Cape Cod-style homes date back to 17th century New England, where these charming homes were designed to withstand the elements. The homes are compact and have a simple rectangular footprint. A steep roof helped shed snow, relatively low ceilings made it easier to heat, and shutters helped keep wind out during storms.
The revival of Cape Cod homes began in the late 1920s and lasted for several decades. We now have many such homes throughout Northern Virginia and Metro Maryland. But if you live in a Cape Cod style home and find yourself asking why your electric bill is so high, you’re not alone.
Comfort and Efficiency Issues in Cape Cod Homes
Although Cape Cod homes look cozy, many homeowners experience comfort issues. One of the most common concerns we hear at The Fifth Fuel is that the second floor is colder than the ground level in the winter. Another common complaint is that the floors in Cape Cods are often cold, especially on the first floor. Although it’s logical to think that this is a furnace issue, these uneven temperatures are rarely related to the heating system.
Pinpointing Home Efficiency Issues
A common source of comfort and efficiency issues in Cape Cod style homes originates in the space between the short wall on the second story and the unfinished space behind it (in the front and back of the home). These second-floor walls are typically just 4 or 5 feet tall, with a triangular space behind them, underneath the roof. This space is typically unconditioned and not adequately insulated and air sealed.
In the winter, this cold triangular-shaped area can suck heat from the second and first floors, making it hard to keep warm and creating drafts in the home. Some Cape Cods have doors to access this space, which can further encourage air leakage between the conditioned and unconditioned spaces on the second floor of the home. Cold air is also drawn into the cavity created by the floor joists on the second floor, adding to the drafts and temperature imbalances.
What’s Happening in the Crawl Space or Basement
Vented, uninsulated, or leaky crawlspaces can cause numerous home performance issues in Cape Cods, including cold floors on the first floor and poor indoor air quality. Crawl space encapsulation and basement improvements like insulation, waterproofing, and air sealing offer effective solutions, both by controlling moisture and preventing cold air from entering the first floor.
Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Cape Cods
The Fifth Fuel has extensive experience identifying energy efficiency issues and finding solutions for Cape Cod homes in the Northern Virginia and Metro D.C climate. Addressing the unconditioned space behind the knee walls on the second floor is an important place to start.
Improve Cape Cod Efficiency with Insulation
First, The Fifth Fuel efficiency experts stop the flow of unconditioned air from behind the knee wall into the second floor and into the ceiling joist cavity on the first floor. We air seal the walls, floor, and weatherize around the access door in the knee wall if there is one.
Although most homes have some insulation on the attic side of the knee wall, a lack of backing prevents the insulation from functioning properly. Our team removes the old insulation, adds backing to knee walls and then blockers between the knee wall and the floor cavity to prevent the flow of unconditioned air into the home.
Unlock Further Comfort and Efficiency with an Energy Audit
An energy audit goes further into identifying the root causes of comfort issues in your Cape Cod-style home, including problems originating from the crawl space or basement. Using advanced diagnostic tools like infrared cameras and blower door testing, an energy audit can uncover hidden air leaks, moisture issues, and inadequate insulation in these areas. These insights allow for further improvements to your home such as crawl space encapsulation or basement insulation.
The Fifth Fuel: Your Trusted Insulation Contractor and Energy Efficiency Experts
With over 30 years of experience in home performance, The Fifth Fuel is highly experienced in getting to the root of home performance issues and creating lasting solutions. We have helped many homeowners throughout Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church, Mclean, and the Metro DC areas save on their energy bills with energy-saving home improvements. The longevity of our energy efficiency staff has allowed us to create a team with extensive expertise in saving energy.
