Spray Foam Contractor Serving Hampshire County, MA

This homeowner was experiencing cold, drafty rooms as well as significant ice damming.  Our Building Science Expert met with the homeowners for an energy evaluation and built a strong Accomplish List for their concerns in the home.  An Accomplish List is a list of concerns and problems the homeowner is experiencing.  This allows our Building Science Expert to fully understand how the home is operating.  After a thorough inspection, minimal insulation, lack of ventilation and evidence of ice dam problems in the ceilings of the conditioned spaces were discovered.  The initial treatments from our Book of Solutions were to remove existing insulation and vacuum the attic.  Then, using our 1-part expandable fire foam, we air sealed all existing penetrations from tops of walls, electrical, HVAC and plumbing.  Air sealing prevents conditioned air from leaving our unconditioned attics.  

We also provided the homeowner with a pull down stair system to more easily access their attic.  Additionally, we added our insulated storage deck to help meet the homeowners storage needs.  We also installed a bathroom ventilation system through the gable side of their home in order to allow the warm, humid air from showers to get directed outside the home.  

TruSoft Cellulose insulation built up to an R-value of 60 was blown into the attic.  This insulation will dramatically increase the conduction  loss(heat moving through solid surfaces).  

The homeowners have recognized a significant change immediately.  They look forward to having a more comfortable and energy efficient home.

This homeowner called us out to their home in Southampton, MA to take a look at the issues they were having in their home. They were having trouble keeping the first floor at a comfortable temperature no matter the season. They told our Building Science Specialist that the first floor was cold on their feet all winter. Another concern was their very high heating and cooling bills all year round. This homeowner mentioned to us that it was always so humid in their basements during the summers.

Upon arriving to this home, we spoke with the homeowner first to ask them all of their concerns and issues again. After this, we can begin our Dr. Energy Saver Full Home Energy Evaluation. We did a walk through of the home, and finally got to the basement. We realized that like most other homes, this basement did not have and air sealing on their rim joist. They only had old, nasty fiberglss insulation. This concerned the homeowners. If a homeowner is concerned, we are concerned. We sat down with them to go over treatments that would eliminate the issues that have been having in their home.

At this point, we knew what we had to do. We needed to air seal this customers rim joist to eliminate their cold floors, uncomfortable rooms, and high heating and cooling bills. First we remove all of the ol nasty insulation. Next, we sprayed our two part spray foam on the rim joist and over the top plates to seal all air leaks from the exterior of the home. This sealed up all of the cracks and gaps that were previously allowing air from hostile outdoor environments to enter the home. Thanks to Dr. Energy Saver by Eco Energy Solutions, this homeowner can now live happy, comfortably, and energy efficient all year round!

This homeowner in Blechertown, MA called us out to their home after watching some of our Dr. Energy Saver videos on YouTube to take a look at why they were so uncomfortable in their home. Specifically, they had very cold floors and an overall cold home all winter long. Upon inspecting the home, our Building Science Specialist noticed that the basement was insulated with fiberglass batts held together with plastic covering. This is not only ineffective due to a lack of air sealing, but is a breeding ground for mold! We noticed the beginnings of mold and knew we had to help these homeowners. We get our production staff out to the home. First, they remove all of the old, weathered fiberglass insulation. Then we spray our mold killer, Mold-X on affected areas. Next, we use our spray foam on the rim joists all along the basement. This stops the flow of cold air coming into the home. Now we have to install out Foamax insulation boards along the concrete walls. Concrete walls are nearly impossible to heat in the winter, our Foamax boards are the barrier that you need to keep air you pay to heat in your basement.

Thanks to Dr. Energy Saver by Eco Energy Solutions, this home is now more comfortable, and energy efficient!!!

This homeowner came to us about issues with moisture in their stone foundation crawlspace which led into the basement. Vented stone crawlspaces allow moisture to get in and condense on everything from the floor joist to the ducts, allowing wood to rot and pests to thrive. If left unchecked, mold that forms as a result of this elevated moisture can work its way up into the home, putting you and your loved ones at risk for health complications. These vents also allow cold air to get into the crawlspace and move up through to the floor in rooms above the crawlspace, making your home harder to heat in those spots.

We started off with sealing the vents and other leaks to the outside to stop more moisture and cold air from making its way in.The walls are covered with our Foamax advanced polyisocyanurate foam insulation panels to insulate the basement and keep the cold out for good. A dimpled drainage matting is installed across the floor to create an airspace and thermal break. TerraBlock floor insulation is installed over that matting and finally, a vapor barrier liner is installed permanently over the dirt floor. This treatment was paired with our SaniDry basement air system to keep this home free of excess moisture with ease.

Thanks to Dr. Energy Saver by Eco Energy Solutions, this homeowner will no longer have to worry about moisture, pests, or cold floors in their home!

This homeowner in Ware, MA called in because she was having issues with drafts and high energy costs. As we spoke about all of the experience we have in making homes more comfortable, she knew that she was in good hands.

She had a vented attic which she had been using for storage. Vented attics are not part of the conditioned space of the home and as such is subject to the same temperatures as outside. In the summer, an attic will actually be even hotter than outside, reaching about 130°F! As the sun heats up the roofing of a house, the heat radiates down from the underside of the roof into the attic. As you can see in the image, there was nothing stopping that heat from getting in or the heat she was paying for to get out. 

Our Super Attic advanced conversion system was the perfect solution for this attic. We start by sealing any leaks that may be present. We install our SilverGlo EPS foam insulation board to the underside of the roof deck. The graphite in the foam coupled with a foil face on both sides keeps heat out in the summer and in the winter. The attic is now part of the conditioned space and is now safe for storage. 

Thanks to Dr. Energy Saver by Eco Energy Solutions, this homeowner now has lower energy costs and can be confident that her belongings in the attic are safe.

This homeowner in Northampton, MA had already been working with us to make their home more energy efficient when they decided to tackle the moisture issues that they had in their basement. Mold grows at relative humidity of 75% and produces spores and odors which will rise up into the home.

We encapsulated the crawlspace and sealed the rim joist to stop most humid air from coming in, but to ensure that moisture will be kept under control, we installed our SaniDry Basement Air System. The SaniDry is a high performance, energy efficient dehumidification system made specifically for basements. Dehumidifying the cooler air of a basement is more difficult than warm air like a traditional dehumidifier, but with a larger cold coil surface area in its heat exchange core, it is able to dry and circulate the air with ease. The SaniDry also has a two stage high efficiency filtration system to remove mold spores in the air.

The only thing this homeowner needs to do is now set their desired relative humidity, and the SaniDry will do the rest!

Thanks to Dr. Energy Saver by Eco Energy Solutions, this home will no longer have moisture issues and the homeowner can be at ease!

This homeowner called us for a Free Home Energy Evaluation because they were interested in conditioning their attic space and allow space for new duct work to be installed. They mentioned having old blown in cellulose insulation. a Building Science Specialist conducted our Free Home Energy Evaluation to see what we could do for them! We knew we could make their attic a conditioned space for them, but the homeowners had some other concerns as well. 

There were some drafty areas in the home, and the room over the garage was very cold in the winter. Now, we can get out production team out to the home to relive these concerns! 

Our production team installed a Super Attic Conversion System which will make the attic a conditioned space as the customer wanted, eliminate uncomfortable rooms, ice damming and cold drafts, and of course, energy loss. Then, we dense-pack with out cellulose insulation into the ceiling of the garage, under that cold room! This prevents the harsh, uninstalled garage air from rising up into the room, making it uncomfortable and cold in the winter! Lastly, we seal the perimeter of the rim joist in the basement with our Spray Foam insulation. The homeowner was very happy with the changes they saw immediately in their home!

Problem:

This Homeowner in Hatfield, MA called our office with a problem lots of people have in the winter and summer months. The homeowner was frustrated with the high energy bills generated by cold floors and rooms in the winter and general air flow in the summer months.

The first thing that usually comes to mind is that the basement/crawl space ceiling must need to be insulated, or so this homeowner thought. Easy right? Not always.

Upon completion of our Energy Evaluation, our Building Science Specialist was able to identify that the problem was in fact something of a somewhat different nature. We discovered that the home was built with a vented basement/crawl space with a partial dirt floor. Homes were constructed this way for many, many years and over time Building Scientists have discovered that was a big mistake. In the winter, vents let cold air directly into your home. In the summer, the vents let in warm, humid air that is cooled by the subterranean crawl space. This causes relative humidity to rise and condensation to form, leading to mold, which rots the wood and eventually the rim joist needs to be replaced and mold remediated.

Result: condensation, mold, rot, pests and odors, cold floors, drafts, higher fuel and electric bills

Dr Energy Saver by Eco Energy, Proposed Solution:

Install an Encapsulation System with Drainage Matting, Terra Block Floor Insulation and SilverGlo Insulation on the Walls

We will seal all vents and other air leading in/out from the outside. Walls are insulated with SilverGlo Insulation. A dimpled plastic draining matting is installed across the floor, to create an airspace and thermal break and TerraBlock floor insulation is installed over it. Finally, we install the Crawl Space Encapsulation Liner permanently across the dirt floor.

Result: much lower humidity, much warmer floors upstairs, less drafts, more comfortable house, lower fuel and electric bills!

To complete the job we proposed that we insulate and air seal the rim joists with spray foam and replace the Old, inefficient basement/crawlspace door with an insulated and sealed crawl space door.

An uninsulated vented attic could make your house hotter in the summer and colder in the winter.

Vented attics are hostile places - 30°F  in the winter and 125°F in the summer. The attic floor (your ceiling) allows air from inside the house to leak into the attic where it is lost. For each cubic foot of air that leaks out, a cubic foot of air from outside enters the bottom of the house, making your lower levels cold and drafty. 

At Dr. Energy Saver we insulate vented attics to make homes more comfortable.

We got a call from a homeowner in Southampton, MA. This homeowner had an uninsulated vented attic and wanted to get it insulated. We used our SilverGlo EPS foam insulation board. This foam board has graphite installed on the underside of your roof deck. The graphite gives it a superior R-value and a foil face on both sides reflects heat out in summer and back during winter. No harsh chemicals are used in this process. This job resulted in a home that is now less drafty and warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

An interior wall exposed to a hot/cold attic can result in uncomfortable rooms that are hard to heat and cool. 

At Dr. Energy Saver, focusing on air-insulating ceilings is critical to make a home comfortable and energy efficient. But some homes are constructed with rooms that have walls exposed to the hostile attic temperature. It’s part of why rooms are too hot in the summer and too cold in winter. 

At Dr. Energy Saver we use our Special SilverGlo insulation board.

This home in Belchertown, MA had an interior wall exposed to a hot/cold attic. We used our SilverGlo foam board. SilverGlo is an expanded polystyrene foam insulation board with graphite infused into the foam. This gives a 24% higher insulation value per inch than standard EPS foam. It also has a shiny radiant barrier to felt heat as well, so the insulation isn't doing all the work itself. The SilverGlo is applied and sealed to the attic side of the interior walls to stop heat gain in summer and heat loss.

This Northampton, MA homeowner reached out to Fogarty's Home Services to update their basement from a bare and uninviting space into a beautiful, comfortable living space. This space was uninviting and neglected. The homeowner wanted to be able to use this space to increase the living area of the home. First, we were called in to make the basement more energy efficient to prepare it for finishing. We provided a series of excellent solutions to the our homeowner. This previously uninviting, neglected space was transformed into a more energy efficient area of the home. First, Fogarty's Home Services removed all of the old, moldy, and damaged batt insulation from the basement. Next, we installed Foamax™ Insulation Board on the basement walls to properly insulate and prepare the walls for finishing. Once the walls were insulated, we sprayed the rim joists with closed cell spray foam to seal all air leaks from the outside and to provide additional insulation. Now, this space was ready for finishing. Fogarty's Home Services installed EverLast™ wall panels with a "fire-stop" at the top of the walls to stop fire from going up the walls, and stopping airflow from above the ceiling from going down and up behind the walls. These walls won't rot, get moldy, get ruined by water, need paint, and they won't dent. They are washable, can easily be patched over to cover nail holes, and they have a continuous layer of unbroken insulation. To finish the ceiling, Fogarty's Home Services installed Finished Linen Drop Ceiling, complete with new recessed lighting to make the space bright and inviting. We used a ThermalDry® Elite Plank Flooring System, the only all-inorganic floors in the world. Water won't ruin them, water vapor won't go through them, and mold won't grow on them - making them the perfect basement finishing flooring solution. Once these were complete, Fogarty's Home Services put on the finishing touches including outlets, switches, doors, and trim. At the conclusion of every job, we also do a stellar clean-up of the basement so the area is pristine and ready for the homeowner to use right away. Lastly, this space is ready to be fully furnished and used to exponentially increase the living area in the home without adding an addition. Not only did we finish our homeowner's basement to their desired results, but we also delivered a beautiful finished product that they can be proud to show off for years to come. This unused and unwelcoming area of this home went "From Basement to Beautiful"! 

Mold in your attic is not normal, not healthy, and a sign that there is another problem in your home causing the relative humidity in your attic to go above 75% so mold can grow on wood and insulation. Fogarty's Home Services can surely fix the relative humidity problem with other solutions, but what about the mold that’s already there? Can it be neutralized with an effective treatment? Results - Mold all over your roof deck, odor, and even rot. Mold-X2 Cleaner effectively eliminates mold and mildew stains on contact. It is non-abrasive and non-flammable, and is sprayed on effected areas. There is a temporary odor from the product, so we recommend that the homeowners leave the house for a few hours, depending on how well the space can be ventilated. Once Mold-X2 Cleaner is applied, mold disappears instantly, leaving wood surfaces looking nearly new. Mold X2 Botanical, a plant-based disinfectant with a pleasant, temporary scent, is sprayed or fogged on surfaces, which prevents mold from growing back. Now your attic is ready for other solutions from Fogarty's Home Services. Results - Mold is eliminated, no odors or wood rot are present.

Attic insulation in your home can get pretty nasty. Over many years it sits there collecting dirt, dust, pollen, bugs, rodent feces (from mice, squirrels, bats, etc.), bird droppings and nests of all kinds of undesirable things. It's possible that old insulation like this can be moved aside for a proper air sealing job that must be done prior to adding enough TruSoft™ blown cellulose insulation to today's standards - but why not remove the old, nasty insulation from your home and start fresh? Fogarty's Home Services will conduct the unpleasant task of removing the damaged, soiled insulation in your attic. Batt insulation is bagged and then the attic is vacuumed to remove pieces, parts and dust. Loose fill insulation is vacuumed with a giant vacuum located outside with giant filter bags and a very long, fat hose. Result - Now your attic is clean! It's ready for proper air sealing and installation of clean, new, fresh TruSoft™ cellulose insulation or one of our other Dr. Energy Saver strategies to make your home comfortable and energy efficient.

Many sunrooms have no insulation in the exterior walls, The problems this causes are obvious. Heat flows from more (inside) to less (outside in winter) right through the walls, and the opposite in summer. Nearly all walls leak air, insulated or not, causing drafts. The cold wall surface cools interior air which then sinks and travels across the floor and up the warmer interior wall, and across the ceiling back to the exterior wall. This is called a "convective loop" and makes rooms feel even draftier. Results - cold, drafty rooms, uncomfortable home, heating and cooling systems run much more and need more service, difficult to keep house at comfortable temperature, higher fuel and electric bills, dry home in winter, more dust/pollen, more humidity in the house in summer when air conditioned. Siding is removed temporarily as necessary and 2 9/16" holes are drilled through the wall sheathing. A fill tube is inserted up (and down) into wall cavities to not only fill, but dense pack the wall cavities. Dense packing is a technique that packs the insulation in very tightly - so tightly that all irregular shaped cavities and crevices in the wall cavities are filled, and air will not penetrate the dense packed cellulose. It's remarkable, and something that can't be achieved with fiberglass - not even close! Dense packed cellulose stops air flow through the wall and insulates. TruSoft™ Cellulose is treated to be highly fire, most and pest resistant. Holes are plugged and siding is put back. With wood siding, old nail holes and new nails may be noticeable on close inspection. Very small new nail heads will be visible on aluminum siding. (If specified, siding will not be removed but drilled and plugged instead). Results - a less drafty, warmer, quieter, more comfortable house, less dust/pollen, house not so dry in winter, lower fuel/electric bills, heating system runs - less maintenance. 

Steps from your basement to the outdoors are convenient, but the (metal) hatch doors that cover them are completely uninsulated and leak lots of air. Cold winter air gets sucked into your home continually in winter. In summer, warm humid air enters the basement and causes condensation on cool floor, wall and duct surfaces. Results - Cold basement, cold floors on first floor, drafts, higher heating fuel costs, condensation in summer, higher electric costs for A/C.

DR. ENERGY SAVER® SOLUTION: Install an Insulated Exterior Door at Bottom of Steps

Proper framing is installed and a new insulated exterior door with weather-stripping and locking knob is installed. Now “inside” the house is inside the door, and “outside” is outside the door, so it doesn’t matter that the hatch door is uninsulated and leaks air. The results are a warmer basement and floors over the basement, a drier basement in the summer, lower fuel and electric costs, less drafts, more security and the house is easier to heat.

Our customer reached out regarding her mother's home in Goshen, MA, which was in need of insulation replacement in the home's crawlspace. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived, he noticed that the crawl space's insulation was moldy. The old thinking in crawl space construction was to vent the crawl space and create the thermal boundary (insulation layer) at the crawl space ceiling. It doesn’t work. Insulation is pulled by gravity away from the sub floor you’re supposed to be insulating. The same cold air under the insulation flows into the space on top of it - rendering the insulation useless. As the insulation gets heavier with moisture content, it falls away from the sub floor even more and can even fall to the floor. Fiberglass batt insulation has paper facing and organic material in the resin used to set the fibers into a batt - both are mold food. Results - mold, smelly insulation that is not providing any insulation value and has sagged or even fallen.

In order to make this customer's home comfortable, we had to remove the old insulation first. Fogarty's Home Services will remove existing fiberglass batts from your crawl space. It’s not fun laying on your back in a tight (dirt) crawl space. Insulation has hostile fibers when it’s disturbed. The insulation is very bulky and takes up a tremendous amount of space in trucks and our dumpsters which must be emptied. But it’s necessary to have a healthy home in the end. Result - now your crawl space is ready to be fixed properly with other Dr. Energy Saver solutions. The thermal boundary will likely be moved to the crawl space walls and vents eliminated. No more nasty fiberglass insulation!

Our customer in Goshen, MA called us due to an issue he had with freezing pipes. Our Home Comfort Specialist traveled out to meet him and immediately noticed that the dryer vent was installed in the window. Some dryer vents are installed through a basement window pane simply because it was more convenient for the installer than to do the job correctly. The problem is this eliminates some glass and light, and looks unprofessional. Further, it becomes an obstacle to installing a new energy efficient window which has 2 layers of energy efficient glass.

Our team wanted to ensure that they had the most energy efficient space possible. We suggested moving the dryer vent to a different location. A 4 1/2” hole is bored through the siding and the “Rim Joist”. A durable high quality metal “Pro Hood” dryer vent with a factory exterior finish is installed in the hole. With it’s spring loaded precision damper, the Pro Hood seals out drafts far better than lesser quality hoods such as plastic and thin aluminum models. Then the dryer hose is attached. Results - The window can now be replaced with an energy efficient one without the unsightly old dryer vent obstacle.

This homeowner in Cummington, MA called us when he realized that he had very damp and cold floors. Our Home Comfort Specialist identified that this homeowner had a crawl space that was improperly insulated. In the winter, vents let cold air directly into our home. Floor insulation sags away from the sub floor and the cold air gets above it - rendering the insulation useless. In the summer the vents let warm humid air in which is cooled by the subterranean crawl space. This caused the relative humidity to go way up and condensation to form all over the crawl space surfaces including floor joists and ducts. Mold grows and wood rots, while insect and other pests flourish. Musty odors can be noticed upstairs as mold spores travel upwards into the living space. Eventually rotted floor joist must be replaced and mold must be remediated. An unending stream of water vapor comes up from the ground adding to the moisture load in the crawl space and house. The damp air is harder to heat and cool. Result - condensation, mold, rot, pests and odors, cold floors, drafts, uncomfortable home, higher fuel and electric bills.

Luckily, Fogarty's Home Services had a comprehensive solution for this customer. This problem could easily be treated with our CleanSpace™ Encapsulation System with SilverGlo™ wall insulation. The vents and other air leaks to the outside are sealed, using our insulated vent covers. Crawl space walls are insulated with SilverGlo™ insulation with a reflective radiant barrier face. SilverGlo™ foam has graphite infused into the foam to increase the R-value by 24% over standard EPS foam. Finally the heavy duty, 20 mil thick CleanSpace™ crawl space encapsulation liner is installed permanently across the dirt floor - sealed with mechanical fasteners to the walls and spiked to the floor. CleanSpace™ features Ultrafresh™ anti-microbial ingredients in the product. Results - much lower humidity, much warmer floors upstairs, less drafts, more comfortable house, lower fuel and electric bills.

This homeowner in Cummington, MA called us due to a large amount of mold she was experiencing in her basement. High relative humidity in a basement or crawl space will cause mold to grow on the surfaces of framing lumber, sub floors, insulation, and everywhere. Spores are the airborn seeds of mold, which are produced when the mold is growing and active. These spores float on airstreams up from the basement into the living space, and people with sensitivities can react to them. When we fix a basement properly, it will dry out enough so mold will not continue to grow. But what can be done to treat and eliminate the mold that’s already there?

Our solution to this problem is simple. Mold-X2 Cleaner effectively eliminates mold and mildew stains on contact. It is non-abrasive and non-flammable, and is sprayed on effected areas. There is a temporary odor from the product, so we recommend that homeowners leave the house for a few hours, depending on how well the space can be ventilated. Once Mold-X2 Cleaner is applied, mold disappears instantly, leaving wood surface looking nearly new. Mold-X2 Botanical, a plant-based disinfectant with a pleasant, temporary scent, is sprayed or fogged on surfaces, which prevents mold from growing back. Now your crawl space is ready for other solutions. Results – The mold is eliminated, with no odors or potential for wood rot. Your crawl space is now ready for a permanent repair to keep humidity low.

This customer in Cummington, MA called us looking for blown-in insulation in the attic. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived, he noted that it was a new build and therefore had no prior insulation to remove -- which takes out several steps of the process for us. Since attics are vented, we should think of them thermally as outside in the winter. In summer because of the suns radiant heat, they are much worse than outside, reaching 130˚ on summer days. Clearly, we need to keep an absolute boundary between our living space and the attic so inside air doesn’t move to the attic in the heating season (convection), and heat doesn’t pass up through our ceilings in winter (conduction), and down from our ceilings in the hot summer (conduction, radiation). To reduce overall air leakage, the attic is the first priority because warm air rises to the top of the house and finds any and all holes to leak out into the cold vented attic and is lost. Holes, gaps and joints include between drywall and framing at the top of walls, around pipes, wires, electric boxes, fixtures, duct, penetrations, ceiling grilles and joints in framing. And the only reason cold air leaks in from the outside at the lower levels of the house, is that warm air leaked out of the top and created a suction at the bottom. Attics are dramatically under-insulated compared to today’s standards. Result - cold drafty rooms downstairs, colder floors, house is harder to heat and keep comfortable, higher fuel and electric bills.

Luckily, we were able to help this customer using the same techniques we use every day for others. Adding insulation in an attic without sealing all air leaks first should never be done, because you are burying air leaks and making them impossible to seal later - and insulation DOES NOT STOP air leaks. That’s why Fogarty's Home Services first carefully air seals the many various points where air from your home leaks up into your attic and is lost. We use expanding foam, boards, caulk, and metal flashing and fire caulk around your masonry or metal chimney as appropriate. If necessary, baffles (air chutes) are installed in each rafter bay to keep soffit vents clear and prepare for insulation. Finally, our premium TruSoft™ cellulose insulation is blown to the optimum R-value (typically R60). TruSoft™ will not burn, get moldy, or attract pests. Blown insulation fills all gaps and odd shaped voids, and by filling over framing members, “thermal bridging” is avoided. Results - a warmer, more comfortable, less drafty house that you’ll notice everywhere - even downstairs! House is quieter. Fuel and electric bills are lower.

This homeowner in Worthington, MA called us looking to insulate his entire home. This was his childhood home, and he was very familiar with the issues with drafts, cold floors, and uncomfortable rooms. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived at the home, he noted that it had insufficient and old attic insulation. Vented attics are hostile places - 30˚F in winter and 125˚F in the summer. They are very bad places to store things, and the worst place to locate ducts because they are the extreme opposite temperature as the air in the ducts that the homeowner paid to heat or cool. The attic floor (the home's ceilings), allow air from inside the house to leak into the attic where it is lost. For each cubic foot of air that leaks out, a cubic foot of air from the outside enters the bottom of the house, making the lower levels cold and drafty. Heat from the house in the attic melts snow on the roof where it refreezes at the eaves causing destructive ice damming. In the summer, the sun heats the roof to 160˚F, which radiates to the attic and then to your ceilings and rooms. Results - Major heat loss to the attic from house and ducts in winter, and heat gain in summer, uncomfortable rooms, more drafts upstairs and downstairs, higher fuel/electric bills.

Fogarty's Home Services was able to help this customer utilizing our SuperAttic™ Advanced Conversion System. SilverGlo™ EPS foam insulation board with graphite is installed on the underside of the roof deck. The graphite gives it superior R-value and a foil face on both sides reflects heat out in summer and back in during winter. The roof is still vented, kept cold in winter to prevent ice damming. In summer, excess heat is vented out. No harsh chemicals are sprayed in the home, like spray foam. The attic is now part of the conditioned space in the home, and ducts in the attic are no longer in a hostile environment. The attic is clean, less dusty and suitable for storage. The homeowner can even finish their attic! Results - Thehome is less drafty, warmer in winter and cooler in summer, lower fuel and electric bills, less dust.

This homeowner in Southampton, MA called us due to the fact that her floors were very cold the previous winter. Our Home Comfort Specialist came to the home and noted that the home was built on concrete footings with a crawlspace underneath. The crawlspace was open to the air. When the outside air flows under a floor it feels very cold and uncomfortable in the winter - especially with ceramic tile, linoleum or laminate floors. Since the floor is the surface of the room we are in contact with most, it’s very important to fix, in order to be comfortable. There are two issues - air leakage through the floor, and conductive heat loss through the floor, because heat moves from more to less through solid materials. Even if there is fiberglass batt insulation in the floor, because it sags down away from the sub floor, the same outside air gets over it (“thermal bypass”) rendering it useless. This what happened to this homeowner. Mold on the floor joists and sub floor is also a concern. Results - cold floors, drafts, uncomfortable rooms, greater overall home air leakage rate, higher fuel and electric bills.

Fogarty's Home Services had a very effective solution for this customer. SilverGlo™ foam insulation board was installed across the bottom of the floor joists with special long screws and 3” washers, SilverGlo™ is expanded polystyrene foam with graphite infused into the foam, which bumps up the insulation (“R”) value by 24% over standard EPS foam. Further, SilverGlo™ has a radiant barrier to reflect heat, so the insulation isn’t doing all the work by itself. All seams are sealed. We installed a skirt board around the home afterward. Result - Much warmer floors, less drafts and more comfortable rooms, quieter home, lower fuel and electric bills.

This homeowner in Belchertown, MA reached out to us hoping to get new columns or jacks in her basement to support the structure of the home. Structural problems, such as settling columns or sagging beams and floor joists, are common within basements and crawl spaces. This is often caused by weak foundation soils. Over time, the soils shift and settle with changes in moisture content and density, causing movement of the columns and beams above. Sagging beams and floor joists are often the result of improper spacing of existing pier columns, effectively overloading beams and causing them to bend and sag. Excess moisture and wood rot can also cause beams and joists to weaken over time. Result -- unlevel floors, cracking walls, doors and windows don't function correctly. 

Luckily, Fogarty's Home Services was able to help this customer. We utilized SmartJack™ floor support. The SmartJack™ system levels and stabilizes the existing beams and floor joists in the basement. Industrial strength, galvanized steel columns are secured to the beams/joists in the basement. A heavy-duty, threaded rod allows for adjustment and a custom fit for each SmartJack™ system that is installed. The SmartJack™ is made from high-strength steel components and provides the best opportunity to lift the above floors and walls back to their original, level position. The SmartJack™ is galvanized for corrosion-resistance. Results -- immediate stabilization of floors, floors are level, improved operation of doors and windows, restoration of property value. 

This homeowner in South Hadley, MA called us because she was hoping to get her basement insulated. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived, he noticed that her basement was not insulated. The joints and gaps between all the framing members in the basement allow for a lot of air leakage into the house. The rim joist (the perimeter of the floor framing system along the exterior of the house) is seldom insulated and never air sealed. Results - cold floors, drafty, uncomfortable rooms, cold basement/lower level, higher heating and cooling bills and more condensation in the basement or crawl space in the summer.

Luckily, Fogarty's Home Services had a perfect solution for this customer. We were able to insulate the rim joist in her basement using spray foam. Two part expanding spray foam was installed on the rim joist and over the sill plate to seal all air leaks from the outside and insulate this important area of their home. Our spray foam has a high insulation value per inch of R7, and because it expands, it seals all cracks and gaps and joints where air from the outside enters the home. Results - warmer floors, less drafts, more comfortable rooms, the house is easier to heat and costs less to heat, less summertime condensation on cold basement surfaces.

This homeowner in Easthampton, MA called us hoping to have his attic insulated. Our Home Comfort Specialist arrived in the home and noticed that the scuttle hole was not insulated. This presents a problem. A scuttle hole is necessary to access an attic. The problem is they leak a LOT of air that the homeowner paid to heat from their home to the vented attic where it is lost. All this air leaving the top of the house is replaced with cold out-side air entering at the lower levels of the home, causing drafts, cold floors and uncomfortable rooms that are hard to heat. In addition to these problems, the scuttle hole is a big area in the ceiling that is not insulated - and an attic can be 30˚F in the winter and a blazing 130˚F in the summer! Result - cold, drafty rooms that are hard to heat, high overall home air leakage, and higher heating and cooling (fuel and electric) bills.

Fogarty's Home Services had the answer to this problem. We were able to air seal and insulate the scuttle cover. The scuttle cover is weather-stripped to stop air leakage. Then the cover is insulated with a SilverGlo™ foam insulation panel. SilverGlo™ has graphite infused into the foam which bumps up the R value (insulation value) by 24% over standard EPS foam. In addition, it has a radiant barrier on top to reflect heat from a hot summer attic. Result - a tighter, more comfortable, less drafty home. Rooms easier to heat and lower fuel and electric bills.

This homeowner in Belchertown, MA called us when he realized that he had mold in his home. He was unsure of the source of the mold. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived, he noted that there was mold across the entire attic. Mold in your attic is not normal, not healthy, and a sign that there is another problem in your home causing the relative humidity in your attic to go above 75% so mold can grow on wood and insulation. Result - Mold all over your roof deck, odor and even rot.

Fogarty's Home Services was able to help this customer using products we utilize every day. Mold-X2 Cleaner effectively eliminates mold and mildew stains on contact. It is non-abrasive and non-flammable, and is sprayed on effected areas. There is a temporary odor from the product, so we recommend that homeowners leave the house for a few hours, depending on how well the space can be ventilated. Once Mold-X2 Cleaner is applied, mold disappears instantly, leaving wood surfaces looking nearly new. Mold-X2 Botanical, a plant-based disinfectant with a pleasant, temporary scent, is sprayed or fogged on surfaces, which prevents mold from growing back. Now your attic is ready for other solutions. Result - Mold eliminated, no odors or wood rot.

This homeowner in Leeds, MA called us hoping to get his crawlspace inspected. A previous owner of the home had a large mildew and moisture problem, and the new homeowner was hoping that it would not reoccur. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived in the home, he noted that there was a lack of insulation due to the fact that the previous owners had gutted it completely. One important spot that needs insulation is the rim joist. The “rim joist” is the perimeter of the floor framing system along the exterior of the house. The joints and gaps between all the framing members allow for a lot of air leakage into the house. The rim joist is seldom insulated and never air sealed. Basement ceiling insulation, especially fiberglass batts, doesn’t stop the flow of cold air into the home. Results - cold floors, drafty, uncomfortable rooms, cold basement/lower level, higher heating and cooling bills and more condensation in the basement or crawl space in the summer.

Fogarty's Home Services has a fairly simple solution for this issue. For rim joist insulation, we utilize expanding spray foam. Two part expanding spray foam is installed on the rim joist and the over sill plate to seal all air leaks from the outside and insulate this important area of the home. Our spray foam has a high insulation value per inch of R7, and because it expands, it seals all cracks and gaps and joints where air from the outside enters the home. Results - warmer floors, less drafts, more comfortable rooms, the house is easier to heat and costs less to heat, less summertime condensation on cold basement surfaces.

This homeowner in Northampton, MA called us after removing all of the insulation in his basement due to a rodent infestation. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived in the home, he recommended that the rim joist be sealed and insulated. The “rim joist” is the perimeter of the floor framing system along the exterior of the house. The joints and gaps between all the framing members allow for a lot of air leakage into the house. The rim joist is seldom insulated and never air sealed. Basement ceiling insulation, especially fiberglass batts, doesn’t stop the flow of cold air into a home. Results - cold floors, drafty, uncomfortable rooms, cold basement/lower level, higher heating and cooling bills and more condensation in the basement in the summer.

Fogarty's had the perfect solution for this customer. Two part expanding spray foam was installed on the rim joist and over the sill plate to seal all air leaks from the outside and insulate this important area of the home. Our spray foam has a high insulation value per inch of R7, and because it expands, it seals all cracks and gaps and joints where air from the outside enters a home. Results - warmer floors, less drafts, more comfortable rooms, the house is easier to heat and costs less to heat, less summertime condensation on cold basement surfaces.

This homeowner in Leeds, MA called us hoping to get a second opinion on their crawl space. A home inspector when they purchased the home stated that they needed a vapor barrier. Our Home Comfort Specialist came by to take a look and noted that they had inadequate insulation as well as mold that needed treatment. High relative humidity in a crawl space will cause mold to grow on the surfaces of framing lumber, sub floors, insulation, and everywhere. Spores are the airborne seeds of mold, which are produced when the mold is growing and active. These spores float on airstreams up from the crawl space into the living space, and people with sensitivities can react to them. When we fix a crawl space properly, the crawl space will dry out enough so mold will not continue to grow. But what can be done to treat and eliminate the mold that’s already there?

Luckily, Fogarty's Home Services had a perfect solution for this homeowner. We utilized our Mold-X2 cleaner and Mold-X2 botanical treatments for this customer's issues. Mold-X2 Cleaner effectively eliminates mold and mildew stains on contact. It is non-abrasive and non-flammable, and is sprayed on effected areas. Once Mold-X2 Cleaner is applied, mold disappears instantly, leaving wood surface looking nearly new. Mold-X2 Botanical, a plant-based disinfectant with a pleasant, temporary scent, is sprayed or fogged on surfaces, which prevents mold from growing back. Results – The mold is eliminated, with no odors or potential for wood rot. The crawl space is now ready for a permanent repair to keep humidity low.

This homeowner in Leeds, MA called us hoping that we would be able give them an opinion on their crawl space. When the Home Comfort Specialist arrived, he noted that there was very high humidity and mold in the crawl space.  High humidity in a basement is caused by a number of important conditions that must be addressed such as open vents, leaking groundwater and dirt floors - all which must be fixed otherwise. High humidity causes many problems in a home such as mold (which grows at Relative Humidities [RH] above 75%), rot (which happens above 90% RH) odors, airborne mold spores that aggravate allergies and asthma, increased pests and insects such as termites, and higher air conditioning and heating costs. Since air rises up from the basement to the living space, if the basement is humid and smelly, so is the upstairs because of it. Once air and water leaks in a basement are fixed, an additional measure is needed to ensure the relative humidity stays low at all times, in all seasons. Result - cold floors above, condensation, mold, rot, odors, drafty, uncomfortable home, higher fuel and electric bills.

We had the perfect solution for this customer. The SaniDry™ Sedona air system is a powerful but energy efficient dehumidification and air filtration system in one unit. Able to remove an incredible 100 pints of water per day and using only 5.9 amps of electricity, the SaniDry™ Sedona drains automatically to a sump or the outside with a condensate pump. It has a powerful 310 cfm blower to circulate the dry air completely around to dry building materials and contents. Mold doesn’t have a chance! An automatic control is easy - set it to 55% RH and forget it - the SaniDry™ Sedona does the rest! And there’s no buckets to empty! Results - Low Relative Humidity, mold stops growing, odors are reduced, basement is suitable for storage, lower air conditioning cost, upstairs is dryer.

This homeowner in Northampton, MA called us looking to get his attic inspected for mold. He was hoping to get any mold there remediated as soon as possible. Our Home Comfort Specialist came out to the home and confirmed that there was mold there. Mold in an attic is not normal, not healthy, and a sign that there is another problem in the home causing the relative humidity in the attic to go above 75% so mold can grow on wood and insulation. Result - Mold all over the roof deck, odor and even rot. 

Mold-X2 Cleaner effectively eliminates mold and mildew stains on contact. It is non-abrasive and non-flammable, and is sprayed on effected areas. Once Mold-X2 Cleaner is applied, mold disappears instantly, leaving wood surfaces looking nearly new. Mold-X2 Botanical, a plant-based disinfectant with a pleasant, temporary scent, is sprayed or fogged on surfaces, which prevents mold from growing back. Now the attic is ready for other solutions. Result - Mold eliminated, no odors or wood rot.

This homeowner in Southampton, MA called us stating that he had mold in his crawlspace that was affecting his basement. Our Home Comfort Specialist came out to the home and confirmed that there was mold in the crawlspace. High relative humidity in a crawl space will cause mold to grow on the surfaces of framing lumber, sub floors, insulation, and everywhere. Spores are the airborne seeds of mold, which are produced when the mold is growing and active. These spores float on airstreams up from the crawl space into the living space, and people with sensitivities can react to them.

Mold-X2 Cleaner effectively eliminates mold and mildew stains on contact. It is non-abrasive and non-flammable, and is sprayed on effected areas. Once Mold-X2 Cleaner is applied, mold disappears instantly, leaving wood surface looking nearly new. Mold-X2 Botanical, a plant-based disinfectant with a pleasant, temporary scent, is sprayed or fogged on surfaces, which prevents mold from growing back. Now the crawl space is ready for our other solutions. Results – The mold is eliminated, with no odors or potential for wood rot. The crawl space is now ready for a permanent repair to keep humidity low.

This homeowner in South Hadley, MA called us initially hoping that she would be able to get her basement windows replaced due to them being very inefficient. This home had mold -- in part due to the humidity from outside coming in. When our Home Comfort Specialist came out to the home, he noticed that there was a dryer vent going through one window. Some dryer vents are installed through a basement window pane simply because it was more convenient for the installer than to do the job correctly. The problem is this eliminates some glass and light, and looks unprofessional. Further, it becomes an obstacle to installing a new energy efficient window which has 2 layers of energy efficient glass.

We were able to help this customer. A 4 1/2” hole was bored through the siding and the rim joist. A durable high quality metal “Pro Hood” dryer vent with a factory exterior finish was installed in the hole. With its spring loaded precision damper, the Pro Hood seals out drafts far better than lesser quality hoods such as plastic and thin aluminum models. Then the dryer hose was attached. Results - The window can now be replaced with an energy efficient one without the unsightly old dryer vent obstacle.

This customer in Belchertown, MA called us stating that he had found what he believed was mold in his mother's basement. Our Home Comfort Specialist came out to the home and confirmed that there was a large amount of mold in the basement. High relative humidity in a basement will cause mold to grow on the surfaces of framing lumber, sub floors, insulation, and everywhere. Spores are the airborne seeds of mold, which are produced when the mold is growing and active. These spores float on airstreams up from the basement into the living space, and people with sensitivities can react to them.

Mold-X2 Cleaner effectively eliminates mold and mildew stains on contact. It is non-abrasive and non-flammable, and is sprayed on effected areas. Once Mold-X2 Cleaner is applied, mold disappears instantly, leaving wood surface looking nearly new. Mold-X2 Botanical, a plant-based disinfectant with a pleasant, temporary scent, is sprayed or fogged on surfaces, which prevents mold from growing back. Now the basement is ready for our other solutions. Results – The mold is eliminated, with no odors or potential for wood rot. The basement is now ready for a permanent repair to keep humidity low.

This homeowner in Williamsburg, MA called us hoping that we would be able to come and investigate her crawl space. Her plumber had informed her that all of the insulation in her crawl space had fallen down due to moisture. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived in the home, he noted that the crawl space had a large amount of mold in it accompanying the moisture. High relative humidity in a crawl space will cause mold to grow on the surfaces of framing lumber, sub floors, insulation, and everywhere. Spores are the airborne seeds of mold, which are produced when the mold is growing and active. These spores float on airstreams up from the crawl space into the living space, and people with sensitivities can react to them.

Fogarty's Home Services had the perfect solution for this homeowner. In this solution, we would utilize our Mold-X2 Cleaner and Mold-X2 Botanical Solution. Mold-X2 Cleaner effectively eliminates mold and mildew stains on contact. It is non-abrasive and non-flammable, and is sprayed on effected areas. There is a temporary odor from the product, so we recommend that homeowners leave the house for a few hours, depending on how well the space can be ventilated. Once Mold-X2 Cleaner is applied, mold disappears instantly, leaving wood surface looking nearly new. Mold-X2 Botanical, a plant-based disinfectant with a pleasant, temporary scent, is sprayed or fogged on surfaces, which prevents mold from growing back. Now the crawl space is ready for other solutions. Results – The mold is eliminated, with no odors or potential for wood rot. The crawl space is now ready for a permanent repair to keep humidity low.

This homeowner in Williamsburg, MA called us hoping that we would be able to insulate her attic and crawl space. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived in the home, he noted that the attic insulation was extremely inefficient. Vented attics are hostile places - 30˚F in winter and 125˚F in the summer. They are very bad places to store things, and the worst place to locate ducts because they are the extreme opposite temperature as the air in the ducts that the homeowner paid to heat or cool. The attic floor (the ceilings in the living space), allow air from inside the house to leak into the attic where it is lost. For each cubic foot of air that leaks out, a cubic foot of air from the outside enters the bottom of the house, making the lower levels cold and drafty. Heat from the house in the attic melts snow on the roof where it refreezes at the eaves causing destructive ice damming. In the summer, the sun heats the roof to 160˚F, which radiates to the attic and then to the ceilings and rooms. Results - Major heat loss to the attic from house and ducts in winter, and heat gain in summer, un-comfortable rooms, more drafts upstairs and downstairs, higher fuel/electric bills.

We had the perfect solution for this homeowner. In this solution, SilverGlo™ EPS foam insulation board with graphite is installed on the underside of the roof deck. The graphite gives it superior R-value and a foil face on both sides reflects heat out in summer and back in during winter. The roof is still vented, kept cold in winter to prevent ice damming. In summer, excess heat is vented out. The attic is now part of the conditioned space in the home, and ducts in the attic are no longer in a hostile environment. The attic is clean, less dusty and suitable for storage. Results - The home is less drafty, warmer in winter and cooler in summer, lower fuel and electric bills, less dust. 

This homeowner in Williamsburg, MA called us hoping we would be able to help her with her crawl space insulation. She lived in an old hunting cabin that was transformed into an all-season home. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived to the home, he noted that the crawl space was incredibly moist. All of the fiberglass batt insulation had fallen away from the sub floor and was hanging down. It was also saturated with moisture. The insulation was pulled by gravity away from the sub floor it was supposed to be insulating. The cold air under the insulation flows into the space on top of it - rendering the insulation useless. As the insulation gets heavier with moisture content, it falls away from the sub floor even more. Fiberglass batt insulation has paper facing and organic material in the resin used to set the fibers into a batt - both are mold food. Results - mold, smelly insulation that is not providing any insulation value and has sagged or even fallen.

Fogarty's Home Services had the perfect solution for this homeowner. In this solution, we will remove existing fiberglass batts from their crawl space. Insulation has hostile fibers when it’s disturbed. The insulation is very bulky and takes up a tremendous amount of space in trucks and our dumpsters which must be emptied. But it’s necessary to have a healthy home in the end. Result - now the crawl space is ready to be fixed properly with other solutions. The thermal boundary will likely be moved to the crawl space walls and vents eliminated. No more nasty fiberglass insulation!

This homeowner in Florence, MA called us hoping that we would be able to insulate her basement for her. She specifically needed new insulation in her rim joist. The “rim joist” is the perimeter of the floor framing system along the exterior of the house. The joints and gaps between all the framing members allow for a lot of air leakage into the house. The rim joist is seldom insulated and never air sealed. Basement ceiling insulation, especially fiberglass batts, doesn’t stop the flow of cold air into the home. Results - cold floors, drafty, uncomfortable rooms, cold basement/lower level, higher heating and cooling bills and more condensation in the basement or crawl space in the summer.

Luckily, we had the perfect solution for this customer. In this solution, two part expanding spray foam is installed on the rim joist and over the sill plate to seal all air leaks from the outside and insulate this important area of the home. Our spray foam has a high insulation value per inch of R7, and because it expands, it seals all cracks and gaps and joints where air from the outside enters the home. Results - warmer floors, less drafts, more comfortable rooms, the house is easier to heat and costs less to heat, less summertime condensation on cold basement surfaces.