling projects, and it is true that certain improvements contribute more to resale value when it’s time to sell your home. For instance, kitchen and bathroom remodels historically recoup a considerable percentage of the cost, as do exterior improvements such as new siding and roofing.

What is often overlooked when sharing this important information is the less glamorous improvements that benefit you right now and in the future whether you plan to stay or sell your house. It’s the simple things that mean a lot, and peace of mind is eternally valuable.

There are key home improvement projects that should be done because you are staying in your home for the long term, and if a day eventually comes that you sell it, then they will automatically add overall value to the selling price of the house.

Get the basics right the first time by investing in:

● A Solid Foundation – a weak or compromised foundation eventually affects the entire house, creating a whole host of structural problems. Attend to any foundation problems as soon as they become apparent.

● A Dry Basement – wet basements breed mold which breeds health problems. A water proof basement is healthy, safe for storage, and can be refinished.

● A Solid Structure – when the “bones” of your house are strong, windows and doors open easily and its easier to make modifications like removing walls or adding additional doors and windows.

● A Reliable Roof System with Proper Ventilation & Insulation – when a roof system is done correctly it extends the life of the roofing material, reduces maintenance, helps the HVAC system work efficiently and promotes healthy indoor air quality.

● Efficient Heating, Cooling and Water Heater – vast improvements to HVAC and water heaters makes investing in these new systems a way to lower utility bills, increase comfort and indoor air quality, and help reduce our dependence on natural resources.

● Water and Moisture Management – water is the constant enemy of every house, so make sure you have proper yard drainage and that your roof, flashing, gutters and downspouts are moving water away from the interior of your home.

● Accessibility Improvements – people of all ages and abilities benefit from accessible design ideas like 3 foot wide entries, zero-clearance thresholds, no-slip flooring and task lighting.

Whether it is next year or 20 years from now, these projects are timeless because they are immune to trends or personal taste – it’s all about soundness, efficiency and comfort. These improvements create a reliable and valuable house for you and future buyers, as long as they are done right the first time.

Mosby Building Arts is known for award-winning remodeling projects that enhance the lives of Metro St. Louis homeowners, but they also know from over 60 years of experience that form follows function. When the bones and muscles of your home perform at peak capacity, everything atop it has long-lasting value. Make wise home improvements that are done right the first time by calling Mosby at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Listen to Scott Mosby talk about this topic.

The promise and excitement of getting away for a week or two during the summer does come with one big responsibility: caring for your vacant home while you’re away. To be worry-free while on vacation, address these five elements:

Create the illusion of being home

Ask someone you trust to keep an eye on the house, because someone coming and going is the best way to disguise that you’re gone. Maybe even ask a neighbor if they can park their car in your driveway now and then. Have your “caretaker” remove mail and pick up newspapers off the lawn, and open and close different blinds or curtains in the house, and do confirm that all windows and doors are securely latched.

Random patterns of light and noise are typical when we’re home, so replicate that while you’re away. Along with motion detector lights on the exterior of the home, invest in timers that operate different exterior and interior lights at different times each day and night. Sound is as important as light, so set up a timer to operate a radio and television at random times each day.

Also, see that the lawn gets mowed regularly, as tall grass is a sure sign of no one home.

Outside Precautions

Before you leave for vacation, check gutters and downspouts for clear drainage so you don’t come home to a flooded basement, and check any trees close to your home for dead limbs that could damage your roof during a storm. During storm seasons, close up the patio umbrella and secure any patio furniture so it won’t blow away.

Thermostat Setting for an Empty House

Cooling an empty house is expensive, so finding the best thermostat setting is a valid concern. When the temperature is set too high, humidity build up can cause mold and mildew growth, or damage wood. Humidity damage usually occurs above 90 degrees. So, what setting will protect both your home and the utility bill?

If you don’t have a digital programmable thermostat, leave it set to 80 degrees, and turn the blower to “on” so that the air constantly circulates to avoid humidity build-up. When time permits, it’s best to switch to a programmable thermostat because they are simple to install and provide long-term positive results.

If you do have a programmable thermostat, a good solution for saving money while protecting against humidity is this pattern: 78-80 degrees during the day and 75 degrees from 3 – 5 a.m. The theory is that intense cooling in the early morning hours removes moisture from the inside air, thus keeping relative humidity low as the temperature changes to the higher setting for the rest of the day.

Water Management

If you have no concerns about watering lawns or gardens, then shut off the water to your house where it enters the home. Set your water heater to vacation mode or its lowest heat setting, depending on the model, to keep it running at a minimum level while saving money on the energy bill. Check your sump pump for proper operation and install a backup battery to assure it runs in case of a power outage.

Less Electricity

Unplug everything but the refrigerator, freezer (though empty and turn off the ice maker), answering machine and the lights and audio/visual items you have on timers. Remember to turn off all ceiling fans.

A special tip about the refrigerator is to remove all items with short shelf life (like produce or left-over meals), and bump up the temperature a couple degrees to cut down on the amount of energy used. Also, do not leave any perishable foods (fruits, vegetables, bread) lying on counters to avoid gnats, ants and other varmints.

Following these simple tips will keep yours a home ready to welcome you back with open arms after a wonderful vacation. If you’d like help with any of these tips – like installing a programmable thermostat to back-up battery for the sump pump – call the Mosby Building Arts team at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.