Pittsfield, MA's Trusted Insulation & Mold Remediation Company

This homeowner in Pittsfield, MA called us looking for basement insulation for his home. In a 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 the home. Results - cold floors, drafty, uncomfortable rooms, cold basement/lower level, higher heating and cooling bills and more condensation in the basement or crawl space in the summer.

We had the perfect solution for this customer. In this solution, we spray foam the rim joist in the basement in order to seal and insulate it. Two part expanding spray foam is 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 the 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.

This homeowner in Lenox, MA called us hoping to get his windows replaced. The windows were old and ugly, and the frames were crumbling. Old wood basement windows in stone foundation walls are inefficient and make the home cold in the winter. “Clear”, single pane glass lets heat escape by conduction through the cold glass. And old wood windows leak a lot of air because the house has lower air pressure at the bottom, and sucks lots of cold air in from outside. Basement windows are near the ground or even in window wells, where the damp environment causes rot and paint to peel. Rotted sills let outside air and even pests into the home. Results - cold basement, cold floors upstairs, drafts, less comfortable home, more condensation in the basement in the summertime, higher fuel and electric bills.

We had the perfect solution for this customer. The old windows and frames were removed. New Everlast™ basement windows were installed. The sliding windows have double pane glass with a special metallic “Low E” coating to reduce heat flow in or out through the glass. The frame and sashes are made completely from vinyl - the perfect material for a window so close to the ground in a damp environment - they will never rust, rot, or need paint. Results - warmer basement, warmer floors above the basement, less drafts, less condensation in summer, lower overall home air leakage, lower fuel and electric bills.

This homeowner in Pittsfield, MA called us looking for help with his basement. He was looking to have his basement finished. However, before he could do this, he needed to get his basement insulated, as it was extremely cold. In a 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 the home. Results - cold floors, drafty, uncomfortable rooms, cold basement/lower level, higher heating and cooling bills and more condensation in the basement or crawl space in the summer.

We had the perfect solution for this customer. In this solution, we spray foam the rim joist in the basement in order to seal and insulate it. Two part expanding spray foam is 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 the 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.

This homeowner in Pittsfield, MA called us stating that she was still having issues with her home being cold in the winter, despite a different contractor coming out 10 years ago to insulate her attic. Many older homes have no insulation in the exterior walls. This causes obvious problems. Heat flows from more (inside) to less (outside in winter) right through the walls, and the opposite in summer. Nearly all walls leak air, insulated or not, causing drafts. The cold wall surface cools interior air which then sinks and travels across the floor and up the warmer interior wall, and across the ceiling back to the exterior wall. This is called a "convective loop" and makes rooms feel even draftier. Results - cold, drafty rooms, uncomfortable home, heating and cooling systems run much more and need more service, difficult to keep house at comfortable temperature, higher fuel and electric bills, dry home in winter, more dust/pollen, more humidity in the house in summer when air conditioned.

We had the perfect solution for this customer. In this solution, the siding is removed temporarily as necessary and 2 9/16" holes are drilled through the wall sheathing. A fill tube is inserted up (and down) into wall cavities to not only fill, but dense pack the wall cavities. Dense packing is a technique that packs the insulation in very tightly - so tightly that all irregular shaped cavities and crevices in the wall cavities are filled, and air will not penetrate the dense packed cellulose. It's remarkable, and something that can't be achieved with fiberglass - not even close! Dense packed cellulose stops air flow through the wall and insulates. TruSoft™ Cellulose is treated to be highly fire, mold and pest resistant. Holes are plugged and siding is put back. Results - a less drafty, warmer, quieter, more comfortable house, less dust/pollen, house not so dry in winter, lower fuel/electric bills, heating system runs - less maintenance. 

This homeowner in Pittsfield, MA called us hoping that we would be able to help her with her mold problem. She had previously had another contractor out, and after the work they did in her attic, a lot of mold began to grow. 

Before we could help this customer with her mold, we first had to remove all of the moldy fiberglass batts in her attic. The batt insulation was bagged and then the attic was vacuumed to remove pieces, parts and dust. Result - Now the attic is clean! We could then begin our other treatments and solutions to help this homeowner stay comfortable and mold-free in her home for years to come! 

This homeowner in Pittsfield, MA called us hoping that we would be able to help him finish his basement. When our Home Comfort Specialist came out to the home, he worked with the homeowner on what their dream was for the basement. One of the issues they were facing was high humidity in the basement. High humidity in a basement is caused by a number of important conditions. High humidity causes many problems in a home such as mold (which grows at Relative Humidities [RH] above 75%), rot (which happens above 90% RH) odors, airborne mold spores that aggravate allergies and asthma, increased pests and insects such as termites, and higher air conditioning and heating costs. Result - cold floors above, condensation, mold, rot, odors, drafty, uncomfortable home, higher fuel and electric bills.

We had the perfect solution for this customer. The SaniDry™ Sedona air system is a powerful but energy efficient dehumidification and air filtration system in one unit. Able to remove an incredible 100 pints of water per day and using only 5.9 amps of electricity, the SaniDry™ Sedona drains automatically to a sump or the outside with a condensate pump. It has a powerful 310 cfm blower to circulate the dry air completely around to dry building materials and contents. Mold doesn’t have a chance! An automatic control is easy - set it to 55% RH and forget it - the SaniDry™ Sedona does the rest! And there’s no buckets to empty! Results - Low Relative Humidity, mold stops growing, odors are reduced, basement is suitable for storage, lower air conditioning cost, upstairs is dryer.

This homeowner in Pittsfield, MA called us hoping that we would be able to help her with the "clusters" of mold that had grown in her unfinished basement. High relative humidity in a basement will cause mold to grow on the surfaces of framing lumber, floors, insulation, and everywhere. Spores are the airborne seeds of mold, which are produced when the mold is growing and active. These spores float on airstreams up from the basement into the main living space, and people with sensitivities can react to them.

We had the perfect solution for this customer. We utilized our Mold-X2 Cleaner and Botanical solution for this issue. Mold-X2 Cleaner effectively eliminates mold and mildew stains on contact. It is non-abrasive and non-flammable, and is sprayed on effected areas. There is a temporary odor from the product, so we recommend that homeowners leave the house for a few hours, depending on how well the space can be ventilated. Once Mold-X2 Cleaner is applied, mold disappears instantly, leaving wood surface looking nearly new. Mold-X2 Botanical, a plant-based disinfectant with a pleasant, temporary scent, is sprayed or fogged on surfaces, which prevents mold from growing back. Now the basement is ready for other solutions. Results – The mold is eliminated, with no odors or potential for wood rot. The basement is now ready for a permanent repair to keep humidity low.

This homeowner in Pittsfield, MA called us hoping that we would be able to take a look at his home due to multiple contractors working on it over the years. When the Home Comfort Specialist arrived, he noted that there was very high humidity in the basement. High humidity in a basement is caused by a number of important conditions that must be addressed such as open vents, leaking groundwater and dirt floors - all which must be fixed otherwise. High humidity causes many problems in a home such as mold (which grows at Relative Humidities [RH] above 75%), rot (which happens above 90% RH) odors, airborne mold spores that aggravate allergies and asthma, increased pests and insects such as termites, and higher air conditioning and heating costs. Since air rises up from the basement to the living space, if the basement is humid and smelly, so is the upstairs because of it. Once air and water leaks in a basement are fixed, an additional measure is needed to ensure the relative humidity stays low at all times, in all seasons. Result - cold floors above, condensation, mold, rot, odors, drafty, uncomfortable home, higher fuel and electric bills.

We had the perfect solution for this customer. The SaniDry™ Sedona air system is a powerful but energy efficient dehumidification and air filtration system in one unit. Able to remove an incredible 100 pints of water per day and using only 5.9 amps of electricity, the SaniDry™ Sedona drains automatically to a sump or the outside with a condensate pump. It has a powerful 310 cfm blower to circulate the dry air completely around to dry building materials and contents. Mold doesn’t have a chance! An automatic control is easy - set it to 55% RH and forget it - the SaniDry™ Sedona does the rest! And there’s no buckets to empty! Results - Low Relative Humidity, mold stops growing, odors are reduced, basement is suitable for storage, lower air conditioning cost, upstairs is dryer.

This homeowner in Pittsfield, MA called us after purchasing a home. He believed the insulation was substandard. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived in the home, he noted that the homeowner had insufficient fiberglass batt insulation in his rim joist. 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.

This homeowner in Pittsfield, MA called us when he noticed that his basement was damp and moldy. His main concerns given to the Home Comfort Specialist were that he wanted to lower the humidity and prevent the mold from returning. High humidity causes many problems in a home such as mold (which grows at Relative Humidities [RH] above 75%), rot (which happens above 90% RH) odors, airborne mold spores that aggravate allergies and asthma, increased pests and insects such as termites, and higher air conditioning and heating costs. Since air rises up from the basement to the main living space, if the basement is humid and smelly, so is the upstairs because of it. Result - cold floors above, condensation, mold, rot, odors, drafty, uncomfortable home, higher fuel and electric bills.

Luckily, Fogarty's Home Services had the perfect solution for this customer. We were able to install the SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier in the home. The SaniDry™ Sedona air system is a powerful but energy efficient dehumidification and air filtration system in one unit. Able to remove an incredible 100 pints of water per day and using only 5.9 amps of electricity, the SaniDry™ Sedona drains automatically to a sump or the outside with a condensate pump. It has a powerful 310 cfm blower to circulate the dry air completely around to dry building materials and contents. Mold doesn’t have a chance! An automatic control is easy - set it to 55% RH and forget it - the SaniDry™ Sedona does the rest! And there’s no buckets to empty! Results - Low Relative Humidity, mold stops growing, odors are reduced, basement is suitable for storage, lower air conditioning cost, upstairs is dryer.

This homeowner in Pittsfield, MA called us hoping that we would be able to help him with his insulation. He had recently purchased the home that he was now living in, and he was hoping that we would be able to make it more comfortable. This homeowner had an unheated garage with heated rooms above them. There was very little insulation in the garage ceiling -- which means it needed to be insulated. Unfortunately, fiberglass batts leave lots of air space for air to circulate around them, eliminating their R-value. The result is cold, drafty floors upstairs and excess noise from the garage heard upstairs.

Luckily, Fogarty's Home Services had the perfect solution for this customer. We were able to insulate the garage ceiling with dense-packed TruSoft™ cellulose insulation. The home's siding was removed. Holes were drilled into the rim joist (outer edge of ceiling/floor framing) from the outside, and a very long pipe was inserted into the joist bays all the way to the other side. Cellulose was blown in and dense packed into the floor. This not only compresses existing loose fiberglass batts and adds much insulation value, but the density stops airflow through the floor from air leaks. Results - warmer floors above, more comfort-able rooms, quieter floors upstairs without that hollow sound, and lower heating and air conditioning bills.

This homeowner in Pittsfield, MA called us when he noticed he needed better insulation in his home. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived, he noted there was an exterior door that was not properly insulated. With an unsealed door, cold winter air gets sucked into your home continually in winter. In summer, warm humid air enters the basement and causes condensation on cool floor, wall and duct surfaces. Results - Cold basement, cold floors on first floor, drafts, higher heating fuel costs, condensation in summer, higher electric costs for A/C.

Luckily, Fogarty's Home Services was able to help this customer. We installed a custom exterior door for this homeowner. Proper framing is installed and a new insulated exterior door with weather-stripping and locking knob is installed. Now “inside” the house is inside the door, and “outside” is outside the door. Result - warmer basement and floors over the basement, drier basement in summer, lower fuel and electric costs, less drafts, house easier to heat, more security.

This homeowner in Pittsfield, MA called us looking for new insulation. When our Home Comfort Specialist arrived in the home, he noticed a large amount of mold in the homeowner's basement. This was caused in part by the insufficient insulation the homeowner had in that basement. High relative humidity in a basement will cause mold to grow on the surfaces of walls, floors, insulation, and everywhere else. Spores are the airborn seeds of mold, which are produced when the mold is growing and active. These spores float on airstreams up from the basement into the floors of the home, and people with sensitivities can react to them. When we fix a basement properly, it will dry out enough so mold will not continue to grow. But what can be done to treat and eliminate the mold that’s already there?

Mold-X2 Cleaner effectively eliminates mold and mildew stains on contact. It is non-abrasive and non-flammable, and is sprayed on effected areas. There is a temporary odor from the product, so we recommend that homeowners leave the house for a few hours, depending on how well the space can be ventilated. Once Mold-X2 Cleaner is applied, mold disappears instantly, leaving wood surface looking nearly new. Mold-X2 Botanical, a plant-based disinfectant with a pleasant, temporary scent, is sprayed or fogged on surfaces, which prevents mold from growing back. Now the basement is ready for other solutions. Results – The mold is eliminated, with no odors or potential for wood rot. Your basement is now ready for a permanent repair to keep humidity low.

This customer from Pittsfield, MA reached out to us immediately after purchasing his home due to worries he had about the basement. One thing our Home Comfort Specialist noted when he visited this home was a lack of a door near the basement hatch steps. Steps from your basement to the outdoors are convenient, but the (metal) hatch doors that cover them are completely uninsulated and leak lots of air. Cold winter air gets sucked into your home continually in winter. In summer, warm humid air enters the basement and causes condensation on cool floor, wall and duct surfaces. Results - Cold basement, cold floors on first floor, drafts, higher heating fuel costs, condensation in summer, higher electric costs for A/C.

Fogarty's Home Services installed a custom, insulated exterior door for this customer at the bottom of the steps. Proper framing is installed and a new insulated exterior door with weather-stripping and locking knob is installed. Now “inside” the house is inside the door, and “outside” is outside the door, so it doesn’t matter that the hatch door is uninsulated and leaks air. Result - warmer basement and floors over the basement, drier basement in summer, lower fuel and electric costs, less drafts, house easier to heat, more security.

Open metal window wells let leaves and debris collect in them, blocking light to your basement. Rain gets in, and water from over flooding gutters cascades into your window wells. Weeds can grow in your window wells since they have no bottom, and mud splashes up against your window glass. And, let's face it - they are ugly! Results - Constant maintenance, far less natural light to your basement, and they are ugly! The SunHouse™ window enclosure is a bright color and has a bottom to reflect much more light into your basement. The bottom prevents weeds from growing and mud doesn't splash against your windows. SunHouses™ have a sturdy matching clear cover to keep rain and leaves out*, and it keeps the wind from blowing against your windows. *While a SunHouse™ keeps most water out, it cannot warrant against a window/well flooding. A window well drain system will be necessary if that is a problem. 

When it comes to making homes more comfortable, stopping air leakage at the top of the house is the #1 priority. Outside air leaking in at the bottom of your home only happens because warm air leaked out of the top. Can lights are holes in the ceiling. Air leaks between the fixture itself because of the many holes and seams in it. To make matters worse, when the light is on, incandescent and halogen bulbs burn at 380°F and this hot air rises faster and causes the can light to leak faster. Most can lights are not rated to have insulation against them because of the fire hazard when these fixtures get hot. And gaps in attic insulation cause heat loss in addition to the can light air leakage problem. Results - more drafts/colder rooms downstairs, higher overall home air leakage rate, higher heating and cooling (fuel and electric) bills. Dr. Energy Saver's TiteShell™ can light covers are installed over your can lights, fitted around wires and fixture struts, and sealed air tight with expanding foam. TiteShell™ covers are safe from the fire hazards of hot bulbs and fixtures. Once TiteShells™ are installed, TruSoft™ insulation can be blown into the attic against and over them, eliminating costly gaps in insulation and adding R-value. For the most savings, have Fogarty's Home Services change the bulbs in your can lights (optional). Incandescent or halogen bulbs (65-100 watts) burning at 380°F should be changed to compact florescent bulbs (CFL's) at 13-20 watts burning at 170°F or LED bulbs (best) at 2-18 watts burning at only 135°F. Every incandescent or halogen bulb is a little 380°F heather - replacing them makes the house easier to cool in the summer! Results - less drafts, more comfortable rooms (including downstairs), a tighter, more energy efficient house, lower heating and cooling (fuel and electric) bills, and an easier house to heat and cool.

The building code requires that no combustible materials, including wood framing and insulation, be within 2" of a masonry chimney. this has left millions of homes with an airspace from the basement or crawl space right to the attic. Air that you paid to heat is continually leaking out of your home to the vented attic where it is lost. Results - a more drafty, uncomfortable home that's harder to heat, higher fuel and electric bills. First, the space between the wood framing and masonry is flashed with metal and then sealed airtight with special high-temperature fire caulk. Then, completely fireproof "Rock Wool" insulation panels are installed around the chimney so that TruSoft™ cellulose insulation may be blown against the chimney. In some cases, unfaced fiberglass batts may be used instead of Rock Wool panels. "Chimney Wrap" leaves no gaps in the insulation around your chimney, and seals one of the biggest air leaks in your home. Results - Lower house air leakage, less heat loss, home is more comfortable and easier to heat, lower fuel bills.

Do you know where your bathroom circulation fan is blowing air too? 

Problem:

Often plumbers and electrification leave these fans dumping into the attic. All the moisture from your hot shower is sucked up into your attic causing condensation and mold. This homeowner in Pittsfield, MA had this exact problem. This home did not have an air duct to blow the condensation outside.

Solution: 

Dr. Energy Saver can get the moisture out where it's supposed to be safely and that's exactly what we did. Our team came in and ducted the bathroom fan with an insulated duct. This duct connected to the fan leads to the roof. The team then put a vent hood on the roof to which the duct is connected. This duct hood makes the duct look natural from the outside of your roof. This resulted in the homeowner no longer having to deal with condensation and mold in their attic. 

These Home owners in Pittsfield MA called us out to their home  for a free home energy evaluation. These homeowners were very concerned that with the ice damming occurring in the winter. When we arrived to the home we sat down with the homeowners to get an idea of any other energy efficiency concerns they had. During our walkthrough we noticed there were lots of air leaks in the attic that needed to be sealed. Spaces like can lights, bath fans, and top plates can cause air leakage. Air leakage can result in major heat and air loss, high heating and cooling bills. Having inefficient insulation in the attic can allow for even more air leakage from the home creating ice damming problems and more.

now we can get to work and help these homeowners we send our production team to their home to get started. We first removed all of the old loose  insulation. We make sure to vacuum up all debris in attic and properly dispose of the insulation. Next we air seal any top plates or other areas needed with foam. awe also use can light covers as needed to minimize air leakage. Once the air sealing is complete air will no longer be able to escape from the home into the attic and out, next we blow in our TruSoft Cellulose which fills in any odd shaped voids and gaps. With these treatments it will drastically reduce the amount of heat escaping the home into the attic hitting the roof deck and creating those ice dams.

Now thanks to Dr. Energy Saver By Eco Energy Solutions, this home owner is happier, will be warmer and is living more energy efficient!

In this photo you can see the after of this project.

This homeowner came to us about issues with moisture in their stone foundation crawlspace which led into the basement. Vented stone crawlspaces allow moisture to get in and condense on everything from the floor joist to the ducts, allowing wood to rot and pests to thrive. If left unchecked, mold that forms as a result of this elevated moisture can work its way up into the home, putting you and your loved ones at risk for health complications. These vents also allow cold air to get into the crawlspace and move up through to the floor in rooms above the crawlspace, making your home harder to heat in those spots.

We started off with sealing the vents and other leaks to the outside to stop more moisture and cold air from making its way in.The walls are covered with our Foamax advanced polyisocyanurate foam insulation panels to insulate the basement and keep the cold out for good. A dimpled drainage matting is installed across the floor to create an airspace and thermal break. TerraBlock floor insulation is installed over that matting and finally, a vapor barrier liner is installed permanently over the dirt floor. This treatment was paired with our SaniDry basement air system to keep this home free of excess moisture with ease.

Thanks to Dr. Energy Saver by Eco Energy Solutions, this homeowner will no longer have to worry about moisture, pests, or cold floors in their home!