In honor of Earth Day, Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, through local funding, spent Wednesday with contractors improving the quality of life for elderly and disabled families at a local mobile home park. In one day, seven families had their heat ducts air sealed with mastic and tape by Momper Insulation. K21 Mobile Home Repair Program paid for the contractor labor and Momper donated all the supplies to make the repairs. K21 also funded Alliance Comfort Solutions of Pierceton to replace the dryer vents. The dryer vents that were repaired vented under the homes, they are required by building code to be hard piped and insulated in unconditioned spaces. Flex ducting can sag, heat up and be the source of house fires. Jim Klotz, a local energy auditor, tested all the gas ranges. Klotz also tested out the gas furnaces and advised the homeowners on maintenance of these appliances. One range was found to be unsafe and will need replaced. The range was omitting high levels of carbon monoxide into the home. Through additional grant funds provided by Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Housing Opportunities of Warsaw supplied each homeowner with a number of items. The items included an energy kit containing a carbon monoxide detector, CFL light bulbs, products to air-seal and energy saving brochures. The homeowners spent the day installing the products they received in their homes. The homeowners gained valuable education on energy conservation and the function and maintenance of components in their home.Through this community effort homeowners will experience a minimum of 20 percent savings on their utility bills. The improvements concentrated on air quality in the home and safety of home components. Two families will receive new water heaters under the Mobile Home Rehab Program as they were found upon inspection not to be vented and had water leakage. These homes will receive additional carpentry repairs and spruced up with some paint by volunteers Aug. 15 during Day of Caring sponsored by United Way of Kosciusko County. If people are interested in receiving home assessments, Home Energy Impact Training and learning of grant opportunities for homeowners, call Brandie Hamman, Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, at 574-269-7641.
