As you prepare to purchase new insulation for your home, you might be surprised at how many options you’ll have available to you. So how do you determine which choice is right? There are a variety of factors you’ll need to take into account.
Here are just a few things to consider when purchasing insulation in Petaluma, CA.
Are you building a new home or renovating an existing one?
If you’re starting from scratch with your insulation, then you don’t really have any limitations for your insulation type, as long as you meet the requirements of the National Construction Code.
However, if you’re adding insulation to a home that’s already been built, the job could be a little trickier. Most of the areas in your home that would house your insulation have likely been sealed off already. You might need to put holes into the walls and use blown-in insulation.
What materials is your home made out of?
The construction materials used in your house will determine your home’s thermal mass, which is an important feature to know for insulation as it indicates how much heat your materials can store.
What R-value are you hoping to achieve with your insulation?
For all new homes, there are minimum requirements for R-value, which is essentially the measurement of your home’s ability to retain heat. The R-value is measured by a wide variety of factors, so you need to have your plans assessed and determine if you need to make any improvements before construction begins. You want to have a high R-value for your home so you can avoid spending too much on your heating and cooling bills.
Improving the R-value of a home is also one of the reasons people most frequently upgrade their existing insulation. In older homes especially, R-value was not nearly as big of a consideration as it is today. Plus, the quality of insulation used in homes has improved significantly over time. While retrofitting a home with new and better insulation can be an expensive process, it can also be financially worthwhile in the long run when you factor in your energy savings.
Are you aiming to soundproof your home?
For people who live near a major highway, railroad or any other area that has a lot of background noise, the soundproofing capabilities of a particular type of insulation can be an important factor. You might also wish to soundproof specific rooms, such as home theaters or recording studios. How much soundproofing material and the type of insulation you’ll need will depend on how loud the noise is that you’re trying to isolate and how frequently you experience it. There are many types of commonly used insulation that have a certain level of soundproofing, but when you are aiming to block out as much noise as possible, it can take a little extra planning to make sure you meet your needs.
For more tips about purchasing new insulation in Petaluma, CA, contact the team at Ace Insulation Inc. today.
Insulation is insulation, right? Wrong! There are tons of different types and brands out there. Some types of insulation are better than others, and are better for different areas in your home. If you’re building a house or if you’re thinking about adding more insulation to your current home, the following information will help you figure out which type of insulation is best for you and your home.
What types of insulation are there?
Before we dive into which insulation you should install, it’d be helpful to learn a little bit about some of the most common types of insulation:
- Spray foam: By and large, spray insulation in Petaluma, CA is some of the best insulation on the market. It expands to fill even the smallest cracks, so you can rest easy knowing that you shouldn’t have to deal with any outside air creeping in.
- Batts: Insulation batts are precut sections of fiberglass or rock wool insulation. Even the most inexperienced folks can install these batts, so they’re great for homeowners who have a DIY itch.
- Rolls: Insulation rolls are another option. Similar to batts, they’re easy to install for anyone with a can-do work ethic and a bit of extra time on their hands.
- Blown-in insulation: Made of fiberglass or rock wool, blown-in insulation is a solid choice if you’re insulating hard to reach places. We’re experts at installing blown-in insulation—get in touch with us today if you think this might be the best option for you.
Budget
Obviously, your budget is something you’ve got to keep in mind for any home improvement project. If you just want to add insulation on the cheap, spray foam isn’t your best bet. Spray foam is fairly expensive, and typically requires professional installation. On the other hand, it’s also the most effective insulation, so it’s one of those “you get what you pay for” situations. If you’re just looking to add some insulation without breaking the bank, consider batts or insulation rolls; they’re not too expensive, and you can install them yourself. Give us a call today to get a quote for spray foam or blown-in installation!
Location
Where your insulation is going is just as important as your budget. Different types of insulation are more effective in different locations around the house:
- Small cracks: Spray foam is your go-to insulation for filling any small cracks. As mentioned above, it expands upon installation and blocks any air from coming in or going out. Though it’s great for small cracks, people across the country are starting to use it for all of their insulation needs. Its high R-value along with its fireproof and waterproof qualities make it a fantastic choice.
- Attics: Insulating your attic is a must. Unfortunately, it can be difficult in those hard to reach areas. That’s where blown-in insulation can come in to play! Blown-in insulation quickly fills in all of those nooks and crannies in the back of your attic, where other types of insulation can’t reach.
- Walls: Though spray foam is getting more and more popular, batts of insulation are still the number one choice for walls. As long as they’re cut properly, they fit like a glove in between the studs of your walls.
Whether you’re looking to install blown-in insulation or spray insulation in Petaluma, CA, let Ace Insulation Inc. install it for you! We have years of experience in the business, so you can trust that the job will be done right the first time.
All homes should be insulated, but that doesn’t mean that your whole home is insulated to the extent it ought to be. Time and time again we find homes that are under-insulated and could use some more insulation to be more energy efficient and comfortable throughout the year. Thankfully, as long as you know what to look for, it’s not hard to tell if your home needs more insulation. Continue reading to find out if you need to schedule attic insulation installation in Petaluma, CA:
- Fluctuating temperatures: The fastest way to tell that your home is under-insulated is if your indoor temperatures are different in each room. For example, if your bedrooms are warm but your living room is cold, you know that something is amiss with your insulation. Thankfully, that’s not a hard problem to fix—just give us a call! We can address that problem so you’re comfortable throughout your home.
- High energy bills: Along with keeping your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, insulation’s main job is to keep your energy bills as inexpensive as possible. That’s tough if your home doesn’t have enough insulation! Call us for an insulation inspection if you’re tired of spending an arm and a leg each month on your energy bills.
- Cold walls: This one won’t apply for a few months, but if you notice that your walls are chilly this winter, your home is probably under insulated. Go around your home and touch your walls. Do they feel damp or cold? Let’s hope not! That’s a sure sign that you need more insulation. Your ceilings and floors might also feel a bit cold to the touch if your home doesn’t have enough insulation.
- Uncomfortable rooms: Are some rooms in your home too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter? Typically, we find that this is a problem on the upper levels of homes. Luckily, attic insulation installation in Petaluma, CA could be a solution. More insulation will keep your heat or conditioned air in and block outdoor weather from entering.
- Frozen pipes: Running your water on freezing cold nights is one way to prevent frozen pipes. We may be able to prevent the need to turn your faucet on by adding insulation. Insulation will keep your pipes warm throughout the winter, ensuring you never have to deal with frozen pipes again.
- Water leaks: Insulation does wonders to keep your conditioned air in and nasty weather out! If you’re lacking insulation in the attic, you could notice leaks after a rainstorm. More insulation (especially spray foam insulation) will help keep your home nice and dry after a storm.
- Pests in your home: Few things are more unsettling than finding signs of mice or insects in your home. They sneak in through crevices and build their nests where it’s nice and comfortable inside. Adding insulation by your exterior walls should help keep these nasty pests out!
As you can see, more insulation in your home can solve a variety of problems. From high energy bills to plumbing problems, some more insulation can make your home a better place to be. Get in touch with Ace Insulation Inc. today if you’re ready to live a more comfortable life!
Whether you purchased an older home or contracted a new home build, one of the best decisions you can make is installing quality insulation materials for comfort and energy efficiency. With that in mind, let’s review the different types of home insulation in Petaluma, CA:
- Roof insulation: For some homes and buildings, it may be better to insulate the roof instead of the attic. This is considered a smarter option when you’re using the attic to store a lot of items, or if your home’s HVAC equipment is installed up there. As with attic insulation, the right amount of roof insulation will keep your rooms at a comfortable temperature throughout the year.
- Ceiling insulation: You might notice that your energy bills go up during certain times of the year, like in the winter and summer, even if you aren’t using your HVAC all that much. To avoid higher energy costs, make sure your entire home is properly insulated, including the ceilings. Ceiling insulation is an important factor when you want to protect the inside of your home from seasonal weather temperatures and changes.
- Crawlspace insulation: Oftentimes homebuilders forgo adding crawlspace insulation, or homeowners install the incorrect type of insulation for these types of spaces. Without quality insulation in crawlspaces, your home or building can quickly become uncomfortable during the colder and hotter months. Furthermore, unprotected crawlspaces can get damp, which can cause mold growth or wood rot. Talk to your insulation contractor about insulation that is specially made for crawlspaces to prevent moisture buildup.
- Attic insulation: If heat or cold air can pass through your attic’s insulation materials, then you are likely to see a significant increase in your energy bills. You do not want a poorly insulated attic because, when heated interior air rises, like in winter, heat is lost through attic air leaks. An insulation expert can tell you whether you have air leaks in your attic, as well as seal off discovered leaks and either replace or add attic insulation.
- Floor and wall insulation: Insulating your home all around is the most effective way to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. You should have insulation on all sides of the house, including the ceilings, roof and basement walls, but especially under your flooring and within the walls. Unfortunately, though they’re important types of insulation to install, wall and floor insulation are often overlooked.
- Duct insulation: Your home’s ductwork is out of sight, so making sure it is properly insulated can be difficult. Most commonly, you’ll find un-insulated ductwork in your attic, crawlspace or basement. Keep in mind that the ductwork will usually have the same temperature as these mentioned spaces, meaning your ducts have to heat up or cool down before heating or cooling your home—your HVAC will have to work much harder! Quality duct insulation will increase the comfort of your indoor living environment and improve energy performance.
For more information about the different types of home insulation in Petaluma, CA, feel free to call Ace Insulation Inc. We offer quality insulation options and provide exceptional installation services!
When considering what to do for your next home improvement project, take a moment to assess your insulation situation. You will need to schedule a professional insulation inspection, but it’s worth it since insulation plays a major role in overall home comfort all year round. For now, here are the top benefits of proper home and building insulation in Petaluma, CA in spring and summer:
- Efficient cooling: While a properly insulated house keeps the heat inside during the frigid winter months, it also maintains coolness during the warmer months. In other words, because the transfer of heat slows, it keeps the heat out during the summer. For this reason, an insulated home allows for way more efficient cooling than a home with poor quality or insufficient insulation in place.
- Improved indoor air quality: The spring season is such a beautiful time of the year. The sun is out, flowers are blooming and the breeze is pleasantly cool, but those suffering from seasonal allergies tend to be a bit less excited about the pollen produced by blooming trees and plants, and understandably so. To maintain healthy indoor air quality in your home, make sure that you have sufficient insulation in place. Insulation can prevent allergens and air pollutants from passing through into your home. Also, remember to change your home’s air filter each month to ensure cleaner indoor air.
- Better comfort: It’s not unusual for some areas of your home to be better insulated than others. You can observe this when the temperature is more comfortable in some rooms. This can lead to uneven cooling, as unwanted heat gain can compromise your comfort, as well as put excessive strain on your air conditioner. Hire an exceptional team of insulation technicians to ensure your overall comfort at home this spring and summer.
- Prevents air conditioner burnout: The quickest way to need air conditioner repairs—or a unit replacement—is to run it hard for long periods of time. Making things even worse is having insufficient or poor quality insulation in your home, or not sealing up your home against air leaks. All these things leave you reaching for the thermostat all the time, though this might not help improve the indoor temperature much. Too much stress on your air conditioner can shorten its lifespan. And the filter will get dirty quicker, which affects the indoor air quality in your home.
- Lower energy bills: Sure, if you have a central air conditioner you will want to use it when the warmer months arrive. But you don’t want to rely solely on your air conditioning system for indoor comfort—proper home insulation and air sealing helps out greatly in this area. Running your AC less often or on a less powerful setting will significantly decrease your energy usage, thus lowering monthly energy bills and saving you money.
Do you think you can benefit from new or improved insulation in Petaluma, CA this spring and summer? Call the residential and commercial insulation professionals at Ace Insulation Inc. today to learn more!
