Feeding Hills, MA's Insulation & Mold Removal Company

This homeowner in Feeding Hills, MA called us hoping that we would be able to help him with his home. He believed that his window wells were leaking. They were gathering quite a lot of rain. He believed that they needed to be replaced.

We were able to help this customer! We replaced the old, rusty window wells with our SunHouse™ window enclosures! After removing the old window wells, we installed the SunHouse™ against every basement window. SunHouse™ enclosures are great. In order to prevent rain and debris from getting into the home, a clear cover was installed. The window well portion of the enclosure prevents weeds from growing. In the old setup, mud was splashing against the windows, looking messy and preventing light from coming in. This is prevented as well with the SunHouse™! Now, this homeowner is looking forward to not having muddy windows or rain getting into their window wells!

This homeowner and her husband in Feeding Hills, MA reached out to us because they were concerned about their radon exposure and air quality. The wife was hoping to get her radon levels as low as possible due to concerns about their health and safety. Their radon levels fluctuated -- testing between 2.2 pCi/L and 3.8 pCi/L. This is under the EPA's radon action level of 4 pCi/L, however, the homeowner still wanted it lowered.

We were able to help this customer! We installed an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) in their basement. The ERV we installed was the RenewAire EV90, which is 90 CFM. We anchored a mounting plate to the wall. We then mounted the ERV to the wall. We began connecting the ductwork between the ERV and the outside vents. The intake vent is strategically placed to ensure that the air being brought into the home is the best possible quality -- so it is located away from driveways, as well as anything else that might bring in bad air such as HVAC vents or dryer vents. ERV intake vents are placed at least 10 feet apart from any exhaust vents. We hooked up the ductwork to the two indoor vents that take the old air into the system and push the fresh air out of the system. The ERV works by removing stale indoor air from their basement and venting it outside. The fresh outside air gets pulled into the home. While the ERV is running, the temperature and humidity are transferred between the different air streams. For example, as it was a warm spring day, the hot, humid air was being pre-cooled and dehumidified by the air conditioned interior air. In the winter, it would be the opposite -- the cold outside air was being warmed and humidified by the inside air prior to it entering the home. The ERV transfers the temperature and humidity, but does not transfer any larger particles or toxins, which makes it perfect for people who are concerned about their radon exposure. We combined this with a radon mitigation system in order to ensure their radon levels were as low as possible. ERVs are amazing -- able to reduce radon levels 50-75% on average! The homeowners are happy -- they called in the day after the ERV was installed to say that they have already seen an improvement in the air quality in their home! 

This homeowner in Feeding Hills, MA called us hoping that we would be able to help him with his bulkhead door. It was old, rusting, and leaking slightly. He wanted it replaced to attempt to stop the leaking.

Fogarty's Home Services was able to help this customer. We were able to install a beautiful new bulkhead door. We caulked around the edges and installed flashing behind the door to ensure a tight fit. Now, it looks amazing, and the homeowner is happy! 

This homeowner reached out to us after testing her home for radon. Her radon level was tested to be 1.8 pCi/L. Despite this being under the EPA's recommended radon action level, she was hoping to get a radon mitigation system for peace of mind. 

We were able to help this customer. We installed a passive radon mitigation system in her home. Once the ideal space for the system is located, our radon mitigation technician was able to install it. He first started by drilling a hole into the concrete slab in the basement. Once the core had been removed, the radon technician installed a pipe and secured it. He also installed a manometer - which measures the pressure of the radon in the system. This is the indicator of whether or not the radon system is functioning correctly. He then drilled a hole for the exterior penetration and installed pipes for that as well. He then went to the outside of the home, installing the fan. The technician then sealed all cracks, gaps, and around the holes drilled for the system. After a quick test of the system, our radon technician was done and the homeowner was happy! Now she has a brand new mitigation system that will keep her radon levels low and her family safe.

This homeowner in Feeding Hills, MA reached out to us saying that he needed someone to replace his attic insulation. They had a mouse issue previously and just wanted a fresh start. Our Home Comfort Specialist came out to the home and also noted that there was a mold issue that needed to be addressed. Attic insulation in a home can get pretty nasty, especially when it is moldy. In cases like this, it is best for the health of the home for the attic insulation to be removed and replaced. 

For this homeowner, we started our process with simply removing all of the insulation in the attic. They had blown-in insulation. We vacuumed up the loose fill insulation with a giant vacuum located outside with giant filter bags and a very long, fat hose. Result - Now the attic is clean! It’s ready for proper air sealing and installation of clean, new, fresh cellulose insulation or one of our other strategies to make this home comfortable and energy efficient.

This homeowner in Feeding Hills, MA called us hoping to have the crawl space in their home insulated, as they had recently purchased it. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived in the home, he noted that the home would benefit from crawl space encapsulation. Millions of homes were built with vented dirt crawl spaces. Now all building scientists agree - that was a big mistake. Now building codes are changing. In the winter, vents let cold air directly into a 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. 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 the perfect solution for this customer. The vents and other air leaks to the outside were sealed. The walls were then 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 foam. A dimpled plastic drainage matting was installed across the floor to create an airspace and thermal break, and TerraBlock™ floor insulation was installed over it. Finally the heavy duty, 20 mil thick CleanSpace™ crawl space encapsulation liner was 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 Feeding Hills, MA called us complaining that she had musty smells in her basement. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived in the home, he noticed that the basement was not insulated. He recommended insulating the rim joist in the basement. 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.

Some dryer vents are installed through a basement window pane, simply because it was more convenient for the installer than placing the vents near a Rim Joist that may not be in a good location. The problem is that when this type of ventilation is not installed properly, air will leak, causing temperature and moisture discomfort in the home. The homeowner will also experience higher energy bills. Fogarty's Home Services installed Foamax® insulation over the plywood covering where the vents are located. Foamax® is an advanced polyisocyanurate foam insulation panel designed with a white foil finish on the front and a foil vapor barrier on the back. The white finished face brightens the basement and the vapor barrier helps control basement humidity. Foamax® makes a big difference in the temperature of your walls, providing a comfortable basement and lowering heating costs. Fogarty's Home Services installed Foamax® insulation over the plywood covering where the vents are located. Foamax® is an advanced polyisocyanurate foam insulation panel designed with a white foil finish on the front and a foil vapor barrier on the back. The white finished face brightens the basement and the vapor barrier helps control basement humidity. Foamax® makes a big difference in the temperature of your walls, providing a comfortable basement and lowering heating costs. We then air sealed around the vent openings using Closed Cell Spray Foam. Now, the home will have a healthier temperature and moisture level.