Category: save money

Why Your Home Needs Crawl Space Insulation

Posted by alanna stosic on

Crawl Space InsulationYou may not give much thought to insulating your crawl space. But high humidity in soil makes crawl spaces susceptible to moisture and deterioration. The humidity causes the crawl space to become damp and this environment can attract mold, dust and dirt, rodents and insects. This unhealthy environment in your crawl space directly affects your home and family. Since air flows from the ground upward, the moist air from your crawl space and all the contaminants flow up into your living space.

Benefits of insulating your crawl space:

  • Increased comfort – The temperature in your crawl space will be regulated so you will have less drafts and cold spots in the rooms above your crawl space.
  • Better air quality – The air you breathe will be cleaner because it will contain less pollutants.
  • Energy savings – With proper insulation in your crawl space, your HVAC system will be able to work less to regulate the air in your home.
  • Money savings – Because your heating and cooling system will be more efficient, your energy usage will be decreased, saving you money on your monthly bills.

Insulating and sealing your crawl space is important for the health of your home and family. Contact us to schedule your crawl space estimate.

Five Summer Energy Tips

Posted by alanna stosic on

Have uncomfortable summer temperatures taken a toll on your energy bills? If summer heat has taken the fun out of your summer – and money out of your wallet – here are five things you can do to ease the pinch:

  • Run Ceiling Fans. Keep your ceiling fans running to circulate conditioned air. This can also increase comfort by keeping the air moving in the home.
  • Seal Air Leaks. All homes have air leaks as a result of the construction process. Air leaks allow conditioned inside air to escape, causing your cooling system to run more often. Having your home air sealed by a qualified contractor will help ensure the job is done right the first time.
  • Run Bath Fans. Running your bath fan after showers will help remove warm, humid air. By adding a timer to your bath fan, you can schedule it to run on a daily basis to continually move stale, warm air out of the house.
  • Adjust Your Thermostat. If your home has a programmable thermostat, check it. Can you turn it up a degree or two during the day? Increasing the temperature in your home during the day when there are fewer people at home can provide some relief in your energy bills.
  • Increase Attic Insulation. Many homes don’t have enough attic insulation. Even newer homes may have attic insulation that does not meet current codes. Contact a qualified contractor to have insulation added to your attic. Increasing your attic insulation can save up to 30% on your energy bills!

If summer temperatures have made your home uncomfortable, it’s time to do something about it. If you’d like us to check your attic insulation level or talk with you about air sealing, give us a call to schedule your free estimate.

Beat Summer Heat – Insulate!

Posted by alanna stosic on

Beat Summer Heat with Wall Insulation in Charlotte, NCWhen warm summer weather arrives, most homeowners think about painting, landscaping and other outdoor projects. Upgrading home insulation is one of the last things that come to mind. Although insulation is commonly associated with cold weather, the thermal barrier it creates is just as important during hot summer weather.

When the weather is hot, the sun heats the surface of your roof. This heat transfers to the air inside your attic. At the same time your attic is heating up, your air conditioning system is working overtime to manage the indoor temperature. In an attempt to create a temperature balance, hot attic air moves into your home’s cooled living space. This in turn heats your home’s inside temperature, requiring your cooling system to work even harder.

This same situation applies to wall insulation. When exterior walls are heated by the hot summer sun, the temperature inside the wall cavity increases. This warm air will attempt to create a balance by moving into your home’s living space. Adding wall insulation helps reduce this heat transfer to keep your home comfortable.

When a home is properly insulated and air sealed, warm air stays out of your living space. This means your cooling system runs less often, reducing your monthly energy bills. Let’s not forget – upgrading insulation will keep your home comfortable all year. This one investment will pay you back month after month!

Not sure if your insulation is doing its job? Contact our office. We are happy to answer your questions and schedule a free estimate.

 

Three Ways Home Technology Pays Off

Posted by alanna stosic on

Today’s home technology puts control of basic home systems at a homeowner’s fingertips. Through a smartphone app or a centralized unit located inside the home, the homeowner can manage a variety of home functions including lighting, home security, and even the home’s heating and cooling system.

Adding home technology has several benefits. Here are just a few to consider:

  • Energy and Cost Savings
    Home technology can help save on monthly energy bills by reducing home energy use. Home technology can turn off power to appliances and electronics when they are not in use such as during the work or school day when the home is empty. This reduces “down time” energy draw and delivers power only when necessary. These savings can be noticed as soon as your first energy bill. Apps like LG’s ThinQ take saving energy a step further by connecting to smart grids to identify the times when energy demand is low. It then notifies homeowners of better times to use energy for routine household chores such as doing laundry or charging an electric car.
  • Convenience
    Have you ever left your house and wondered if you’ve adjusted the temperature? Smart thermostats can tell you what’s happening in your home at any time. Some smart thermostats like Nest can automate home heating and cooling by learning your home’s occupancy and energy patterns to maximize comfort when you are home and energy savings when you are not.
  • Comfort
    Home technology allows you to adjust your home’s interior environment before you arrive. With the touch of a button, you can adjust interior lights, your heating system, and more to ensure your home is at your desired comfort level the moment you walk in the door.

Adding home technology to your home and lifestyle can have many benefits! Check out the links above to learn more about these options.