Even in California, winter temperatures can have you reaching for fuzzy socks and warm blankets just to keep out the chill. When you can keep the inside of your home warm and toasty, it makes the season much more comfortable for you, your family and your guests. If you feel like you are constantly having to ward off the cold weather while you’re inside your home, it might be a good idea to take some steps to preserve heat within your space.
Even though there may not be one single thing that improves the heat efficiency of your home, there are several smaller steps that you can take to stay warm this winter. Before temperatures dip too low, make sure that you prepare your home with these winter efficiency tips:
Keep up on HVAC service and maintenance: Your heating system will perform much better if it is serviced and maintained according to a regular schedule. Contact your HVAC technician for help making sure that your system is operating as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Be smart about your heating habits: You don’t have to heat your entire home the same way. If you can, try modifying the thermostats in your home so that the rooms that are most used are heated more than rooms that won’t be used. This helps you ensure that you are using energy for effective heating and not wasting any money heating rooms that aren’t in use.
Minimize drafts: Drafty doors and windows can be huge wastes of energy in your home. Make sure to seal gas between your doors and your floor to reduce the influx of cold outside air. You should also make sure to keep your doors and windows closed throughout your home and reduce the amount of time that they are opened while guests are coming and going.
Safeguard windows: Windows can be one of the weakest points in your home when it comes to heat insulation. If you have flimsy windows that tend to be drafty, try using heavy curtains to prevent heat from escaping. You might also consider replacing your windows with more energy efficient models.
Insulate your attic: It may surprise you just how much heat escapes from your home through your attic. Insulating your attic or replacing old home insulation in Petaluma, CA can greatly increase your energy efficiency and ensure that your home is as comfortable as possible for you and your family.
If you want to update your home’s insulation to ensure that you stay warm all winter long, you can get expert help with installation from Ace Insulation Inc. Since 2011, we have been providing expert assistance with home insulation in Petaluma, CA. We have years of experience working with a wide range of insulation materials and we can help you find the insulation solutions that are right for your home, your needs and your budget. We can help you ensure that your home stays comfortable this winter and that you are getting the most out of your energy expenses. Contact us today to arrange a free consultation.
There are a lot of simple ways to add value to your home through remodeling, renovation and updating. Often, however, these projects come with large upfront costs that only eventually translate into long-term benefits. There’s often some apprehension that comes with sinking your teeth (and pocketbook) into a major update.
Thankfully, there are also just as many simple projects that can have a profound impact on your living space. One of them—if you have an attached model—is insulating your garage. And, thanks to the rising popularity of blown insulation in Petaluma, CA, this project is becoming even more affordable.
Why Insulate Your Garage?
Attached garages aren’t necessarily part of your immediate living space, but they are connected directly to that living space. This means it’s worth your while to make the garage a convenient place—one with livable amenities. That way, it won’t feel like you’re stepping into a cave any time you want to take out the recycling, get in your car or tinker with your hobbies out in the garage!
Garages also present massive opportunity for efficiency… or, conversely, inefficiency. If your garage isn’t properly insulated, you might be losing cool air in a massive way or allowing harsh exterior temperatures to take a toll on whatever area is attached to the garage.
Why Is Loose Fill the Answer?
Whether you have a 1-, 2- or 3-car garage, it’s going to be a massive structure regardless. Insulating it with batting or spray foam can quickly add up in cost, which is why most homeowners skip this task. Blown insulation in Petaluma, CA, on the other hand, is much more affordable. You can insulate the entirety of a garage for just a fraction of the cost!
In finished garages that aren’t insulated, loose fill might be the only option that’s viable. Many contractors simply drywall over bare framing, which might look great, but severely handicaps the energy efficiency of the garage. Blowing in insulation means cutting a small hole at the top of the finished wall and filling it with insulation. Just patch the hole when finished for a seamless fix to your insulation needs!
Finally, loose fill is easy enough for just about any homeowner to do themselves, or for a professional to do in just a few hours. All it takes is a blower and the insulation, and in a short time, the R-value of your garage could be tenfold what it was earlier that day.
Give Your Garage an Upgrade
If you’re looking for a smart way to bolster your home’s comfort and value, without sending yourself into debt or tackling a massive project, consider installing garage insulation. Explore the benefits of loose fill insulation and you’re bound to see why so many other homeowners have taken this route in upgrading their attached garage.
And, if you’re looking for more information or a quote, Ace Insulation Inc. is happy to help. Just talk to one of our talented experts about the many advantages of blown insulation in Petaluma, CA.
One of the biggest DIY projects homeowners decide to undertake is finishing their basement. Not only does it give them a wealth of DIY experience, it’s also not part of the living space—which means they can take as long as they want or make as many mistakes as they need to before getting things right.
Just because basement finishing is a good DIY project doesn’t mean it’s without its pitfalls, though. One of the biggest mistakes homeowners tend to make when refinishing their basement has to do with insulation. Often, they don’t have all of the essential information or foresight that a professional contractor does, leading to some costly and invasive headaches if the project is done wrong.
We’re here to provide some tips on what to do and what not to do when you install insulation in Petaluma, CA for your basement.
The Proper Process
Before we break down tips for basement insulation, it’s important to get a grip on the overall process. Here’s what it looks like in most cases:
The base concrete or cinderblock basement walls are cleaned and treated for water
Foam board insulation is glued to the base and exposed walls and left to properly dry
The walls of the basement are framed directly against the foam board insulation
Plumbing and electrical are run through the newly framed walls
The walls are insulated with batting
Sheet rock or water-resistant drywall is used to finish the walls
As you can see, there are actually two types of insulation commonly used. Moreover, they’re used in a specific order. Here’s why:
Foam board insulation is placed directly against the bare walls because it’s inert—meaning it won’t mold or become soggy if there is water leakage in the basement. This is important for avoiding rot.
Batt insulation is used after the walls are framed to provide true insulation properties to the basement, while also preserving an air barrier. It’s also the most affordable option.
Again, this is most cases. In many newer homes or in homes with larger budgets, spray foam insulation is absolutely an option and provides the same, if not better, benefits with even better longevity.
Tips to Keep in Mind
For DIY homeowners about to install insulation in Petaluma, CA, there’s more to the process than just following the steps. Here are a few unspoken tips to keep in mind:
When gluing foam board insulation, make sure to use glue specially made for foam applications. Regular commercial glue will degenerate the foam over time.
Have a building inspector or code compliance inspector observe your foam board and framing before proceeding. Then, have them inspect again after the batting is installed, to make sure everything is up to code.
Don’t even think about insulating your basement until you’re certain there are absolutely no leaks present!
Finishing a basement is a great confidence booster for the aspiring DIY enthusiast. Even though there is room for mistakes, however, it’s best to avoid them by doing this right the first time. Consider the above tips when it comes to framing and insulation.
Most residential homes have an attic that is used mainly for storage, but there’s so much more to your attic than that. If you look around up in your attic right now you will see that the floors, and oftentimes the walls, have a layer of insulation. You’ll also notice the wood making up the underside of the roof. The attic plays an important role in keeping your home warm or cool, so it’s a good idea to inspect its condition at the beginning of each new season, or anytime you suspect there may a problem.
Some attics are large, while others are more like crawlspaces. Whether big or small, you need to keep this area maintained and in good shape. That means problems need to be taken care of as soon as possible to ensure indoor comfort and to avoid costly repair bills. With this in mind, here are some tips for basic attic maintenance that every homeowner should know.
Make sure it’s insulated
The first step in making your home more energy efficient is to make sure your attic is properly insulated. Not only does the insulation material insulate the attic, it also preserves the condition of the roof. Before inspecting, dress in long sleeves and pants and wear gloves and a facemask to prevent contact with materials. Check that your attic floor is totally covered with insulation and see to it that bare spots get filled in. Keep in mind that, the older the insulation, the greater its chance at getting damaged, such as acquiring water stains, being compressed or simply falling apart.
If you are unsure of the condition of your insulation or think you could use more materials in some places, call your local insulation service in Petaluma, CA.
Repair cracks
Many homeowners don’t notice an attic leak until water starts coming into the house or exterior issues arise. It’s very common for attic leaks to originate from cracks in the roofing, which lets water drip in, or from water overflowing onto the roof due to clogged rain gutters, which causes pooling. Before the rainy season arrives, scan your attic during the daytime and look for streaks of light coming in through cracks and holes. Patch up damaged areas immediately to avoid bigger problems later on, or contact a professional to perform an inspection.
Keep mold away
A leaky roof is the number one cause of mold growth on attic insulation. Rain that gets in becomes trapped as moisture, leading to mold damage and allergen production. To prevent attic mold from taking hold, inspect the roof for damaged or missing shingles and cracks on the inside.
Look for signs of pests
Pests like rats, bats, birds, insects and other critters are known to take up residence in attics, using insulation and other available materials to make nests. If attic pests are not dealt with, they can pose a health risk and cause all sorts of costly damage.
Maintaining the attic area can improve your household’s comfort, safety and health. Contact the professionals at Ace Insulation Inc. to schedule an inspection or other insulation service in Petaluma, CA today!
As a homeowner, home maintenance should be important to you. There are tasks that need to be done annually, and others more often, to ensure your home stays in good condition. Some things need to be accomplished on a seasonal basis to account for changes in the weather. From installing quality insulation in Petaluma, CA to stopping air leaks, here are a few ways to keep your home warm this winter:
Check the insulation: Statistics show that up to 25 percent or more of your home’s indoor heat is lost through the roof, which is due to a poorly insulated attic. Un-insulated or under-insulated walls also account for a percentage of lost heat. To maximize your energy savings and heat retaining potential, check that you have adequate insulation material installed in the attic. You may need to add insulation to fill in bare spots on the attic floor, which is worth it since it will keep your home warmer throughout the cold winter months.
Replace old insulation: Another thing you might consider hiring an insulation contractor to do is replace old insulation materials. Old insulation does not work as well as newer materials, because aged insulation tends to compress down, shift over time or fall victim to moisture and mold. Talk to an insulation expert to find the material that will benefit your attic the most.
Seal up air leaks: There are several ways for outside air to get inside your house, such as through busted weather seals around doors and windows, and cracks in the attic. Once you seal up air leaks you will notice a difference right away.
Install a programmable thermostat: Your heating system and home insulation work together to create a warm and comfortable living environment. The heater produces hot air and the insulation retains it inside. To keep your house warm—and lower your energy bills in the process—consider installing a programmable thermostat that lets you set the heater to maintain your ideal temperature.
Open or close curtains: Even in fall and winter, the sun is bound to come out during the day. Therefore, an easy way to warm the inside of your house is to draw the curtains open when the sun is out and pull them shut when night falls. But not every window is positioned to let the sun in, so only open the curtains in rooms where the sunlight does shine through.
Reverse ceiling fans: Look at your ceiling fans and make sure they are now on the winter setting, which will reverse the blades so they move clockwise. The clockwise-spinning fan blades will push the rising heat back down, adding extra warmth to the room. Play around with the fan speeds until you find the setting that seems to work best for pushing heat downward.
The condition and quality of your home insulation in Petaluma, CA plays a huge role in your home’s ability to keep its interior at a comfortable temperature. For more information about the different types of insulation materials or to schedule insulation service, call the experienced team at Ace Insulation Inc. today!
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