Utility checkups and deeper evaluations keep pointing at the same Valley problems: hot attics, leaky ceilings, and ducts in the wrong place. Here is what the visit includes, how rebates work right now, and the fix order that avoids an oversized AC.
Quick Answer
A Chattanooga energy checkup usually finds attic air leaks and thin insulation before it finds a dying AC. Fix the envelope first, then size equipment. Icon Insulation handles the insulation scope. Call (423) 373-4749, and check the live EPB and TVA rebate pages before you count on a dollar amount.
Who we are on this job
Icon Insulation is licensed in Tennessee, insured, and installs with our own crew. We have two offices, one in Ringgold and one in Chattanooga, and one phone number: (423) 373-4749. We work regular business hours, so call to schedule. When an audit report points at the attic, crawl, or walls, we turn it into a written insulation scope.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Phone | (423) 373-4749 |
| Ringgold office | 12 Southcross Lane, Ringgold, GA 30736 |
| Chattanooga office | 633 Chestnut Street, Suite 600, Chattanooga, TN 37450 |
| Hours | Regular business hours. Call to schedule. |
| Licensing | Licensed in Tennessee |
| Insurance | Insured |
| Crew | Our own crew |
What is the difference between a checkup, an evaluation, and an insulation assessment?
They go to different depths. A utility checkup is usually a walkthrough with basic recommendations. A deeper evaluation by an energy auditor or utility program may add diagnostic testing such as a blower-door test. Our insulation assessment focuses on what we can see and measure in the attic, crawl, and walls. This table lays them side by side.
| Visit type | Typical focus | Diagnostic testing | Who to call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility energy checkup | Walkthrough, basic recommendations | Usually none | Your power company |
| Deeper home evaluation | More detail on the whole house | An energy auditor or utility evaluation may run a blower-door test | The program or auditor |
| Icon Insulation assessment | Attic depth, air leaks we can see, crawl, foam or blown-in decision | Visual inspection and depth checks | (423) 373-4749 |
Programs rename and change their offers. Read the booking page for what is included before you schedule.
Why do insulation and air sealing show up first on the report?
Because they usually cut the most load for the money in a Valley home. Hot summers punish thin attics, and winters punish the same leaks. ENERGY STAR’s advice is to seal the holes first, then add insulation. That is why audit reports so often list attic air sealing and attic insulation near the top.
If the report points somewhere else, these pages cover the other common findings:
Should the envelope come before a new HVAC system?
Usually, yes. A tighter house needs less heating and cooling, so sizing new equipment after the envelope work keeps you from buying more tonnage than the house needs. ENERGY STAR says a typical house loses about 20 to 30 percent of the air moving through its ducts to leaks, holes, and poor connections. Here is the order that saves regret.
- Air seal the attic floor and other big bypasses.
- Insulate to the target depth, or convert assemblies when foam fits.
- Have ducts in the attic or crawl sealed and insulated. We point out leaks we see and tell you who to call.
- Get a Manual J load calculation for any equipment replacement.
- Only then buy new equipment.
What rebates can help pay for insulation?
As of October 2026, TVA EnergyRight listed rebates of up to $300 each for attic insulation, wall insulation, envelope air sealing, and duct sealing and insulation. The program has rules, including that a member of its contractor network does the work. We help you with the rebate paperwork, and we confirm the details for your job at the estimate.
Rules and amounts change, so check the live EnergyRight insulation and air sealing rebate page and your local power company before you count on a number.
The federal home energy tax credit for this kind of work ended for work placed in service after December 31, 2025, so we do not count it in any estimate.
What does the climate zone mean for attic depth?
It sets the starting point, and your inspector sets the rule. Hamilton County is Mixed-Humid, and on the 2021 IECC county map it is Climate Zone 3A. It was 4A on older maps. ENERGY STAR publishes recommended attic levels by zone. We build to what your Hamilton County inspector requires under the code edition the county enforces.
What do we look at on an insulation assessment?
We look at every place your insulation and air sealing can fail. That means the attic, the ducts we can reach, the crawl, the rim where the house meets the foundation, and the clues you notice in the living space. We tell you what we see in plain words and write a scope. Here is the checklist we work from.
| Area | What we look for |
|---|---|
| Attic | Depth, bare spots, baffles, hatch, can lights, moisture staining |
| Ducts in the attic or crawl | Disconnections, thin insulation, and obvious leaks. We tell you what we see and who to call. |
| Crawl | Open vents, wet insulation, musty air into ducts |
| Rim and band | Gaps at the floor line |
| Living space clues | Hot upstairs, dusty returns, cold floors over crawls |
Related reading on this site
If your audit report mentioned a hot upstairs or indoor air complaints, these guides go deeper. The upstairs guide covers two-story comfort and attic ducts. The allergies guide covers pollen, dust, and crawl air. The service pages explain each kind of work we do and what it involves.
Questions Chattanooga homeowners ask about energy audits and insulation
These are the questions Chattanooga homeowners ask most after an EPB or TVA EnergyRight visit, or before they book one. The answers cover what the visit includes, the fix order, rebates as of October 2026, and how rebate paperwork works. Program rules change, so check the live pages before you count on a number.
What does a Chattanooga home energy checkup or evaluation actually include?
Utility programs differ. An EPB-style checkup is often a walkthrough with basic recommendations. A deeper evaluation run by an energy auditor or utility program may include a blower-door test. Our insulation assessment looks at attic depth, air leaks we can see, the crawl, and the insulation itself. Ask which tests are included before you book.
Why do audits keep pointing to insulation and air sealing first?
Because those fixes often cut the load before you buy new equipment. It is not automatically a sales pitch. Sometimes windows, ducts, or mechanicals dominate. A good report shows evidence, not a single product.
Should I get envelope work before replacing my HVAC in the Tennessee Valley?
Usually yes when the attic and ducts are the weak link. Seal and insulate, then size equipment with a Manual J on the improved load. Buying a bigger system for a leaky upstairs first is a common regret.
Does EPB or TVA EnergyRight offer free or subsidized audits in Chattanooga right now?
Programs change. EPB has offered free energy checkups for eligible customers, and TVA EnergyRight publishes evaluation and do-it-yourself assessment options. Check the live EPB and EnergyRight pages before you plan around a free visit. Those program pages are the source of truth.
What rebates can I get for attic insulation or air sealing in 2026?
As of October 2026, TVA EnergyRight listed rebates of up to $300 each for attic insulation, wall insulation, envelope air sealing, and duct sealing and insulation, with program rules that have to be met. Rules and amounts change, so check the live EnergyRight page and your local power company before you count on a number. We help you with the rebate paperwork. The federal home energy tax credit for this kind of work ended for work placed in service after December 31, 2025.
Do I have to use a Quality Contractor Network member, and who files the rebate?
For TVA EnergyRight insulation and air sealing rebates, the program says eligible upgrades must be completed by a member of its Quality Contractor Network, and that contractor sends in the rebate request. We help you with the rebate paperwork and confirm the details for your job at the estimate. Call (423) 373-4749.
How much does a paid home energy audit cost if I am not using a free utility checkup?
Paid audit prices vary by depth, from a walkthrough to a full test with diagnostic equipment. National consumer sites publish wide ranges. Start with any free utility option you qualify for, then use a focused insulation assessment from us when the report points at attic or crawl work.
What is the correct fix order after the report?
Air seal, then insulate, then duct sealing, then a Manual J and equipment changes. Skip the order and you risk oversized HVAC on a house that only needed an attic.
Turn your audit report into a plan
Have an audit report that keeps circling the attic? Call Icon Insulation at (423) 373-4749 during regular business hours, or request a quote online. Our own crew will walk the house, check what the report found, and give you a written insulation scope in plain words, with help on the rebate paperwork.