Mr. Anderson contacted Lawson Home Services complaining of too cold and drafty rooms, high electric bills, and lack of insulation in the walls. After meeting with our sales representative, Troy Rowland, they created an accomplish list. Don's goals were to lower the cost of his electricity bills and to make the rooms warmer in the winter. After thoroughly inspecting the house, Troy proposed a solution to Don's problems.

To reduce the costs of heating and cooling Don's home and to make the rooms warmer during the winter, Lawson Home Services will remove and dispose of any existing insulation and add TruSoft cellulose to insulate the attic properly. In addition to insulating the home, an insulated walkway was created for easy access to attic equipment, the scuttle cover to the attic was enlarged, and a pull down stair hatch cover was installed. 

Homes with Trusoft cellulose insulation generally require 15 to 30 percent less energy for heating and cooling than homes insulated with fiberglass, making it a great solution to lowering high electric bills and ensuring rooms are neither too hot or cold. 

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends taking action to reduce radon levels inside the home whenever the levels reach 2.0 pCi/l or above. Imagine how alarmed this homeowner must have been when radon levels inside her Elkton, MD home were found to be 7.4 pCi/l.  

Gabrielle was concerned for good reason, since radon exposure is responsible for 15% of all lung cancer. The EPA has estimated that a level of 4.0 pCi/l in a  home has the same effect on the lungs of the occupants as smoking a pack of cigarettes per day. This woman was being subjecting to almost twice that level. Lawson Home Services installed a radon mitigation system in the basement of this home. 

Although there are pockets of areas all throughout the Delmarva Peninsula, R\radon levels are particularly high in the northern parts.  Consider having your home tested for radon, especially if you live in this region.

This Elkton, MD homeowner reported the rooms were all cold and drafty in the winter. We found what is typical of homes built  up into the 1970s:

• Original fiberglass batt insulation that has compressed to approximately 3" over the years, and likely yields  an R-Value of 9 or less
• 1960s fiberglass typically has 60 years of accumulated dirt, dust, dead insects, and possibly droppings from mice or squirrels. You can see all of this in the photographs.
• Attics built in this era were unsealed in places where wiring and plumbing penetrate the tops of walls into attics, as well as around light fixtures, wall junctions, chimney chases, and pull-down attic access stairs. We found all of these problems (and more) in this home.

Dr. Energy Saver recommends:

• Removal of the nasty old insulation and a thorough cleaning of the attic floor.
• Complete air sealing of all wiring and plumbing penetrations, and top plate wall junctions with expandable foam.
• Installation of air tight protective ceiling lighting fixtures covers
• Installation of a sealed and insulated attic Pull-down Stair Hatch Cover 
• Installing 17" of TruSoft™ Loose Cellulose which increases the R-value of the attic to 60 (an R Value increase of more than 500%)