Category: Home Insulation

If you thought insulation is just important for blocking cold air during the winter months, think again! Home insulation in Northern California is crucial in all four seasons, but especially in the summertime, when you need to reduce heat transfer and remain comfortable inside. This post will teach you everything there is to know about heat transfer and insulation in the summertime:

• Lowers attic heat: The roof is where the majority of heat transfer starts in a home. The roof absorbs sunlight and outdoor heat and disperses it throughout the attic. If you’ve been in an unfinished attic in the middle of the summer, you’ve experienced this heat transfer firsthand! Adding more insulation in the attic or upgrading what you already have is the best way to stop heat transfer.
• Maintains home temperature: It’d be nice if that heat up in the attic would stay there, but that’s not how heat transfer works. That heat from the attic must go somewhere, and it typically radiates down into your living space. The best way to reduce heat transfer to your home and maintain a steady internal temperature is to add insulation to the flooring in your attic. Blown-in insulation is usually the preferred insulation type for this project.
• Reduces energy bills: If your house has better insulation up in the attic, your AC unit won’t have to work as hard to cool your living space. If your AC isn’t working as hard, it won’t suck up as much energy. Adding insulation could save you hundreds of dollars on your heating and cooling costs throughout the year, and it can be a DIY project in some situations.

What should be done?

There’s no reason to live in an uncomfortably hot home or pay outrageous energy bills during the summer. Nip those problems in the bud by following these steps:

• Get an energy audit: The first step in the process of lowering the temperature and reducing heat transfer is getting an energy audit. A professional energy audit will determine where the weak spots are in your home and help us come up with a plan to fix them.
• Add more insulation: If your energy audit determines that your home is under-insulated, adding home insulation in Northern California is a no-brainer. Talk to the professionals at Ace Insulation Inc. today about how adding insulation is a fast and affordable way to stay cool and save a ton of money this summer.
• Consider upgrading your insulation: You might also want to upgrade your current insulation if what you already have is outdated. New spray foam insulation is much more effective than fiberglass—you could save 40 percent on your energy costs by switching today.

With summer heat on its way, there’s never been a better time to add or upgrade your home insulation in Northern California! Whether you’re looking to improve your attic insulation with spray foam or bolster what you currently have, our team at Ace Insulation Inc. can get the job done. Get in touch today to schedule an appointment.

When most people think of home insulation in Northern California, it’s safe to assume they think it just protects them from harsh winter weather. However, that’s not the case—insulation works 24/7, 365 days a year to keep homes comfortable while lowering energy bills. Keep reading to learn more about how your home’s insulation works during the steamy summer months:

• Retains cool air: You may not notice it, but interior air leaks out through your walls and ceiling throughout the summer. Insulation is your top defense against this air leakage, which makes your home less comfortable and is a huge waste of energy.
• Diminishes heat gain: While the insulation works to keep conditioned air in, it’s also ensuring that hot air stays out. Though some types of siding and roof tiles can reduce heat gain from outside, insulation is the best defender. Proper insulation throughout your home, and particularly up in the attic, blocks a ton of heat from creeping in.
• Reduces AC unit strain: The less your AC unit has to work during the summer to cool your home, the better. An AC system in an under-insulated house is more likely to break down sooner, as it constantly has to cycle on and off to cool the space. Updating your insulation can prevent these breakdowns and prolong the lifespan of your unit.

Where should insulation be added?

Adding more home insulation in Northern California is the key to lower energy bills and a more comfortable living space. Here are the key places to add insulation this spring:

• Attic: Your roof is responsible for most of the heat gain during the summer, so the attic is the top place you’ll want to add insulation. Blown-in insulation is a fine choice for the attic, but upgrading to spray foam insulation could save you big bucks during the summer months.
• Exterior walls: All exterior walls should already have insulation in them, but there’s not always enough insulation to keep a home comfortable and energy efficient. We recommend having an energy audit performed to determine which walls could benefit from some extra coverage.
• Garage: We find that many garages are under-insulated or don’t have any insulation at all. That’s not good! An attached garage should have just as much insulation as the rest of the home to further diminish heat gain during the summer.

Other ways to reduce interior heat this summer

Though bolstering your insulation is the best way to keep your home cool and lower your energy costs, it’s not all you can do. Opening windows and turning on ceiling fans improves air circulation throughout your house. Better airflow lowers the temperature without running the AC and racking up high energy bills.

Whether you’re a current homeowner looking to add more home insulation in Northern California or a builder working on a project, Ace Insulation Inc. is the team to call for your insulation needs. We offer a wide range of insulation services that are sure to meet your needs and fit within your budget.

You generally can’t see your wall and ceiling insulation, unless you’re up in the attic. Insulation is out of sight, so you might not give it much thought, unlike the condition of your doors, windows or floors, since you can see these features. But there are other factors aside from insulation material that play a role in how well your house is insulated against the elements. Come winter, you may notice cold drafts or your heater seemingly not warming up your home as it did in winters past. Your personal comfort is important, and high heating bills are no one’s idea of a good time.

Having adequate home insulation in Northern California is not the only way to insulate the inside of your house from cold winter temperatures. Here are some top tips and DIY suggestions to help you stay warm this season:

• Maintain your HVAC: In order for your heater and air conditioner to function properly, you need to change the air filter at least once a month or according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. This is especially important during the heavy-use winter months. A clean filter improves indoor air quality while keeping your HVAC system running efficiently. Move furniture away from vents to maximize airflow.
• Insulate your attic: Make sure your attic is insulated well this winter. Although this can be a pricier home improvement, it’s worth it for the sake of year-round comfort. And you have options in terms of both materials and installation services. If you choose a type of roll sheet insulation, you can install it yourself. Or, hire a qualified installation technician to add this or another material of your choosing. Having quality insulation in your attic provides maximum protection to keep the heat in your house.
• Hang thicker curtains: Drafty windows will make any room uncomfortable to be in, especially on cold winter nights. To avoid drafts, swap out your lighter curtains for a more heavy-duty window treatment option. Use either heavier drapes or solar/cellular shades to keep the warm air in and cold air out, and remember that they need to be closed to work. Pick something that matches the style of your home’s décor, or opt for a simpler, more neutral and universal option.
• Evaluate temperature zones: If you home has more than one heating zone, keep in mind that they don’t all have to be programmed to the same setting. Adjust each thermostat based on how much time you spend in a room or level of your home. Turn off or lower the temperature in unoccupied or infrequently-used heating zones. Another tip is to close doors to less-used rooms to keep the warmth circulating where you need it most.
• Replace weather-stripping: Go around and check the weather-stripping on all your home’s windows and exterior-facing doors. If seals are worse for wear, replace them. These are components that helps keep cold air out and warm air in.

When you need to add extra home insulation in Northern California, you can count on the expertise of the professional technicians at Ace Insulation Inc. Call us today to schedule an appointment!

It’s important for every homeowner to take stock of preventative home maintenance needs at least a few times a year. Every season can bring new weather-related challenges your way, but be prepared and things will be fine. Consider your home insulation, for example—insulation can refer to more than just the materials placed inside walls and attics to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. It’s also possible to insulate your house against the weather in other ways.

With this in mind, here are some tips to help improve the insulation in your Northern California home this fall:

• Check the insulation: Chances are, your home is insulated, but you should have it checked periodically. Sufficient insulation is important for anyone wanting to maintain an energy-efficient home. After all, insulation is your first line of defense against extreme outdoor conditions. Insufficient insulation or compromised areas within the insulation can negatively impact the integrity of the home’s structure, which can lead to costly home repair needs. As a homeowner, you might consider installing new insulation in the attic and elsewhere to keep energy costs down.
• Check for air leaks: It’s worth the time it takes to evaluate your home for air leaks. Checking the windows, door frames, attic, basement, exposed pipes and other features at risk for air leaks is one of the best things you can do to help identify areas in need of sealing or insulating. Ultimately, a properly sealed home contributes to both insulation and HVAC efficiency.
• Replace weather stripping: The windows and exterior facing doors of your home should have blemish free weather stripping around them. If the weather stripping is damaged or missing, you will feel drafts seeping in this fall and winter. These protective seals are inexpensive insulation solutions that will keep cold air out and warm air in.
• Seal and insulate ductwork: Whether your ducts are new or old, have them tested for leaks. Sealing ducts can boost indoor comfort during the cooler months and increase the efficiency of your furnace, saving you money on energy bills. Insulating ductwork is another step to prevent leaks. Ductwork insulation in Northern California is available in blankets and sleeves for easy wrapping.
• Upgrade windows: Take a look at your home’s windows and note which ones are made with single-pane glass. During fall, windows with this older glass will let cold air enter and warm air escape. If your budget allows, consider investing in a window upgrade to more energy-efficient double- or triple-pane glass. Keep in mind that the quality of the window installation is just as important as the type of new windows you choose.
• Hang curtains: Hanging heavy curtains is another way to insulate your home this fall. Curtains act as an extra layer of defense against cold air drafts. You can also install cellular shades that insulate windows and filter sunlight to keep your home warmer during the day.

For more information about your choices for home insulation in Northern California, contact the team at Ace Insulation Inc. Reach out to us today to speak with a knowledgeable insulation expert!

If you’re hoping to remove the insulation at your home or commercial property, you might be tempted to handle the job yourself. After all, you’re not planning on replacing the insulation on your own—you’re just attempting to get the old stuff out of the way.

Unfortunately, attempting to remove insulation on your own often represents a grave miscalculation on the part of home and business owners. Many types of insulation degrade over time, and can potentially become dangerous during the removal process. Additionally, failure to remove insulation correctly could damage the parts of your home that the insulation is anchored to, like drywall and support studs.

Rather than attempting to remove insulation on your own, you should instead call for the assistance of a company specializing in insulation in Northern California. Insulation professionals possess the equipment and protective gear necessary to safely remove insulation from your home or place of business.

Here are just some of the many reasons you should look to a qualified professional when it comes time to remove insulation from your living space or commercial building:

• It’s messy: Before attempting to remove insulation from your home, you should know that it’s a messy endeavor. Most older forms of insulation are fiberglass based, and over time, fiberglass decays and corrodes. It will eventually become a dusty, heavily-corroded substance that’s difficult to fully remove even under the best of circumstances.
• Mold potential: If you’ve ever had a leaky roof or pipe in your home’s attic, there’s a good chance that it got your insulation wet. While this may seem like a relatively minor problem, there’s a high likelihood that it actually caused mold to propagate inside your home’s insulation. Many types of mold are toxic, and require a professional hand to remove.
• Expert opinions: When you’re working with a trusted insulation expert, you can count on them to provide you with their highly knowledgeable opinions. For example, they might be able to help you spot areas of the attic or internal structure that are heavily damaged.
• Speed and efficiency: If you try and remove your old insulation on your own, you might quickly find out that you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. Often, removing insulation becomes far more challenging than it initially appeared because the insulation has degraded so significantly.
• Professional gear: From special removal tools to eye protection and face masks, insulation removal experts possess a range of professional tools that help them safely, quickly and effectively get rid of old insulation. They’ll also have the resources necessary to properly dispose of the old insulation.

Since 2011, Ace Insulation Inc. has been a premier provider of services relating to insulation in Northern California. Our highly skilled professional insulation experts offer exceptional services at an affordable price. Headquartered in Petaluma, we can come to your home and remove old insulation and install new, fresh insulation in your living space or place of business. If you’re looking for a friendly partner to help you remove insulation from your home or business, reach out to one of our friendly representatives.