Associated Catholic Charities
(Residential case study for a business)
Problem
Associated Catholic Charities (ACC) purchased an old house in Montrose that is now a home for orphans. Payless Insulation came highly recommended to assist in the charity’s insulation and air distribution needs using healthier products. This home was crying for energy efficiency. There was a huge acoustical challenge due to the location of the house, located 25 feet from one of Houston’s major freeways. The noise was unbearable. The attic and walls had no insulation or minimal insulation.
The air conditioning ducts were original and not performing efficiently. The ducts were in bad shape, full of mold, and smelled terrible. ACC had received prior bids to install four additional HVAC units and clean the old duct board. The old duct board was frayed and the old fiberglass was deteriorating. These harmful fibers would have infiltrated throughout the entire system. The indoor air quality would have been poor at best. Had the ACC chosen this option, it would have created a poorly insulated home for the children, increased possible hazards of poor indoor air quality (IAQ), which can lead to respiratory symptoms and asthma. The previous shelter had also incurred higher utility costs that continued to climb.
Solution
We approached this important project with the greatest care. Payless wanted to create a new environment for children that would address several issues and concerns in a positive way and because of the circumstances concerning most of these children. Payless wanted to ensure the highest level of comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ), a healthy and quiet place, as well as provide energy solutions to the new owners. Using our green, sustainable products would ensure the highest energy efficiency and comfort to the home. Non-profit organizations, as well as any homeowners, must be very careful in choosing the right products for a budget conscious home or business. Keeping all this, we focused on sustainability and used products that are natural and organic. These have the least impact on the environment and occupants. Payless Insulation’s specialty is creating the most comfortable homes and businesses using proven solutions. Payless prides itself on addressing the new environment with the highest energy efficiency and keeping health and indoor air quality part of the equation.
Payless installed high-density cellulose insulation in the attic, sprayed cellulose in all the exterior walls, between the floors, and poly sealed all penetrations for an additional elimination of air infiltration. We also sprayed exterior and interior walls for sound transmission and noise reduction. Once the windows were closed the freeway became non-existent. Natural cotton batts were installed in roofline areas and knee walls. These applications ensured efficient thermal and acoustical treatments for the house and made the home more comfortable in every aspect. ACC experienced tremendous savings on their utility bills.
Payless has successfully installed R8 cotton insulated Superior Air Ducts® manufactured at our facilities. We removed most of the pre-existing air distribution system. The old system was filled with massive amounts of mold and dirt. Our cotton insulated R8 Superior Air Ducts® created a superior air distribution system throughout the house. The new energy insulation package allowed the home’s A/C system to run less, cycle more often and save the ACC thousands of dollars in electricity bills.
In the new addition, Payless Insulation found ways to move metal ducts from original units. The ineffective fiberglass insulation was removed, metal was cleaned and then the exterior metal was sprayed with high-density cellulose and fire retardant adhesive. This gave the existing metal ducts a monolithic seal where new Superior Air Ducts ® were not used. All components such as the return air, plenum, transitions and new registers for each unit were insulated with R8 Superior Air Ducts ® cotton wrap. Payless provided solutions and results by using sustainable, environmentally healthy & efficient green products. Other benefits included immense energy savings which eliminated the funds needed for the previously proposed four units. This saved the charity a tremendous amount of money on additional electrician’s costs and drastically increased the indoor air quality (IAQ). Utility bills were lowered significantly. Kilowatt expenses in Houston are some of the highest in the country. The Charity is now able to redirect their funds toward more useful matters that will assist and impact the children in a more positive way.
Oaks of Woodlake
(Multi-Family Dwelling)
Problem
Payless received a call from Oaks of Woodlake in 2003. The property management was dealing with residents’ complaints of discomfort with heating and cooling issues in 52 buildings. Their townhomes were too hot and the A/Cs could not keep up. The utility bills were extremely high at the central meter. Recent roof replacements did not solve the problem.
There were some areas that had been rodent infested due to the animals nesting in the old fiberglass. The air ducts had been damaged by rodents and some buildings had ducts in hard to reach fur downs where animals had also been nesting. The water source may appear in an attic when ducts condensate due to a lack of proper insulation. This allows rodents to continue to nest when a water source is present. Rodent odors were apparent.
Solution
Payless installed loosefill borate treated insulation into attic areas of all 52 buildings, achieving the cool comfort the townhomes were lacking and drastically reduced utility bills despite two cost increases in electricity that summer. The borates present in the materials will deter rodents or insects in the future. In addition, Oaks of Woodlake residents now enjoy a full life expectancy of the recently replaced roof as the materials are their own vapor barrier and keep attics drier. Because funds were insufficient for replacement of A/C ducts, Payless Insulation offered to place cotton batting over damaged ducts and seal others where needed. This improved the air distribution. The cotton batts also blocked any loosefill insulation from entering the air system. Furthermore, management had no more complaints from residents, and A/C service maintenance costs were kept to a minimum.
Residential Home Troubleshooting
Problem
Customer complained about a terrible odor in his house. He believed his attic was rat infested. After inspecting the house, our estimator could not find the cause of the odor. On the estimator’s way out, she noticed a return air grill in the dining room. The homeowner was not aware of where the grill led to.
Payless Insulation’s estimator proceeded to inspect the opening. To her surprise and to the homeowner’s shock, they realized that the air grill was fully open to the bathroom sewer. The cause was discovered!
Solution
Payless Insulation takes pride in approaching our projects ethically, whether small or large. Our estimator made the right choice in advising the customer to contact a plumber instead of spending money on unnecessary insulation.
We provide honest, effective, and prompt service in every case, regardless of monetary rewards. This homeowner definitely gained our trust and will refer others to us.
This is just one of many stories where we have helped a homeowner in solving an issue that is not related to our business. Our philosophy has always been to help people first no matter what and be good for our word. We receive countless of referrals for treating each person and home with respect. We treat each call as if we were to visit our own home.
Residential Home Condensation
Problem
We received a call from a homeowner in River Oaks. The house has a copper roof and installed water chilled A/C system. The customer was complaining about the condensation on metal ductwork leading to his room registers. The condensation had been causing sheetrock damage in his bathroom for the past twenty years. He had never been able to find a company with a solution that would address the problem the right way. He relayed his last experience about a contractor who had foamed the bottom of the duct from register openings below (there was no attic access overhead). The problem was not solved by the contractor or anyone else previously looking at the problem.
Solution
Payless Insulation’s estimator recommended pressure filling loosefill cellulose around the entire duct. Since there was no attic access overhead the only solution was to pressure fill the entire ceiling of the room. This was done by drilling 1” holes every 1’ -2’ to encapsulate the duct. To the homeowner’s delight, he never again had to deal with sheetrock repairs.
