Category: Home Insulation

Summer is just around the corner, which means daytime temperatures will soon be in the 80s. The best way to keep your house comfortable while reducing your energy bills is to ensure your home is adequately insulated. However, that’s not always an easy task for the average homeowner.

Fortunately, we’re here to help you double-check your insulation and ensure you’re properly covered. Continue reading to learn how to know if you need new insulation in preparation for the summer months in Northern California:

• Assess your energy bill: Your monthly cooling bill can be much higher if your home is unprepared for hot summer temperatures. This is because AC units have to work much harder to cool an under-insulated house. Adding high-quality insulation is an easy solution for lowering that bill and keeping your space comfortable.
• Perform a DIY energy audit: Purchasing a non-contact IR thermometer is the next step after paying your sky-high energy bill. This tool will tell you the precise temperature in different areas of the home. Point the device at walls, ceilings, doors, windows, vents, floors and anywhere else that’s insulated. If there are any variances in temperature—whether hot or cold—you’ll need to add some insulation.
• Hire a pro for an inspection: Our best advice regarding how to know if you need new insulation in preparation for the summer months in Northern California is to hire a professional. An insulation contractor will tell you where you need insulation, how much you need and what kind of insulation will be best for the area.

Where should insulation be added?

Every home is different when it comes to insulation, which is why a professional inspection is required, but these are a few of the key areas that typically need more insulation for the summer months:

• Attic: The attic is often the hottest part of a house during the summertime. Even though you don’t spend a ton of time up there, all of that attic heat radiates downwards into your living space. You can reduce heat transfer by adding blown-in insulation or high-efficiency spray foam insulation in the attic.
• Crawlspace: Your home could use some extra insulation down below in the crawlspace or basement. Adding waterproof spray foam insulation in these damp and humid areas can reduce the chance of mold growth throughout the year while keeping your home a bit more comfortable in the summer.
• Exterior walls: When direct sunlight hits your exterior walls, the sun’s UV rays heat the interior of your home. Adding some more insulation is the best way to block that heat transfer. Blown-in insulation works well for these walls, as it causes minimal disturbance to finished areas.

Hire Ace Insulation Inc. today

Make sure your home is sufficiently insulated by contacting Ace Insulation Inc. right away! From understanding how to know if you need new insulation in preparation for the summer months in Northern California to actually insulating homes, we’re the best in the business. We look forward to working with you soon!

Insulation is pivotal in keeping your home comfortable and your energy bills low all year long. Unfortunately, insulation doesn’t last forever. It becomes less effective as it ages, and can even become a breeding ground for pests. Continue reading to learn a few of the signs that will help you determine if your Northern California home is not well insulated.

Old age

If your home was built before 1970, you can stop reading right now—it’s likely time to re-insulate your home. Insulation technology has come a long way in the past few decades, meaning it’s better at keeping your home comfortable and energy efficient. Contact your insulation contractor today to schedule an assessment of your home.

Higher energy bills

Looking at your monthly heating and cooling bills is another easy way to tell if it’s time for insulation. If your energy bills are higher than usual, it means your HVAC system is working overtime to heat or cool your home. Adding insulation is an easy way to address this problem. Your new insulation will pay for itself in no time thanks to your lower energy bills.

Fluctuating room temperatures

If some rooms are colder or warmer than others, your home is likely under-insulated. Instead of simply adding insulation to the rooms that feel drafty or too warm, we recommend going a step further. Bolstering insulation up in the attic and down in the crawlspace is a better way to fix this issue while making your home more energy efficient.

Upper-floor temperature differences

If you have a multi-story home, you may notice a temperature difference on the floor closest to the attic. This is another one of the signs to watch for when determining if your Northern California home is not well insulated. There should be at least six inches of insulation in the attic. Any less than that could make upper floors colder or hotter than the rest of your home.

Cracks near windows or doors

It’s not uncommon for small cracks to appear on your walls, especially near windows or doors. After all, houses shift and settle through the years. While it’s not a bad idea to have these cracks inspected by a professional, they could indicate that your walls are under-insulated. Seal those cracks for the time being with caulk, then call an insulation contractor to bolster your insulation.

Evidence of pests

Rodents, insects and other creepy-crawly critters are known to make nests in blown-in insulation. After all, it’s nice and warm and away from predators. Any evidence of their presence—like droppings or urine stains—means your insulation is damaged and needs to be replaced. Upgrade to spray foam insulation to ensure this never happens again.

Contact our team today

Remember, insulation isn’t just something to worry about in the colder months—it protects your home all year long. So, if you’re concerned that your house might need new insulation, call Ace Insulation Inc. We know all the signs that determine whether your Northern California home is not well insulated, and we have all of the best insulation products to fix the problem.

Proper insulation is one of the most important investments you can make in your home to conserve energy and keep the interior of your home comfortable all year long. When installing new insulation in Northern California, you’ll have a wide range of options available, including rigid board insulation.

The most popular types of insulation across the country are generally batts or mats of soft insulation, but there are also fiberglass, cellulose and natural wool insulation materials that are popular alternatives. With rigid board insulation, you get hard, dense sheets of foam, typically polystyrene or polyurethane. The chemical structure of these substances is “closed cell,” which differs from many other insulation products that tend to be open cell.

The benefit of closed-cell insulation like rigid board is that it’s more durable and resistant to the elements. It also provides a greater R-value than open-cell insulation, meaning the insulation capacity is better for those types of products.

Expect most rigid foam products to come in 4’x 8’ sheets, with thicknesses ranging from 1/2” to 2”.

Situations in which rigid insulation is most beneficial

Wondering how rigid insulation is used in Northern California? Rigid board insulation can come in handy if you’re finishing a new section of a home, or doing a full remodel down to the studs. Rigid foam board is easily installed in between exposed studs, or along concrete walls in your basement. You can then install furring strips over the board to provide a secure base to finish the wall with drywall or other wall materials.

Rigid foam board is generally recommended for use against concrete walls, and is generally a better option than loose cellulose or fiberglass. Because concrete can seep moisture, open-cell insulation products like fiberglass could absorb that moisture through the concrete, resulting in a buildup of mold or mildew. You don’t have to worry about moisture affecting rigid boards, and thus won’t have to worry about potential mold or mildew problems forming behind your walls. Technically the foam is water resistant, not waterproof, so you don’t want it to be exposed to anything beyond normal basement and foundation moisture levels, but it should still offer more than enough protection for most people’s needs.

Of course, rigid foam board can be used in any other area of your home as well, though it’s generally recommended for external use or below-grade applications because of its natural moisture resistance. You can expect rigid foam insulation to last at least a century, meaning once it’s installed, you’ll never have to replace it.

The downside of rigid foam board is that it’s not particularly fire resistant in comparison to other insulation options, like mineral wool. But for the most part, you’ll find it to be an effective, reliable insulation option for most installation setups.

For more information about rigid insulation and the various other types of insulation available on the market in Northern California, we encourage you to contact the team at Ace Insulation Inc. with any questions. We’d be glad to tell you more about our products and services.

Homeowners less acquainted with the world of insulation might believe fiberglass batts and rolls are the only option. Little do they know, alternatives such as spray foam and mineral wool have greater insulation properties. A contractor in Northern California will introduce you to options that are best for your home, but for now, here’s what you need to know about the types of home insulation.

Rigid panels

Rigid panels are constructed with dense foam that’s cut to fit in between stud cavities, floor joists and rafters. The panels can have an R-value up to 6.5 and are one of the most effective insulation materials on the market. They’re also much more resistant to moisture than other materials, which makes them a good option for attics.

Foam boards are sometimes covered with a reflective barrier like aluminum foil to provide additional insulation. Unlike fibrous materials, foil deflects heat from the sun and is especially useful during Northern California summers. Reflective barriers work best in the attic.

Loose fill

This insulation method involves attaching a hose to a condensed bag of material and blowing it into a closed space. Loose-fill insulation is available in a variety of materials, which includes cheap and eco-friendly options. Unlike batts and rigid panels, loose-fill insulation has a tricky installation process and is best left to the professionals.

Though fiberglass is cheapest, consider insulating your attic with loose-fill cellulose. It has a higher R-value than fiberglass and is made from recycled paper products. Cellulose won’t mat down like fiberglass when it gets wet, and it can release moisture back into the air.

Batts and rolls

Batts and rolls are the easiest to install on your own and widely available in hardware stores across Northern California. They’re great for any room of the house that still has exposed stud cavities in the walls. All you have to do is cut the batting to size and adhere it to the wooden frame. Remember to put on gloves before handling fiberglass batts and rolls.

If you have a larger budget, go with mineral wool batts. Mineral wool is denser, which means it’s less prone to retaining water and losing its insulating properties. The batts and rolls have a higher R-value than fiberglass and will make your home more energy efficient.

Spray foam

Spray foam is one of the most important types of home insulation that you need to know about. It’s the perfect solution for sealing tiny gaps and works great alongside insulation that’s already in place. Closed-cell foam is super effective, yet costly, because its R-value of 6.2 is hard to beat. A professional can spray entire walls with closed-cell foam, but only if you’re prepared to shell out thousands more on top of the average installation price.

The types of insulation mentioned above are just a starting point. There are many other materials to choose from, each with their unique benefits and drawbacks. All the options can get overwhelming, but a knowledgeable expert from Ace Insulation Inc. can help you make an informed decision. Send us a quick message to get started!

Experienced home builders know the importance of installing quality insulation throughout a newly-built house. Properly installed insulation can reduce energy costs for the homeowner and ensure comfort throughout the year. There are a ton of different insulation options for homes in Northern California, some of which are better than others.

If you’re choosing which insulation is right for a new home, here are a few important things you should consider before buying.

• Maximize budget: In the insulation industry, the R-value is how a manufacturer measures how well a type of insulation reduces heat flow. The higher an insulation’s R-value, the better. However, products with a higher R-value tend to be more expensive. Talk to your client about their budget for insulation and find a product that can maximize their budget while still ensuring their home is comfortable and energy efficient.
• Minimize air leaks: Choosing insulation for home builders in Northern California is just the start of ensuring a home is adequately insulated. You also have to make sure it’s installed correctly! Unless you’re using spray foam insulation—which expands to fill every gap—you’ll want to seal all the insulation in walls and floors with caulk or house wrap. This practice will help ensure that air doesn’t slip through the cracks, making the home uncomfortable.
• Consider product settling: Loose-fill fiberglass and mineral wool insulation will both settle once they’re installed. Over time, this could mean they’re less-effective insulators than batts or spray foam insulation, neither of which settles. Talk to an insulation contractor about properly installing insulation to minimize any movement after the insulation is installed.
• Research UV stability: The sun’s ultraviolet rays don’t just give us sunburns when we’re outside—they can also affect a home’s insulation. Spray foam insulation could shrink due to UV rays and extreme summer temperatures. As you can imagine, any insulation shrinkage lowers its effectiveness. Although you should keep this in mind while choosing insulation for home builders in Northern California, don’t let the possibility of shrinkage alone deter you from picking spray foam insulation.
• Acoustic control: Insulation can also play a big factor in blocking external noises from disturbing residents in their own homes. If the property is near a busy street or located in an area that might be loud, consider spray foam insulation. Spray foam is a highly effective sound barrier and can block out even the loudest noises. Just make sure it’s installed properly for the best results.
• Moisture and mold: Mold and mildew growing and feeding on insulation is a big concern for a lot of homeowners. Spray foam insulation can help prevent against this. Since spray foam is made of an inert polymer, it can deter mold and mildew, even if it gets wet.

Don’t purchase your insulation from anyone but Ace Insulation, Inc. No other company in the area has a larger selection of insulation options for homes in Northern California than we do! Whether you’re a home builder constructing a new subdivision or a homeowner adding some extra insulation to your attic, we have just the product you need.