The holiday season may be over, but winter is just beginning. Here at Ace Insulation Inc, we are all about helping our customers save money and be more comfortable in their homes all year round. We know that high heating bills can stretch a lot of household budgets during the winter, even here in California. But fortunately, there are several measures you can take to lessen your heater’s load this winter, ranging from covering your windows to installing more or better home insulation in Petaluma, CA. With that in mind, here are seven things you can do to keep your heating bills low and your house warm this winter:
Natural warmth: Even in winter, we still have access to the ultimate heating system: the sun! Figure out a few hours each day when sunlight hits certain windows in your home, and make an effort to open up your blinds and let in as much warmth as possible when you are able.
Cover your windows: Although you should make an effort to let in natural sunlight, you should probably keep your windows covered on cloudy, drafty days. And if your windows are old and let out a lot of heat, reinforce them with thick, clear plastic. If you can afford to fully replace your windows, that’s even better.
Be smart with your thermostat: Are there at least a few hours during the middle of the day in your household when the kids are at school, the adults are at work or running errands and nobody is home? If so, program your thermostat to drop its temperature during that time to save a little money.
Fill the cracks: Doorframes, holes in windows, basement leaks and other small openings to your home could be causing big problems for your house’s degree of warmth. If you can repair them, great, but otherwise do your best to seal them during the winter.
Extra blankets: Here in Petaluma, temperatures tend to drop the most at night. Investing in some very warm new wool blankets for every bed in the house might seem obvious, but it can go a long way toward keeping your family warm without overworking your heater.
Heater maintenance: If you have not invested in routine heater maintenance lately, then your heater could be needlessly and inefficiently overworking itself without your even knowing it. Have a fully certified and experienced HVAC repair service visit your home to ensure this is not the case.
Insulation: Finally, as useful as all of the above measures may be, the absolute best thing you can do to save money and stay warm this winter is invest in high quality home insulation in Petaluma, CA. Find a reputable insulation service and set up an appointment as soon as possible.
For more information about how insulation can keep your home warm and help save you money this winter, please get in touch with Ace Insulation Inc anytime. Our team looks forward to hearing from you.
When researching which insulation material you should install in your home, the amount of information and conflicting advice can be overwhelming, and it can be difficult even to narrow down your selection. On top of this is the added concern of what the process will entail, and whether you can count on your contractor.
Fortunately, if you do hire the right contractor, they will be more than happy to help you figure out which insulation in Petaluma, CA is best for your home. Here are the six questions you need to ask yourself to help figure out your priorities and determine whether you can count on your insulation contractor.
How important is price to me, and what is my budget?
What is the absolute most you can spend on insulation, and how much would you like to spend? Is saving money over time important to you? Knowing how important the expense is for you and your partner is a great start to figuring out your insulation choice.
How important is energy efficiency to me?
Energy efficiency is a great thing for a home. It helps you save money, it adds resale value to your home and it is good for the environment. That being said, energy efficient insulation materials come with their own drawbacks, so you need to determine how important this is for you.
Do I have any allergy or health concerns?
Many people have reported allergy and other health concerns that stem from exposure to different types of insulation. If you are susceptible to allergies, do some research before settling on a particular insulation material for your home.
Where will this insulation need to go?
Are you looking for insulation for your garage? Your attic? Your basement? Your entire home? The space that your new insulation will be going into will greatly effect what the optimal choice is, so when discussing with your insulation contractor, make sure to tell them which rooms the insulation will be installed in.
Do I trust my insulation contractor?
This question does not relate directly to choosing which insulation material you ought to be using, but it is very important that you trust your insulation service and their opinion when selecting new insulation. Make sure they have at least several years of experience, access to the best products in the market and a strong reputation in the community.
What will the process be like?
When meeting with your insulation contractor, make sure to ask as many questions as you need to in order to get an idea of what the installation process will look like. Will you and your family need to be out of the house for a day, or just stay out of a particular room? Knowing this will help you to plan accordingly.
When you trust Ace Insulation Inc to be your source for insulation in Petaluma, CA, we will be happy to address any and all questions and concerns you may have. If you are looking for a great local insulation service, give us a call today.
An insulated garage means less noise, better temperature control and the decreased likelihood of toxic fumes entering your home. When you decide to make your garage into a better space through insulation, it is common for your contractor to offer many options. This can seem confusing at first, but making a decision is often balanced between needs and budget. Here is an overview of three types of insulation often installed in garages to help you decide which will work best for you.
Batt insulation
The combination of fiberglass and cotton makes batt insulation in Petaluma, CA a cost‑effective option. It is often a popular choice for garages because some households do not use them much except for storage, and that is seen as a good reason to only use low‑cost options. Another advantage is its easy installation—contractors only need to wedge it between the studs.
However, depending on how your garage is put together, there may be additional steps. If your garage is very bare-bones with no drywall, your contractor may have to do a complete remodel first. For those who do a lot of woodwork or any other craft projects that require stains and other odorous chemicals, you may also need a vapor barrier so those fumes do not enter your home.
Blown-in insulation
If you do not have drywall but want to pass on a remodel, blown-in insulation is a good choice. All a contractor needs to do is put a hole in the wall and blow in a cellulose insulating material. Afterwards, the hole gets patched and you get to enjoy all the benefits of an insulated garage. This installation is not only quick, but it is also desirable due to the fact that garages are often cluttered spaces.
Unlike other forms of insulation, you will not have to move cars, washers and dryers, power tools or storage before the contractor arrives. You will pay more, but you’ll also invest less time in preparatory labor. That is frequently worth it for many customers.
Foam board
Another option for those uninterested in drywall but lacking the budget for blown-in is foam board. It is a rigid board that does not require any other type of support—it is simply secured to the garage walls. However, it is also not always allowed under building code, and installing it without checking first can leave you vulnerable to penalties. You also want to be careful to choose a variety that is flame-tested and, when in doubt, add a radiant barrier.
The type of insulation that works best for you will depend on the activities that take place in your garage and your budget. People who simply store cars and do laundry in their garages will have a different insulation need than those who perform large projects with lots of chemicals or power tools. Bring up any special requests or circumstances when discussing insulation with a contractor.
Ace Insulation Inc offers insulation in Petaluma, CA for attics, garages and the living areas of your home or business. Call us today to see what will work best for you.
There are many contractors who provide insulation service in Petaluma, CA. The overwhelming aspect that often enters the picture is how to distinguish between them. You want the skills and materials you can afford, but also want someone with whom you feel comfortable working in your home. Here are five steps you can take to assure you hire the best insulation contractor for your project:
Ask friends for referrals: Start with people you know and trust the most. Someone in your circle has likely hired out for insulation, and that individual will have a recommendation of whom to use—or whom to avoid. Start with friends, family and coworkers. Even if they have never hired an insulation contractor, they likely know someone who did recently, and that information can also help you.
Surf the web: The U.S. Department of Energy contains a directory for insulation contractors. This can be a good starting point, as that is an agency devoted to energy savings. If that is your goal, finding a contractor who embraces those values can be important. You will also learn more about insulation as you visit that site. Other places to check will be the contractor’s board and the Better Business Bureau. Trade organizations can also help, so look at their websites, too.
Check for thoroughness: If a contractor offers an estimate, the review of the area you want insulated and any specific needs should be thorough. This does not always include a home visit, as phone inquiries can be detailed with the right questions. Beware if the attention paid to your project is only cursory. Not only can it mean rising costs as the project continues, but it can also indicate that the work will not always be performed with quality in mind.
Call the references: Once you meet a contractor and receive a bid, request references. Calling other homeowners who also had work done by the contractor is a great way to check the quality, timeliness and customer service during that job. Yelp and other online review sites are also helpful. While there are customers on those sites that are never satisfied with anything, you will find it easy to assess workmanship through context. If a contractor will not provide references, consider someone else. There is likely a good reason for that refusal.
Confirm certification and insurance: You will also want to inquire about certification and insurance. Insulation contractors have insurance and bond requirements, and must also meet certain certification levels. If a contractor is unwilling to provide this information, move on to someone else. Insurance coverage is vital, as your home’s personal liability policy can be charged if a worker is injured while performing a job. You do not want someone else’s oversight to raise your premiums and threaten future coverage.
Ace Insulation Inc offers skilled insulation service in Petaluma, CA. We are willing to answer questions and give estimates to help reassure you. Call us today to start the process of insulating your home for cost savings and a better indoor living environment.
For most homeowners, judging your home’s efficiency is simple: does your home keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, without driving you to bankruptcy when the utility bill comes in the mail? This might seem like a good standard to gauge your home by, but it’s hardly one that’s going to give you any data in terms of how well your home is performing by modern efficiency standards!
Today, home efficiency actually has a standard and a scale—it’s called an R-value. In simplest terms, an R-value is a measurement of your home’s ability to retain forced air temperatures, via its insulation, windows, roofing and other construction components. The higher the R-value your home has, the better of a job it’s going to do in insulating you against exterior temperatures and the less money you’ll spend to achieve these results!
Now, while there are many components that contribute to a home’s overall R-value, this number is largely dictated by the unseen insulation that’s protecting you. Depending on what’s between your walls and packed into your attic, you could be seeing your home’s R-value raise or lower based on your insulation in Petaluma, CA. But just because you know what type of insulation you might have in your home, doesn’t mean you know if it’s doing its job in keeping your R-value high.
In order to determine if your insulation in Petaluma, CA is keeping forced air temperatures steady in your home, you’ll need to have the R-value of your home measured by a professional—then, you’ll need it broken down to determine what your insulation’s contribution is. Often, this is done by heat mapping your home, to figure out where transference is occurring. And, once the R-value of your home is determine and juxtaposed with the heat map, conclusions can be made about the effectiveness of your insulation in a viable way!
If your home’s insulation is performing at respected levels, it can ensure the overall R-value of your home remains high—or, if your home’s R-value is lacking while insulation is performing well, it could indicate fault elsewhere, such as with outdated windows. If your insulation is the problem, however, it could signal that it’s time to replace or reassess your insulation situation. Generally, this is as easy as having new insulation blown in or, in more dramatic cases, it could mean replacing downtrodden existing installations with a more viable, efficient medium.
If you’re concerned about your home’s R-value or want to determine if your insulation is helping to get the job done to its fullest abilities, consider calling an expert at Ace Insulation Inc. today to have your home’s R-value assessed!
We’ll help you achieve optimal efficiency in your home in regards to your insulation and can help you to save big bucks on monthly utility costs by pinpointing and eliminating superfluous costs that might be the product of poor insulation in Petaluma, CA.
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