Cut Energy Bills by Insulating Your Home

No one denies the multiple benefits that Insulation brings to your home. It offers more fire protection, is a significant noise level reduction, and can help you make your house warmer or colder. Let’s see how you can cut energy bills by insulating your home, and let’s save money in all the seasons.

Why does Insulation Help to Cut Energy Bills?

Insulation traps little pockets of air, so it slows down the movement of heat out of your during winter, making the house warmer, and into the home during summer, making the house colder. Therefore, if you have proper insulation installed, you spend much less on A/C and heater. The R-Value is an essential measure since it shows how well the insulation does this cut. The higher the number, the better.

Roof and Loft Insulation

A house can lose up to 25% of heat through the roof without insulation, so installing a loft and roof insulation is a fantastic way to lower your heating bills. The loft insulation will pay for itself many times during its 40-year lifetime if properly installed.

The loft insulation is a good choice if your loft has no condensation or damp problems and is easy to access. Before choosing to do this insulation, think about the storage space, ventilation, if your roof is flat or not, etc. Consider the details.

Cavity Wall Insulation

A third of all the heat lost in a house without Insulation escapes through the walls, so having wall insulation is a great way to reduce energy bills. However, there are some different types of walls. The U.S is famous for its cavity walls, built mainly after the 1920s.

The cavity wall insulation is usually made by injecting the insulation material into the cavity from the outside. Fundamentally, a specialist insulation professional does this process since it must be done correctly to reduce the energy cost.

Solid Wall Insulation

Solid walls are a part of many residences around the world. The process of installing insulation in it is different from the process on a cavity wall, and it is even harder, so please remember to hire a professional when it comes to solid wall insulation. It is also easier to install it when you already have some building or decorating work since it helps save some money.

When the matter is solid wall insulation, you must choose between the internal and the external type. Each one has benefits and negative aspects, so choose carefully.

Floor Insulation

The floor insulation is very famous, and it is one of the best types if you want to reduce noise levels. It can save a lot of money in a year, and while it makes your house warmer, it also reduces draughts. However, there are some details that you need to think about before installing it, like the type of floor that you have.

Ottawa Insulation is the professional help you have been looking for all this time. Our local company is an insulation specialist, and it offers all types of insulation. Go to our website and request a quote right now.

Where to Insulate in a Home?

Insulation is helpful for a lot of things, such as energy-saving, thermal management, more comfort, etc. However, it is sometimes hard to know exactly where to insulate in a home, especially if it is your first time doing so. Many places are fitted, but which one should you choose? Let’s learn more about insulation and its benefits.

Basements

Insulation can bring warmth to unfinished or chilly basements, so it is a good choice of place. Also, insulation helps to protect the area from moisture, which is something common in basements. Therefore, you won’t be dealing with pests or mold by adding insulation. It also helps you save money since your cooling and heating system won’t work as hard as it would if you didn’t have insulation.

Attics and Flat Ceilings

Attic insulation is probably one of the most common types of insulation, especially the attic’s floor. It helps to keep the entire house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Besides, it avoids the heat escaping through your roof and the cool outside air flowing into your home.

Mineral wool batts or fiberglass are commonly used for flat ceilings and attics’ insulation. Remember that the insulation must have the proper amount and minimum thickness to achieve the correct R-value.

Floors and Crawl Spaces

Some floors are commonly overlooked, such as porches and garages floors. Floor insulation helps a lot with sound transmission and also with the heat and cool during seasons. Insulated floors are great to eliminate drafts and to reduce moisture, which is a problem that affects so many houses. If you live in a loud home or near a noisy neighborhood, you should install insulation on all floors.

Interior Walls

All walls are a proper place for insulation, especially interior walls. Most people have insulation to help with their comfort, and wall insulation is essential to achieve that. The air generally escapes through walls, which can lead to drafts. With insulation, you can create an effective barrier between the interior of your house and the outside space. It also provides a lot more privacy to your and your family, for the most part when it comes to sounds.

Ductwork

Ductwork is probably the place most overlooked for insulation, and many don’t even know that insulation is possible in the ductwork. Fiberglass duct board, duct liner, and duct wrap are standard insulation products when it comes to ductwork. It helps with sound control, thermal management, and controlling condensation.

Ottawa Insulation is the right choice for those seeking to install home insulation. Being a local Ottawa business, the company offers eco-friendly insulation solutions to all types of buildings. They help you reduce annual energy costs by 30% to 50% and only have trained and experienced employees.

Some of the available services are attic insulation, insulation removal, blow-in insulation, floor insulation, spray foam insulation, mold removal, etc. Click here to get a free estimate and get your house insulated right no

What You Need to Know About Home Insulation

Proper insulation is one of the most important things to have in a house. It provides a lot of comforts, besides helping you to save money. Insulation brings several benefits that you must know before installing it. See what you need to know about home insulation.

Benefits Insulation Brings

The insulation benefit that everyone talks about is related to temperature. The heat flows from all heated places to adjacent unheated spaces during winters. However, during summers, the heat flows from the outside, where it is hotter, to the inside of your house, where it is colder.

By installing insulation, you block this phenomenon. Therefore, you will keep the heat inside your house during winter and keep your home cool during summer. A barrier is created between your house and the exterior.

Since the temperatures in your house will become more stable once you have insulation, you won’t need to spend much energy on A/C or heaters. Insulation is a great money saver, and it pays itself quickly. If you live somewhere noisy, insulation can block the noise from coming into your house.

How to See if your Home is in Poorly Insulated

There are some ways to see if your home is poorly insulated. For example, if you keep paying high energy bills because of the heaters and A/C, or if you have uneven heating, you probably should check your insulation and hire a specialist. Ineffective cooling and cold floor and walls during winter are other common signs.

Different Types of Insulation

Several types of insulation are available, and each one is good for a specific purpose, so you should think carefully about which one is better for your house. Fiberglass, cellulose, mineral fiber, spray foam, and rigid foam are the most common nowadays. If it is possible, avoid paper-faced insulation.

Also, see which places in your house you need insulation. Some of the better places to have insulation are all walls, all floors, the attic, and the basement.

Eco-Friendly insulation

Eco-friendly insulation is becoming more essential each day. Blow-in cellulose insulation is the most used in this case, made from recycled materials. It is the perfect option for those who want eco-friendly insulation, but some other options may be available depending on your company.

Which Insulation Option is Better for Your home?

Consider if your project deals with finished or unfinished walls, and find out the R-value required for your house. Your budget is also an essential thing to take into consideration before installing insulation.

Ottawa Insulation is an insulation company perfect for all needs. Many services are available, such as mold removal, insulation removal, blow-in insulation, floor insulation, spray foam insulation, attic insulation, and more. They are eco-friendly and have over 25 years of experience.

All information about their services and materials is available on their website. Click here to do a free estimate.

Home Energy Saving tips

Save energy is essential nowadays for a number of reasons. To be eco-friendly, to save money… name it. Luckily, there are many easy ways to save energy that can be incorporated into your daily life. Be your home new or old, you will be able to save a lot of energy. Find out some of the best home energy-saving tips.

Use LED Lighting

According to the US Department of energy, lighting accounts is around 10% of your electric bill. Therefore, it is an important part of your energy cost. To be more eco-friendly and save more energy, switch all your lights to LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) lamps. They instantly reduce consumption of electricity and are way more efficient.

Yes, they may be a little more expensive, but they spare you a lot of money, and last longer (usually 25k hours). Most governments and Department of Energy around the world advices the use of LEDs, including the US.

Review your Heating and Cooling

Many people don’t clean their heating and cooling equipment. The annual professional check-up of this equipment is very important since they must be working well to be efficient. If they are dirty or broken, they will spend a lot of unnecessary energy, and you will need them to work longer to achieve the needed temperature.

When you are not home, turn off your air conditioner and heater, if possible. That saves a lot of money per year.

Unplug Unused Electronics

Several electronics have lights that are on all the time, even when you are not using them. To avoid the waste of energy, it is recommended to unplug them while you are not using them.

Hang Dry Your Laundry

If you live in a house or in an apartment that allows you to hang dry your laundry, do it. It is best for your clothes and also for your pocket. It costs nothing, and it is an efficient way of avoiding using a dryer, which uses a lot of energy. Wash full loads of laundry, and use cold water.

Have Good Electronics

This tip is good for you to think about your electronics and equipment. Many old electronics waste a lot of energy and, overall, cost more than buying a good and efficient new electronic. Consider changing your refrigerator, washer, computer, TV, and more, when possible.

Besides buying new electronics, you should always check their condition and keep them clean to avoid them getting broken or similar.

Install Insulation

Insulation is one of the best home investments you can make. It brings several benefits, such as keeping your house warm during winter and cool during summers, which helps you to save a lot of money. It also makes the external sounds less noisy and helps to keep bad moisture all over your home.

Ottawa Insulation is a company that specialized in insulation. They offer many services, such as attic insulation, blow-in insulation, floor insulation, mold removal, insulation removal, spray foam insulation, and more. With more than 25 years of experience, all of their materials are eco-friendly.

Click here to do a free estimate and find out how much costs to install insulation in your home. Start saving energy and money right now.

Attic Renovation Tips

Renovating an attic can be a hard thing to do since there are so many options of what to do with it. It is overwhelming, but the result is worth the effort. A new space in the house is always appreciated, and it can help improve your life quality. Here are some attic renovation tips to get the best attic possible.

Be sure that it is safe

Enforcement varies, but you must ensure that your attic supports the extra weight you want to put in it. Hire an engineer. This is essential if you want to make sure that your attic is safe and, therefore, your house integrity is secure as well. Overall, most codes say that half of a finished attic must be at least 7 feet high and have 70 square feet, a minimum of 7 feet wide.

Be aware of where you are installing the new bathroom

If you think of installing a new bathroom, site it above a kitchen or a bath to minimize the distance between the new plumbing and the existing one. That will allow you to reduce costs and limit the damage inflicted on your walls.

Sometimes it is possible to tie new pipes to old ones, but the best is to run the attic’s supply and drain lines to the basement. If possible, you should hire a professional to help you with this process.

Install a ceiling fan

Instead of having A/C, you can install a ceiling fan. It helps to keep the area cooler during summer and hotter during winter, and it is less expensive. Since it is a ceiling fan, it doesn’t occupy as much space as a regular fan.

Use natural light

The attic has the benefit of being higher than the rest of your house. Therefore, enjoy the natural light that the room has, and avoid using artificial light until it is late. Think of the natural light while building it to prioritize windows and more.

Build proper access

You must build proper access to your new room. For example, if you are going to make a bedroom, you must think about the staircase, since the building standard requires a regular one. However, it takes a lot of space. Therefore, you can try to repurpose an existing closet as a staircase. You can store items underneath the new staircase.

Install insulation

Insulation is essential in any home, and one of the critical places to have insulation is in the attic. It helps to keep the house warmer during winters and colder during summers. Besides, it helps with moisture. So don’t spare money when it comes to insulation, and use the material adequate to the attic.

Ottawa Insulation is an insulation company with 25 years of experience. It is eco-friendly and offers many services, such as attic insulation, mold removal, blow-in insulation, floor insulation, insulation removal, spray foam insulation, and more.

Click here to do a free estimate and determine how much it costs to install excellent and adequate insulation in your attic.

Insulation Contractor Vetting Checklist

If you’re thinking of getting insulation for your house, you may think it couldn’t be too hard to hire someone to do the job. But you don’t want just anyone to do the job; you want someone who’s got the experience behind them so you can be guaranteed the best job possible is being done. We are here to help! We’ve made up a great list of excellent questions for you to start the vetting process of finding the perfect insulation company to hire for the job.

Vetting Questionnaire

Don’t stress! The questions listed below will guarantee a successful hire for what you need to be done.

What Options Do You Offer for Insulation Materials?

A good insulation contractor should give you all the information you are asking for, and they should be knowledgeable about their products. Another good tip is suggesting what will best fit your project.

Do They Have a License to Work in Your State?

It’s all good if they have a license to do the work, but if their license only allows them to work in a specific state, this could mean trouble for you as the homeowner. You might need to pay a bit extra for them to work for you, but applying for a license is a straightforward process and they should be more than capable of getting one for the job.

What’s Their Warranty Policy?

Warranties are really important for everything, but especially for hiring contractors to do work on your home. Warranties protect both parties, and knowing their policy should be a priority for you. If there ever is a problem with the installation from the contractor or damage to your home, you want to be knowledgeable in their warranty policy.

How Familiar Are They With the Federal Regulations on Home Insulation?

The Federal Regulations demand that insulation contractors be well-versed in what the regulations are where you’re located. They should be able to inform you about it in detail, including details about their materials.

Check Out Their Customer Reviews and Ask to Speak With Customer References.

It doesn’t hurt to snoop around on the company’s socials if they have an online presence. Reading reviews from previous customers or comments on work they’ve done that has been made public to advertise their services can help you know if they’re a good fit for the project you want to be done. You can also ask if they know any customers they’ve already worked with to see if you can talk to them about their experience with that contractor’s services.

Finding the perfect company to hire their professionals can be stressful, but you should have no problem finding the right contractor for you with these questions. Speaking of contractors, why don’t you give us a try? Get a free estimation from our website here and ask us all the questions you want. Our professionals are on standby to help you.

How to Prepare a House for Winter: 5 Things to Do Before the Snow Falls

The winter season is coming, and we all need to prepare ourselves for the colder weather to come. For homes, there are a good amount of things to do to prepare your home to survive this chilly season. Now there’s a need to stress because we understand it can be overwhelming at first, but this is where we have your back. We’ve created a small to-do list here to get started preparing your home for winter before the first snowfall.

5 This to Do Before the Snow Fallls

Below is a good starter to-do list we’ve created for you to utilize.

Inspect Your Roof

Ensuring your roof can withstand the harsh weather the winter season brings is crucial and should be done as soon as possible. So take a good look at your roof and keep an eye out for any damages or missing shingles. This can be a sign that your roofing won’t make it through all the snowstorms that can occur during the cold season, leading to significant damages for you and some costly repairs in the springtime. When you find them, hiring someone to do these repairs is a lot better than waiting until spring and those issues become twice as bad.

Clear Out Vents

If you didn’t know what those vents were for in your attic, let us tell you about them. They play an important role in your attic and roofing, and they create airflow and prevent mold growth from occurring up there. Not only that, but it also helps keep dampness at bay, so none of your wooden beams rot during the cold and wet season of winter. Making sure that those are cleaned out from debris and dust can ensure that your attic is ready for winter when it comes.

Check Out Your Heating System

Don’t wait until the last minute when the cold is rolling in to check out your heating system. Calling a technician inspector to come to clean out your furnace or heat pump before winter arrives it’s better than freezing. This way, here you can be at peace knowing your heating system is in top shape for the weather to come.

Drain Your Hoses

The season for watering your plants and garden is over, but you can’t just leave the hose out all winter long. You need to drain all the water out before storing your hose. This prevents unwanted cracks and bursts in the hose during the frosty season. Laying it out gently on a slope of some sort can easily drain out all the water built up in the bends of the hose. When it’s time to start watering your plants, you are sure that your hose is ready for the job.

Beware Your Gutters

Having gutters that aren’t cared for can bring you some wintertime troubles. This can lead to many issues such as roof leaks, ice dams and well-focused water damage. Call the professionals for this job! They can get it done quickly and spotless so all your gutters can be free of debris and ready for the snow to come.

Whenever you need a professional for those tough jobs, you can always count on us! Get a free estimate here, and our professionals are waiting to answer any of your questions.

Is It Possible For Me to Install Attic Insulation Myself?

Have your energy bills have hit the roof, and are you are considering installing DIY attic insulation or thinking about hiring a pro? Before you start heading out to the home depot, let’s look at both pros and cons before you decide.

DIY Attic Insulation

With insulation, you need a lot of time, and it takes loads of effort to get the project done. Going the do-it-yourself route is affordable when choosing fiberglass batts or rolls. You can install them in open areas like your attic, rim joists, and crawl spaces.

Alternatively, you can use blown-in cellulose insulation but need a rented machine to get the work done. Finally, there is the option of using expensive foam boards, but you can install them yourself. Going the DIY route is cost-effective as you can work at your own pace, especially if the contractor you use cannot fit you in soon enough.

Still, it does come with cons, as mishandling the fiberglass, you end up with it in your skin or inhaling it. Also, using cellulose blowing, you need to know how to handle the machine, or it ends up going all over the place, adding more costs than expected to clean it up.

While foam board is similar to fiberglass, you need to cut them precisely for the area. If you cut wrong, you need to buy more, adding more costs. Also, as you do not have the training, the DIY method can take longer, and getting it done correctly is essential.

If anything goes wrong, you damage the home’s structure and will need to pay for the repairs. Another thing is if there is old insulation, you will need to remove and dispose of it. Then you have structural issues to consider, like missing a leaking roof as the water can become an issue.

Lastly, the effectiveness all depends on the product quality and installation.

Hiring a Professional Insulation Contractor

While it can cost more, you know the work is done right the first time. For example, you tear down drywall when you do DIY insulation. But using a pro, they know that they can insulate areas without doing this. Getting it right the first time is difficult for spray foam insulation if it is a large job.

To receive the benefits of specialized foam insulation, a contractor has the equipment to handle the job the first time for you to reap the benefits. Even the time it takes for you to do the job is cut down, and they have insurance with a license if something goes wrong and need to take care of the repairs saving you money.

The pro insulation contractor will also remove and dispose of the old insulation. Again, they have an understanding of the building codes. The con is that it is expensive compared to your DIY insulation. Also, if there is damage to the structure and the contractor you hired is not reputable, you can pay for the repairs.

Lastly, you may need to wait for the contractor to fit you in with their busy schedule.

What Is The Best Option for You?

When hiring a contractor, you have minimal cons with pros attached. Yes, it is expensive, but the contractor can get the job done faster than you doing it at your own pace. Also, you have a set of skills that could be handyman features. But suppose you have never done handyman work before. In that case, it might be best to leave it to the professionals to get the job done effectively. Lastly, you can obtain multiple quotes from contractors to choose the proper estimate that works for you.

How Much Insulation Do I Need?

Help, my home is cold in winter and scorching in summer, and I need insulation. But how much do I need? There are several factors you need to consider when installing the right amount of insulation. First, you need to ask yourself where you live before installing any insulation. Here are some tips to understand how much insulation your house needs.

Determine Which Area of the Home you Want to Insulate

The insulation amount depends on where you want to install the insulation. Common locations for insulation in the walls, floors, basement, or attic. You use insulation to prevent updrafts to draw cool air in for the attic. You will need more than insulating the floors for roof or attic insulation.

You can consider blown-in insulation for wall insulation or existing batting if you have an older house. Again, you will need more material than placed under the floor but less than in the attic. But if there are gaps in the flooring with cold air trapped insulation can keep moisture away.

Suppose you are unsure how much insulation you need. In that case, the best is to contact a professional insulation installer to fill small gaps using spray foam.

Talk to a Building Contractor To Find Out the Minimum R-value

The R-value describes the material capacity to insulate. But to understand what it means, the best is to talk to the pros to advise you on the needed specs in your region. For example, you live in the southern parts of the country, the R-value for the attic is around R-30 compared to someone living in the northern parts needing R-38 insulation. The reason is that winters are colder in the north, and a professional insulation contractor can help.

Insulating the Walls

To determine how much insulation you need in the walls, you need to measure the width and height multiplied and subtract the window and door areas. Hence, you need to measure each wall in width and height and the same for windows and doors. Once multiplying the wall measurements, you subtract the measurements for the windows and doors. Discuss your insulation needs with the recommendation of a pro insulator today.

Do You Live In an Older Home?

You will need more insulation than living in newer buildings if you do. We recommend using blown-in insulation throughout the holes for these types of insulation to optimize the living space comfort. As with walls, the same applies to floors, and you need to measure the width and length of the area. Doing this allows you to know how many rolls of insulation you need. You will likely need more insulation for all the floors than the attic and interior walls.

Also, Look at Your Existing Insulation

If there is insulation in the home, you will not need much starting from scratch. However, while the insulation might meet the energy guidelines, it still needs sprucing up if it is cold indoors in winter and scorching in summer. Furthermore, it depends on where you plan to add the insulation and spray foam insulation in certain areas.

Final Thoughts

The amount of insulation you need can depend on the insulation you use and already have previously installed insulation. You can find vast selections of insulation available. So, suppose you want to make sure about how much you need. In that case, we recommend talking to a professional insulation provider for the best recommendations and advice.

Common Myths About Insulation

A vital part of a building, whether commercial or residential, is insulation. Having insulation keeps the living space cool in summer and warm in winter. Furthermore, it reduces your energy consumption and helps remove carbon emissions. Now it is more important than ever to provide your work or home with sustainable energy using insulation. But we know that you heard about all the myths, and we want to provide you with actual facts.

It is Costly to Install Insulation

For the past number of years, you can get a grant from The Canadian Greener Homes available to most homeowners. Thus, to prevent the costly expenses of having insulation, you can apply for this grant to save you money. So, you can get a return on your investment for a comfortable living space and save on your power bills.

Low U-values matter

Yes, a low U-value does matter, but you must look at more than the numbers when you do insulation. You should install insulation as part of your whole-home approach using best practices and done correctly. For example, using quality installers, consider different things like draught-proofing and airtightness to seal moisture.

When installing insulation, the correct way helps eliminate thermal bridging and condensation risks to low surface temperatures. For example, Ottawa Insulation ensures that values remain above the 0.75 figure to protect against mold growth with proper ventilation for clean air.

Insulation Can Damage the Structure

When insulation is installed correctly using a professional insulator, there is no damage to the structure. Before installation, an on-site survey of the whole home is done to find the best location for the type of insulation you use. An experienced installer can identify issues before recommending insulation with alternative solutions.

Insulation Only Helps in the Winter

You get year-round insulation with your investment. During the winter, your living space is warm, while it keeps your home cool in summer. With adequately installed insulation, it slows down the movement of heat between your living spaces to keep indoor temperatures comfortable in heat or cold outside. In addition, when you use your air conditioner, you save money on the power bill, and the same applies in winter using your boiler.

You use Insulation Only for Energy Saving and Efficiency

With insulation, it increases your comfort level in your house to increase the occupant’s health. While the main benefit is energy savings and efficiency, it is not the only benefit. External insulation makes the outside of the home look fresh, choosing a range of colours with textures to fit in with your lifestyle and needs.

Furthermore, using pipe insulation, you can enjoy soundproofing to soften outside noise and vibrations. Lastly, it can protect against corrosion damage on pipes, ducts, and condensation forming. Still, it can also increase your building energy rating while increasing the home value.

Final Thoughts

These are some of the myths with facts concerning home insulation. The important thing is to take a whole-home approach using a professional insulation installer to have the insulation done. Then, with the help of an expert, they provide you with the best insulation material and methods to use in your living space.