Month: November 2017

Why Insulate & Seal Your Crawl Space Before Winter?

Posted by alanna stosic on

If your home is built on a crawl space, you know firsthand the challenges it can cause. Moisture in a crawl space can cause a host of problems. A damp crawl space is an ideal living space for pests, can cause odor inside the home and can compromise the structure of your home. Insulating your crawl space can dramatically improve your home’s comfort, can help reduce your energy bills and improve the quality of air inside your home.

Don’t wait until summer to insulate and air seal your crawl space! Here are three reasons to insulate your crawl space before winter:

  1. Improved air quality
    Crawl spaces are naturally damp. As your home breathes, air from your crawl space flows into your home’s living space through penetration points around wiring, plumbing holes and more. This means the air in your crawl space is mingling with the air you breathe every day. Not only is this distasteful, it’s also unhealthy. Air sealing and insulating your crawl space will improve the air quality will help keep pollutants out of your home.
  2. Lower energy bills
    Does your furnace run more than you would like during the winter months? This can be in part from damp, cool air from your crawl space being drawn into your home. This air then has to be heated to your comfort level, requiring additional effort for your HVAC system – and additional energy use. Sealing your crawl space will help keep winter energy bills in line and help your HVAC system maintain a longer life.
  3. A more comfortable home
    An unfinished crawl space affects your home’s everyday comfort. Are your floors cool during winter? Is your main living area cooler than the upper level of your home? Sealing and insulating your crawl space can help moderate the temperature in your crawl space and keep cool air away from your floors.

Crawl space problems don’t go away, but they can be corrected! Don’t let another season go by with a damp crawl space. Contact our office with your crawl space questions or to schedule a free crawl space estimate.

 

3 Best Ways to Insulate Your Attic

Posted by alanna stosic on

Ways to Insulate Your AtticWhen it comes to upgrading insulation in a home, the first area that comes to mind is the attic. Do you know why insulation in an attic is an important part of your home’s overall insulation system? Buildings have a natural airflow that draws inside air up and out. Adding insulation and sealing air leaks in an attic helps heated air stay inside your home. It also stops your HVAC system from running unnecessarily and helps keep energy bills in line.There are three ways to insulate your attic – adding blown fiberglass, air sealing and insulating with fiberglass or insulating with spray foam.

  • Adding blown fiberglass insulation to an existing attic increases R-value by adding a fresh blanket of insulating protection to your home. This is a basic method of upgrading attic insulation and a cost-effective option.
  • Sealing air leaks and upgrading insulation dramatically improves home energy efficiency. In an existing home, attic insulation is removed and penetration points around the attic floor are sealed. After air sealing is complete, a fresh blanket of blown fiberglass insulation is installed. In a new home, penetration points around the attic floor are sealed before insulation is installed.
  • Installing spray foam insulation in an existing attic or the attic of a new home can optimize energy protection. Insulation is removed from the attic of an existing home and spray foam is installed along the roofline. This creates a thermal barrier along the attic ceiling to allow for storage along the attic floor. Spray foam insulation can be installed along the roofline of a new home as part of the construction process.

Adding insulation to your attic is one of the most cost-effective ways to save money on your energy bills each month. Wondering if your home could benefit from additional attic insulation? Contact us for a free estimate.