Old house, expensive steam heat, suggestions??

Polycarp

insulation as infiltration control

Brad,



That is a very good point about the role that wall insulation can play in infiltration control.  If current conditions simply do not offer a reasonable way to reduce infiltration through the wall assembly, the infiltration advantages can really bump up the cost effectiveness of wall insulation.  I think that usually conditions do allow for reasonable infiltration control without insulating, but each project really should look at the amount of effort infiltration control will require and if insulating the walls might be a reasonable component.



I am probably a little extra down on wall insulation because of how hard insulation contractors often push it and because of the disproportionate effect many people ascribe to it.  Most of the people I have met considering wall insulation have roof/ceiling insulation but not enough, haven't done much infiltration control, haven't repaired and tightened or storm window-ed their windows (although they often have been snookered into replacing them), and haven't even done a basic tune-up on their equipment.  These are not people who should be jumping ahead to wall insulation.  If a person has done those things, then they should certainly consider wall insulation. 

Brad White

Almost scary how much we agree...

Especially re: replacement windows.



Short Story:

My in-laws last year were all set to replace their original windows with new for a tidy sum in the mid-high four-figures.  I calculated a payback which exceeded the anticipated useful life.



Mind you, the house was built NEW in 1983! I have things in my refrigerator older than that. These new windows were touted as "20 year windows" as if a good thing. We all have seen or lived in houses with 100+ year old windows working fine with some TLC, right?



Complaints at my in-laws were drafts and a blower door test confirmed amongst other things, that the original PVC weatherstripping was brittle, cracked and missing. Sucking in a storm!



So instead we ordered some silicone bulb weatherstripping and with a handy person they know, did all of the offending windows for a few hundred dollars including labor. And my dear mother in law was thrilled. Now, these windows, properly installed, would have alleviated the drafts, I am sure. The Low-E coating, even better for comfort. But for the cost? Bah.



So, where do you practice, Polycarp? I am in Newton, MA, a Boston 'burb.



Cheers.



Brad

Polycarp

new windows - bah

You in-laws are the norm and not the exception.  Few people realize that the lion's share of efficiency improvements that *most* people get from replacement windows is from reduced infiltration rather than better U-value.



I work in the NW.  But steam intrigues me and is in a house I still own on the East coast, so I hang around from time to time.  Currently I work more at the policy, building science and research level and specialize in existing and historic buildings, so it's been a long time since I actually did a blower-door.