If stories about your power utility taking advantage get you upset, maybe it is time to take some action!
There are numerous ways to start turning the table on the power companies. More efficient appliances can play a part: air conditioning, pool pumps and water heaters in particular. Plasma screens and older refrigerators can be energy eaters. Lighting, too, plays a role, especially the lights you use most often. Sealing leaky ducts and ensuring proper attic ventilation is also very important. We will deal with all of these in upcoming issues. After those are done, solar power on your roof can be a great investment. I know that first hand.
Since we live in a moderate climate, the largest portion of most of our power bills come from trying to control temperature and humidity. This issue, we look at weather proofing, one of the lowest cost things we can do to make a serious impact on our bills. If I were a renter, this is something I would do anyway, if I planned to stay there a year or more. After all, I’m paying the power bill. Perhaps the landlord would even share in the effort. It never hurts to ask.
By far the biggest place where most of our homes let in the heat and cold from outdoors are the windows and doors that give us our beautiful views of the outdoors. Replacement with new ones is very expensive, even more so here in storm-prone Florida, as regulations now require most of our readers to use impact-resistant models.
Several years ago we wrote about Beacon Windows, the local company that repaired all the sliding glass doors at the Alden Resort, saving them nearly 1 million dollars over the cost of replacement and bringing new life to their doors. At that time, they were most concerned with the way the doors opened, closed and locked, but we’d heard that they since have been trying to reseal the doors they repair to original specifications or better. We asked Beacon Windows owner Lizette LaForge how her business has progressed since then.
Lizette said, “Fantastic”. “We specialize in top quality refurbishment of sliding glass doors. Our goal is to provide superlative service and take a comprehensive approach using quality stainless parts, addressing track and weather stripping issues, thus avoiding the need to replace the doors. Lately we have been working on a lot of projects where clients complained about “howling” hen the wind blows!”
I admitted to Lizette that we had the same problem before her company repaired our doors! – Hot in summer, cold in winter, with high energy bills. I asked “Why does this happen to sliding glass doors?” Lizette described it this way, “Sliding glass doors work as a system, kind of like your spinal column. One thing out of whack affects everything else.
“Here’s a simple test anyone can try. Bring the door nearly to a locking position, but leave a crack of light. Step straight back and examine the crack. If the crack is crooked, your door is out of alignment. Misalignment stresses the screws surrounding the glass panels leading to glass/metal separation and air loss due to misaligned weather stripping.
“We look carefully at the weather stripping, which is typically worn, brittle or non-existent. An old toothbrush with worn bristles might look OK in your toothbrush holder, but how’s it doing for your teeth? That’s the whole point. A quality, comprehensive approach gives our clients options over replacement, which is not only expensive, but comes with another whole set of serious issues. Over the last 18 months we have received many calls from property managers at very fancy places on the beach with Hurricane Impact Doors. In one location we were asked to fix over 100 doors.
“These doors are NEW, generally five to seven years old! Imagine our surprise as building after building started contacting us. We found the newer impact doors are so HEAVY they crush the rollers and track, leading to aggressive damage in a short period of time. It’s such a problem we created an educational video entitled: “Common Issues with Hurricane Resistant Sliding Glass Doors” www.Youtube.com/user/sliderrep
“Currently we are working on two more hotels that have IMPACT doors with destroyed wheels and tracks. Important to note: Impact doors cost a lot to replace initially with expensive maintenance required regularly every 5-7 years due to the excessive weight of the doors. We’ve fixed hundreds of impact doors in the past 18 months. Complete refurbishment of sliding glass doors costs only 5 – 10% of replacement cost. We give our client’s a TOP QUALITY alternative to replacement.“
Not All Slider Repair Companies are the Same. If you have had another company work on your sliders and the repair did not last, or you still had “howling” when the wind blew, don’t give up on your old doors. Call Lizette at 727-641-8106 for a “second opinion” before you decide to “bite the bullet” and replace them.
The Next Step in Weatherization
Lizette told me about a new partnership she had forged with a weatherization expert. She sais, “I recently met a man who noticed my vehicle signage and asked me specifically how we repair sliding glass doors.
“Launching into a discussion about quality refurbishment, and dwelling on weather stripping, I was completely unaware that he teaches Building Weatherization at a local college. Most door repair companies typically throw in rollers but ignore the weather stripping. He was delighted to find a company that actually ‘gets it’ regarding weatherization.”
“His name is Sam Radowick, and he is the Weatherization Professor. His expertise perfectly dovetails with our conversation about efficiency. Sam owns Building Insight, a building performance company focused on helping to solve complex challenges regarding the health, safety, durability, and energy-efficiency of the structures where we live, work and play. Let me give you an example of a recent project we worked on together. Our client lives in a high-rise St. Pete Beach condo, facing the Gulf. We were called in to refurbish the doors and windows. I hired Sam’s company, Building Insight, to perform a “Blower Door” test, to detects air leaks and show where moisture, dust, pollen, mold, and other pollutants enter the living space. No guessing needed with infrared camera technology that VISUALLY and NUMERICALLY shows a homeowner where money is lost.” Sam said, “Doors and windows account for the lion’s share of leaks, but leaks around recessed lighting cans and switch plates can run a close second.” Check out the “Weather or NOT” video on Youtube at: www.Youtube.com.user.sliderrepair
I asked Sam if he could tell clients how much money the work will save them? He said he could. Testing before and after weatherproofing work, is done, he can compare data and calculate from your utility bill how much energy and money was saved. “We can now even approximate how fast our work has paid for itself and starts putting money in your pocket, month after month” Sam said.
No matter how you slice it, efficiency and better indoor air quality result. Sam uses gas analysis testers, moisture, pressure, air flow and many other types of gauges to give buildings a real physical, documented in a clear report giving you the good, the bad and the ugly. No more replacing expensive sliding glass doors when a quality refurbish is all that is needed. Sam says that most homes only need some simple work using inexpensive materials to greatly improve what is known in the industry as “Building Performance”.
With buildings using around 40% of our energy and the average American spending 90% of their time indoors, it just makes sense to improve that performance and air quality. Many ailments, respiratory and allergy issues are directly tied to our indoor environment. Building durability improves by reduced infiltration of gasses, acidic pollutants and moisture, lowering maintenance costs and associated costs such as insurance and workman’s comp claims.
Then there’s LED lighting, reduced water usage and more, with the main focus of the industry being health and safety. The energy efficiency and building durability are fantastic side benefits since all the operating costs are saved, recovered or eliminated and generally pay for the work done in quite short order. It’s “Health Care” that puts money in your pocket. Building Insight gives your home an unbiased physical and at Beacon Windows we apply the proper “medication” to the sliding glass doors to get them into tip top shape.
You can reach Lizette at 727-641-8106 or on the web at: www.Beacon-Windows.com or www.SliderRepair.com. See her educational videos at www.youtube.com /user/sliderrepair.
You can reach Sam at 727-204-2736 or SamRadowick@yahoo.com.