Category: Insulation Service

If you’re in the process of buying a home, you’ve probably already found yourself immersed in a sea of questions and variables. How much square footage do you need? Are there good schools in the area? Do you go for a move-in-ready home or a fixer-upper? Unfortunately, what a lot of home buyers forget to take into consideration when choosing a home is the home’s insulation.

Energy costs, on average, make up about 25 percent of the monthly cost of running a home, and that includes your mortgage payment and homeowner’s insurance. If you purchase a home that is poorly insulated, you may find yourself spending upwards of $1,500 per year on heating and cooling. To help you save money up front and later down the road, here’s a home buyer’s guide to insulation from your local insulation service in Petaluma, CA.

What should you ask about the home’s insulation?

When looking at homes, here are a few questions you should ask to help give you an idea of how well the home is insulated:

• When was the home built?
• Has new insulation been installed since the home was built?
• What type of insulation is used in the home?
• Is it possible to review gas and electric bills for the home?

Once you get a clearer idea of what state the home’s insulation is in, you can better gauge the value of purchasing the home.

Does the home have fiberglass insulation?

Fiberglass insulation is most commonly found in older homes because it is an old technology. Fiberglass tends to settle and break down over the years, resulting in a decreased R-value (the capacity of an insulating material to resist heat flow). If the home has fiberglass insulation, the insulation will most likely need to be replaced. Even if the fiberglass insulation does not need to be replaced immediately upon purchasing the home, it’s important that you keep in mind that it will need to be replaced later down the road.

Does the home have cellulose insulation?

Cellulose is better than fiberglass and has a higher R-value up front, but like fiberglass it tends to settle and shift over time, which means it needs to be maintained. Another issue with cellulose is that, as a loose fill insulation, it tends to filter throughout the home through ductwork, fixtures and walls.

Does the home have spray foam insulation?

Spray foam insulation is the best option for home insulation. Spray foam has the highest R-value, and does not break down the way fiberglass and cellulose insulation does. Spray foam is also Class 1 fire rated, which means it won’t serve as a catalyst if there were a fire, and it doesn’t retain water that will promote mold and mildew growth.

If you are in the process of buying a home or recently bought a home and have questions about the quality of the insulation, talk to the experts at Ace Insulation Inc. As your local insulation service in Petaluma, CA, we’ll be happy to help answer any questions you may have.

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!

Summer is quickly approaching, and it is sure to be another warm one here in California. During the months of June, July and August, most Petaluma residents consider their home air conditioner to be their very best friend. But overusing your AC can drive up your utility bills, and may even cause your unit to break down.

To avoid this fate, many smart homeowners look at a variety of different ways to stay cooler during the summer without overworking their air conditioners. As an insulation service in Petaluma, CA, the team at Ace Insulation Inc. wants to help. To that end, here are six tips for beating the heat this summer without killing your AC:

• Use fans: Air conditioners create cold air, but fans are what circulate that cold air throughout each room. If you do not have ceiling fans, consider installing some, or at least buying a few freestanding or desk fans for rooms that see a lot of traffic in your home.
• Take advantage of shade: Keeping your blinds down during those few peak hours of afternoon heat can help keep the worst of the summer warmth out of your home. If you are also looking for more long-term solutions, consider planting a few trees on your property to provide natural shade and cooler temperatures.
• Eat cooler meals: Choosing to cook and eat cooler meals, such as salads or chilled soups, helps your AC in two key ways: it keeps you from turning on the stove and oven, and it keeps your body temperature nice and cool. Eating cooler meals is also often a healthier choice, so long as you don’t just have ice cream for dinner.
• Get out of the house: During those record heat days, it can be tempting to stay at home all day with the AC cranked up all the way. But getting out for even a few hours gives your air conditioner a chance to rest, just as long as you remember to turn it down before you leave. Try bringing your whole family somewhere with ample AC, such as a movie theater, mall or restaurant.
• Have your AC serviced: If you want to make sure your AC continues to be up to the task for many more summers to come, you need to invest in routine maintenance. Have a fully certified HVAC professional come to your home at least once or twice a year for standard service.
• Invest in insulation: All of the above tips are great, but one of the most effective solutions for beating summer heat is having new insulation installed in your home. Whether your house is fairly new or over 100 years old, your insulation service in Petaluma, CA can provide affordable insulation to keep the hot air out, and keep the cool air inside.

Ace Insulation Inc. is proud to be a locally owned and operated insulation service in Petaluma, CA. Get in touch today to learn more about how we can help you stay cool this summer.

If you are a homeowner or business owner, you probably already know the basics of insulation: it keeps your building more energy efficient, it helps with temperature fluctuation and it can even improve air quality. But you might not be aware of just how effective insulation is, or where the concept even came from.

Here at Ace Insulation Inc., we are passionate about what we do, and we love sharing our passion with our customers. Here are a few interesting scientific and historical facts we have learned about insulation in Petaluma, CA over the years:

• Insulation was first invented in the Middle Ages, which took place between the 5^th and 15^th People lined the walls of their homes with mud, dirt and straw to help stay warm during the winter.
• Asbestos insulation was first created by the ancient Greeks, who were looking for a safer alternative to mud and straw. The word “asbestos” means “inextinguishable.” After finding out the harmful effects of asbestos in the 1970s, insulation services switched to using fiberglass and other, safer materials.
• Like many great inventions, fiberglass was originally created on accident. A young scientist was trying to make a vacuum seal between two pieces of glass, and tested his work with a high-pressure air jet. The air created fibers in the glass.
• Today, insulation is touted for being energy efficient. In fact, insulation is over 600 times more effective than other energy efficiency products, such as compact fluorescent lights, Energy Star windows and Energy Star appliances.
• Insulation is measured in “R value” meaning resistance to the flow of heat. The higher a particular insulation’s R value is, the more effective it will be in insulating your home.
• There are over 10 different materials currently being used for insulating purposes today. These insulation materials include but are not limited to the following: spray foam, blown fiberglass, cellulose, injection foam and many more.
• A home with proper insulation uses, on average, 42 percent less energy than a similar home without proper insulation. That energy savings translates to lower utility bills for property owners.
• Insulation does not only protect your home or business from harsh weather and excess energy use. It also reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in your air supply. In fact, it is estimated that insulation cuts down on 780 tons of carbon dioxide each year.
• If you do not have insulation in your attic, your home could be losing up to 60 percent of its energy everyday.

The more you learn about insulation, the easier it is to see that this crucial material plays a big role in keeping your property safe, comfortable and affordable to maintain. From the Ancient Greeks and the Middle Ages to the present day, insulation has always been a useful and necessary innovation.

If you are in need of new insulation in Petaluma, CA, please get in touch with Ace Insulation Inc. today. We look forward to making your home or business more energy efficient.

Anything that involves money can be touchy. We search for the best prices and want the best-looking products, but oftentimes we forget there are other important aspects that must go into our purchasing decisions. This is especially the case when it comes to hiring services. When you choose Ace Insulation Inc. for home or commercial insulation service in Petaluma, CA, you get the top-notch qualities we all want to see in a home maintenance company:

• Provides skilled services: When it comes to your home, you don’t want just anyone working on it or in it. Not only does every home service come with the possibility of getting a poseur moonlighting as a professional, but you run the risk of letting a downright creep into your house. Our team is not just composed of real, knowledgeable professionals who know insulation inside and out. We are also friendly and sincere.
• Offers quality products: The word “quality” is easy enough to use as a descriptor, but it doesn’t mean much if the product is not actually of high quality. Unlike so many companies in the industry, we only use the best materials because we know that long after we leave, your home needs to stand up to the tests of time and the elements. While you could go with another company that uses other products, our insulation options offer quality that’s hard to beat and that won’t let you down in hot or cold weather.
• Offers insulation expertise: Just like the big appliances you choose for your kitchen, there are different options when it comes to your insulation. Spray foam, roll-in and loose-fill insulations have different properties and excel in different environments for different situations. Luckily for you, we know what works in particular circumstances and conditions, and can have your home or business up to snuff in no time.
• Charges reasonable rates: Shopping around for the best service rates should also be combined with a business’ good reputation. If you’ve been looking for insulation service in Petaluma, CA in recent years, you’ve likely come across some ridiculously high prices, as well as some unbelievably low ones. In either case, you are more likely to end up feeling like you’ve been ripped off. Our pricing is not only reasonable, but unlike some companies in the industry, we also stand behind our work.
• Strives for customer trust and satisfaction: At the end of the day—whether we are rolling in new attic insulation or spraying foam insulation in the walls of a new home addition—you will be the one spending the most time where we do our work. Unlike some of the fly-by-night contractors out there, at Ace Insulation Inc., we want you to be completely satisfied with the work we do. From start to finish, our team will work with you to make sure you are totally happy.

Whether it’s a necessary replacement or a new installation, insulation requires proper handling if it’s going to be efficient. If you are in need of quality insulation service in Petaluma, CA, contact the team at Ace Insulation Inc. today—you will be getting the best team in the business!