CASE STUDY


HOME PERFORMANCE WITH

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Addressing Dust in St. Louis


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The Steinburks had dust and lint everywhere. When a
new high efficiency furnace was put in 2 years ago, Don
Steinburk asked the contractor who installed it if he could
also do something aboutthe dust problem they'd been
fighting for years. The ducts were cleaned, and the
contractor installed an electrostatic filter. But the problem
continued. The Steinburks needed someone who could teli
them what was going on in their home and fix the problem.
They got word that Ed Fieser of MaxHome might be
able to help.
Ed is participating in the recently launched Home
Performance with ENERGY STAR sponsored locally by the
Missouri Botantical Garden's Earthways Center. Home
Performance with ENERGY STAR is an innovative whole
house approach to improving the comfort, safety, durability,
and energy efficiency of existing homes. Qualified
contractors provide a complete home assessment and
recommend ways to improve its energy efficiency. They
can even do the work. Contractors use equipment such as
blower doors and infrared cameras to pinpoint air leaks
and insulation gaps and to verify that heating and cooling
equipment is working efficiently and safely. The goal is to
improve the overall performance of the home rather than
simply fixing one item that may be only part of the problem.
Ed came in and quickly found one part of the problem. The
ducts in the Steinburk home were very leaky. He also
found another common problem—many holes in the attic
floor. These holes not only draw in a lot of warm air from
below in the winter, they also provide a way for dust and
insulation particles from the attic to get back into the
home. Ed discovered the ducts were full of lint, which was
fiberglass insulation that had been pulled into the system.
Ed air-sealed the attic. "I pushed the insulation aside and
started sealing holes," said Ed. He then put the insulation
back and topped it off with several inches of additional
insulation for good measure. Then he sealed the ducts and
cleaned them.
Don was impressed with the results. "He did a really great
job. The dust bunnies that we couldn't get rid of before
have disappeared." The Steinburks should see another
result. The work was done in the spring during milder
temperatures. With the tighter home, tighter ducts, and
additional insulation, they should be able to stay cooler this
summer and warmer next winter. And they can expect to
save energy and lower their utility bills.
The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program
currently is available in 12 states. Benefits of the program
include:
~	Up to 30% Savings on Energy Bills
~	A Quieter, More Comfortable Living Environment
~	Improved Air Quality
~	Greater Home Durability with Lower Maintenance
To learn more aboutthe Home Performance
with ENERGY STAR program, visit:
www.energystar.gov/homeperformance
HOME PERFORMANCE WITH
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