Author: Writer

Nearly 85 percent of a home’s heat loss happens through the attic. When your attic is not insulated, you lose heat, which escapes your home and raises your utility bills as your HVAC system works harder. However, even the best-insulated attics need maintenance to stay efficient. Here are five tips on how to make your Northern California attic more energy efficient:

• Seal cracks: Attic air leaks are a common culprit when energy efficiency drops. Cracks, holes and weak points throughout the attic allow outdoor air inside, where it works against your HVAC. Start by sealing these cracks and gaps and filling any spaces where insulation has worn out. If you notice extensive deterioration of your insulation, contact an insulation contractor.
• Improve ventilation: Installing a venting system in your attic allows warm air to escape. While this approach seems counterintuitive in winter, it reduces damage to your home. If there is a bad winter, keeping your attic cool prevents melted snow or ice on your roof, which lead to ice dams and gutter damage. In summer, proper ventilation allows heat to escape, so it does not damage roof shingles. Moisture is another common problem of built-up attic air, which leads to mold growth. However, venting is not an energy-efficient solution for all homes, so consult with a roofing contractor to make sure it’s the right decision.
• Install fans: Attic fans are an excellent investment. They regulate your home’s temperature and improve airflow. If you have a well-insulated attic, they enhance efficiency by pushing out hot air while bringing in cool air from soffit and gable vents. Keep in mind that these are specialty fans designed for attics, and regular ceiling fans do not work the same way. You need to hire a knowledgeable contractor who installs the correct fans and ensures proper sealing. Otherwise, the fans will not help you with efficiency.
• Purchase radiant barriers: Radiant barriers prevent the electromagnetic transfer of heat by reflecting sunlight. They are comprised of aluminum or other highly reflective materials. By reflecting the light, attics maintain constant temperatures, no matter the preferred temperature indoors or the weather conditions happening outside. In warm climates, radiant barriers drape from the attic ceiling or are squeezed between roof beams. In cold climates, radiant barriers are placed inside the attic on the floor to reflect heat from inside the house. Once installed, cooling and heating costs drop by up to 10 percent per year.
• Upgrade insulation: If you have a leaky attic and high heating and cooling bills, it may be time to consider an upgrade. Insulation improves with new technologies and manufacturing processes, and if you have older insulation, it may not be as effective. Good insulation reduces heating and cooling costs up to 20 percent, so that upgrade may pay for itself quickly!

Want to learn more about how to make your attic more energy efficient? Ace Insulation Inc. can help. We are your Northern California insulation experts, and we can seal up your attic and make your heating and cooling costs decrease. Call us today to schedule an estimate.

An insulated attic offers a tight seal to keep heat in your home during the winter. If insulation deteriorates, you face drafts and high energy bills and leave your home vulnerable to rodents, allergens and mold. Here are six signs showing when it’s time to replace your home insulation in Northern California:

• Rodent infestation: If your home was rodent-free for years, and now you experience mice or rats, the problem may be your insulation. Rodents love to nest in damaged insulation, and as they get cozy, they add to the wear and tear. If you find droppings and pieces of insulation lying around your attic, start by calling an exterminator and then look into replacing your insulation. Since rodents carry parasites and disease, you have no other choice but to remove contaminated insulation entirely.
• Water damage: A leaking roof or an overflowing drip pan in your air conditioner causes water damage. If you experience either of these developments, chances are you need insulation. Insulation makes an excellent environment for mold and mildew when it gets wet, and it loses its ability to control heat transfer. If a storm punctured your roof or a wayward appliance or plumbing pipe flooded your insulation, you must replace it immediately.
• Temperature control problems: When insulation wears out, your home’s temperature is uneven. Some rooms are freezing cold, while others are too warm. You pick up on more drafts, and it seems that no matter how much you mess around with the thermostat, you cannot find the optimal comfortable temperature. Once you eliminate HVAC issues, chances are your attic insulation no longer does its job. You may need to replace insulation in crawl spaces, too, especially in certain rooms that are draftier than others.
• High utility costs: Attic insulation is an excellent way to increase energy efficiency. It keeps cool air inside in summer and hot air inside during winter. This ability lowers utility bills because your HVAC does not have to work as hard. But if your bills spike and there are no logical reasons why that’s happening, your insulation might be breaking down. Check the attic for loose insulation fibers and consider having a contractor take a closer look.
• More allergy symptoms: Old insulation is an excellent breeding ground for mold, mildew, bacteria and allergens. If you notice household members getting sniffly or suffering frequent colds and allergies, you may have damaged insulation. Check all air quality elements in your home, including HVAC filters and insulation. Since mold especially causes serious illness, you want to act on this problem right away if you have any household members with respiratory sensitivities.
• Leaks: If you notice a slowly growing stain on your ceilings or find more condensation around your window frames, chances are you have a roof leak. If any water gets through your roof, it soaks your attic insulation, too. Act on leaks immediately, and once resolved, inspect your insulation. It likely needs replacement.

Ace Insulation Inc. installs insulation in Northern California homes and businesses. Contact us today if you need help determining when to replace your home insulation or wish to schedule an estimate.

Too many homeowners in Northern California believe they can get away with cutting out the middle man and installing insulation by themselves. They’ll end up suffering the consequences later on, because the truth is that improperly installed attic insulation can make you sick. Below are some of the amateur mistakes people make during a poor installation and the health risks that come as a result.

Wrong material for the attic

Not every type of insulating material is suitable for all areas of the home. For instance, fiberglass insulation has to be in a completely dry environment. If your attic suffers from excessive condensation, the fiberglass will dampen and become less effective. You’ll know it’s time to schedule a reinstallation when your energy bills start to hike up.

Wet fiberglass is also the perfect environment to promote mold growth. Mold triggers allergies, exacerbates asthma and creates breathing problems over a long period of time. It’s the most common airborne toxin responsible for poor air quality in your living space. Ask a professional to install spray foam or another water-resistant insulation material in your attic.

Older insulation releases chemicals

Improperly installed attic insulation can make you sick, but so can insulation that has long outstayed its welcome in your Northern California home. The building materials in a house break down over time, and insulation is no different. Outdated insulation releases harmful chemicals in a process that’s called off-gassing. The good news is that off-gassing is accompanied by a foul smell, so you’ll know something’s wrong right away.

Be wary of contractors who want to cover your attic with foam board. Despite its flame-resistant properties, this type of insulation can do more harm than good once it starts to break down. The chemical that makes it fireproof can seep into your living space and cause cancer after years of exposure.

Lack of protective equipment

Improperly installed attic insulation can make you sick if you’re the one installing it. As an example, spray foam requires personal protective equipment like goggles, gloves and a gas mask to prevent severe irritation. Spray foam is safe in its solid state, but may damage your lungs and skin during the installation process. It’s best to exercise caution and hire a professional in Northern California to install spray foam insulation for you.

Skin irritants and dust

Some insulation materials naturally emit airborne toxins and should be avoided in the home altogether. As the name suggests, fiberglass insulation is constructed with microscopic pieces of glass that irritate the respiratory system and become lodged in a person’s skin. Cellulose insulation releases dust that settles down into your living space and will trigger your family members’ allergy symptoms. These materials are not only uncomfortable, but also pose a serious health risk.

Installing insulation is not a DIY project. When you hire a trained professional from Ace Insulation Inc., you protect your family and guarantee a safe living space for years to come. We offer a variety of insulation materials to choose from and will make the appropriate suggestion with your family’s health and comfort as the top priorities. Reach out to learn more!