Collapsed Glass Syndrome I was recently visiting my brother and he pointed out a strange condensation effect he was having on some double glazed windows. Condensation formed in an oval pattern in the middle of the windows. This is really strange because condensation forms on the coldest parts of windows first. Thermal windows usually insulate [...]
Archive for the ‘Windows’ Category
Why do I have condensation in the middle of my windows?
Posted: February 21, 2012 in Building Science, Conservation, Mold & Moisture, WindowsTags: anderson windows, collapsed glass, condensation, oval pattern, thermal windows, windows, windows condensation
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When cold weather sets in, I invariably get a slew of questions from people worried about their windows “sweating.” There’s a perception, propagated by window salespeople, that condensation is a sure sign that you need to buy new windows for your home. What’s the truth? The photo above is of a north facing garden window [...]
The Top 5 Things to winterize your home
Posted: November 18, 2011 in Conservation, Energy auditing, HVAC, WindowsTags: energy efficiency, weatherization, winter, winterization
Freezing temperatures are setting in around much of the country, so now what do you do? While each house is unique, there are some things to remember to avoid unpleasant surprises and expensive repairs later one. #1: Winterize your outdoor water pipes We all know, when pipes freeze, they often burst due to the extreme [...]
Ted’s Top Tips to Help You Beat the Heat!
Posted: July 20, 2011 in Building Science, Conservation, Construction techniques, Energy auditing, HVAC, Insulation, Lighting, WindowsTags: air conditioning, heat, insulation, save electricity, save energy, saving electricy, saving energy, summer, top ways to save electricity, top ways to save energy
Record temperatures are creating uncomfortable conditions all over. Here in Pennsylvania, we’re expecting near 100F temperatures for much of this week, while Chicago just suffered through a heat index of 115F! Along with high temperatures come big utility bills because of all the air conditioner usage. In this post, I’ll give you some tips for [...]
Preparing your home and air conditioner for summer
Posted: June 25, 2011 in Building Science, HVAC, Insulation, WindowsSummer has arrived and you’ve probably already used your air conditioner. But how do you know it’s working at maximum efficiency? Unfortunately, it’s not easy to tell if your AC is running at full spec. Even many professionals have difficulty squeezing out every last percent of efficiency, but you can certainly figure out whether there [...]
What’s the best way to insulate your attic? or How I learned to think like a child
Posted: March 27, 2011 in Building Science, Conservation, Construction techniques, Energy auditing, Insulation, Mold & Moisture, WindowsTags: attic, attic insulation, attic moisture, attic mold, blower door test, cellulose, fiberglass, insulation, ridge vent, ridge vents, spray foam
Many of my posts come back to air sealing and insulating the attic. Why is that? If you’ve done any searching about home weatherization, insulation, energy efficiency or related topics, you’ve probably come across the picture shown above. And for good reason – it clearly shows all the common sources of air leaking into (infiltration) [...]
The Energy Geek Video: Sun Tubes and Skylights
Posted: March 5, 2011 in Conservation, Lighting, Solar power, WindowsTags: lighting, solar, solatube, sun tube, suntube
My first Energy Geek video! This is the companion video for the recent article on Sun tubes. Don’t expect much production quality. These videos will be like this blog – unedited, not politically correct, lots of opinions. So if you’re expecting “This Old House” you better look elsewhere! —— FAQ for Solatubes
Bright Ideas for Saving Energy #5: Sun Tubes
Posted: March 4, 2011 in Conservation, Lighting, Solar power, WindowsWhat’s better than a sunny day? A sunny day that helps illuminate the normally dark recesses of your home! Normally, people install skylights – basically just windows built into the roof. But skylights have several problems: They’re incredibly energy inefficient. Even a good, double glazed, low-e unit is a poor insulator. If they’re not facing [...]
Bright Ideas for Saving Energy #4 – Window Dressing
Posted: March 2, 2011 in Building Science, Conservation, Construction techniques, WindowsTags: cellular shade, curtains, energy efficiency, window quilt, window treatment, windows
We’ve all heard the hype – buy new windows and save 35% on your next heating bill. To put it politely, that’s a bunch of hooey. Unless your windows are old, poorly installed, leaky and missing half the glass, you are not going to save 35% on your heating bills. In fact, there are numerous [...]
