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[DaveWertz]

Im trying to get one of my buddies that is chief at the fire company to "borrow" there thermal camera and ill just do it myself. I will donate money to them then in turn claim it on taxes as a donation. Im hoping he can pull threw so I can save some money.

[hondaracer2oo4]

Dave, If you can get your hands on a thermal imager from the fire department you will be able to do an OK job. Our imagers in the fire service are black and white so you will be able to see warmer spots which will show up as lighter white and colder which will show up as darker. It won't be nearly as good as a color screen tic though. Its unlikely that they will let you borrow it since they are in the neighborhood of 8-10k so the department probably only has one, but maybe they can come over and use it with you. They should be able to help you to better understand the readings as well.

[DaveWertz]

I sat here and thought about maybe just having the first floor which includes the basement done. Maybe I can work 1 floor at a time. Thats about my only option for these prices.

[slimjim]

Dave did you leave Kerry a message, you might want to try him again, you also may be able to find some of your leakage with a simple infrared temp gun, certainly not a thermal imaging camera but they will work in a pinch.

[DaveWertz]

Im definitely going to call him again.

[DaveWertz]

Well I had my audit done today. In a nut shell he suggested to seal up my basement as that is where I would get most of my gain. He also stated to maybe have blown cellulose in the attice in lieu of my R30 over top of blown cellulose that is already there. To me that seems like I would be wasting ALL my money I just spent putting that all up there. But he told me to seal up the outside entrance to the basement which I already knew that was drafty, then to go threw and seal the whole outside edge where the foundation meets the frame of the house. Then to go threw and somehow seal up the little pockets between the floor joist. I already stuffed them with fiberglass and it helped a little bit so Im really not sure how to approach that. The one side of my house there is barley enough room to fit my hand let alone getting a can of spray foam up in there so that will most def be the hardest part. There was allot of draft coming from that area. Then after I get the basement squared away to go threw and worry about the windows and the doors. I.E. Caulking around the window and replacing door seals.

[hondaracer2oo4]

Dave, I'm glad you did the audit! Did he run any tests or just give suggestions? Remember fiberglass is not air sealing, it just filters air. You need to chaulk or spray foam. The $30 great stuff pro gun is worth every penny. As soon as you let go of the trigger the foam stops an you can lay a bead of spray foam down like chaulking.

[DaveWertz]

My problem is the big area I have to foam I would almost need something that sprays a wide bead. And I was checking out those Great Stuff Pro14 guns, I think that is what is was. He didnt run any test because it was cold out. He just gave suggestions. Some pretty good ones at that. It really pisses me off because I got about 6inches of blown cellulose under the fiberglass in the attic, wouldn't you think that be enough to stop air? I dont see snow melt on my roof anymore LOL.

[DaveWertz]

Honda, Thinking about getting this kit, I think it will suit my needs better. The gun is small but can cover a larger area. Those small areas I cant get a can into, well this should do the trick. I can also go around and do the area between the frame and foundation. Seems pricey but might be well worth the money. I think 200 board ft should be suffice? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dow-Froth-Pak-200-Spray-Foam-Kit-346963-/161168053870?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25865d566e

[coolidge]

Dave,  if you get the froth packs, wait until it's at least 70 outside for awhile, anything that has to do with foam will work better when it is warm. If not you will be losing about 25 percent. Have you gotten an estimate from a sprayfoam company? Higher pressure and everything is heated.

[DaveWertz]

I did have an estimate done and it was WAY out of my range. The guy even recommended that it would save me a pile of money doing it myself. Im going to order that kit. I found the same one on ebay for 307 shipped to my door. Ill just wait until it gets warmer out or start a fire in the basement using my wood stove.

[hondaracer2oo4]

Dave, I don't have any expierence with any of the kits but Home Depot sells 200 bf kits for 299. Remember that is 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 inch thick 200 feet long. It would be a great kit to seal your sill plate to your foundation wall. Foam is about r6.5-7 per inch thick.

[DaveWertz]

I found the froth pak 120 for $375! I didnt see them advertise the froth pak 200 for $299.

[hondaracer2oo4]

I just looked at their website and I couldn't find it either. I was just at my local home depot the other day and saw it in the store for $299. I'll have to look te next time I am there.

[DaveWertz]

I went ahead and ordered the Dow froth pak 200 off ebay. 307 shipped to my door. Saved me $100 from any other company. To bad I have to wait to do it unless I have a fire downstairs going in the wood stove. They recommend between 60-80 degrees when applying this foam.