Insulate Now

Now that summer is over, it is time to add extra insulation to save money this winter on energy costs. Take a yardstick up in the attic and meassure the depth of the insulation there. If it is 6 inches or less, you will benefit greatly by adding more attic insulation. Six inche will give you an R value of 19 while 12 inches will boost it up to R38. This will keep your furnace running less and more money in your wallet.

Get Ready

Get some old clothes on and get ready to get dirty. Now is the time to start inspecting your home and getting it ready for winter. If there are any shingles missing, get them replaced now. Put new roofing cement around pipes and seams. With snow setting on the roof, there is a good chance it will find it's way in if there is a bad spot anywhere. Check your crawl space for clutter and debris. This area should be free so air can flow to keep it dry. Once it starts to get below freezing, then close of your foundation vents. Cut a piece of board insulation to size and seal around the edges. So get ready and get inspecting.

Heating Duct Insulation

If your heating duct work is made out of fibered insulation duct board, every time your furnace kicks on it blows air across these fibers in the insulation. This can cause respiratory and itching problems, especially in children and the elderly. It is much better to use metal furnace pipe and seal all the seams good, then insulate the outside, preferably with a thick foam type insulation. Fiberglass type insulation works good, but it always needs to be sealed away from the living area. See you next time.

Attic Insulation

When installing attic insulation, there is more to it than just blowing insulation in. Your attic needs to be sealed from the living quarters. I don't mean block the entrance to your attic. This is something that also needs consideration. You will need to have an airtight seal around your attic entrance. The insulation in your attic can also leak around light fixtures, in corners, and any unsealed holes. The fibers from your attic insulation can leak into your living area and cause respiratory problems, itchy skin, and other health related problems. Your attic insulation should stay in your attic, including the small tiny fibers. If you have a contractor installing your attic insulation, make sure he is aware that there could be small openings to let these fibers in. Stay healthy and see you next time.

Heat Loss And Insulation

The heat is always trying move to the cold areas. This is a natural occurrence in nature. In the winter the heat is trying to get out of the house and in the summer, it wants in. To slow down the heat transfer, you must insulate. Heat travels due to convection, conduction, and radiation. For best results it is best to combine fiberglass insulation wit reflective type of insulation. This way you will slow down all types of heat transfer. Insulation alone will not stop all heat loss. The insulation in your wall is not a seal. It just slows down the heat transfer to the cold areas. But it is good to insulate. The amount of money you will save on your utility bills will be tremendous over an uninsulated house. See you again.

Insulation going green

Insulation going green will be a big relief to some peoples health problems. Fiberglass insulation does bother the respiratory system of some. Going green is also good for the planet. Some of the going green insulation is a little more expensive, but in the long run it could save you money on future health problems.
Using recycled denim is one insulation used for going green. It is manufacture commercially and installed like batt insulation. After installing the insulation, you need to glue up plastic sheeting to the studs before installing the drywall. This is your vapor barrier and is very important to use.
Wool is another green insulation. It is very durable and also fire and water resistant. The down side of using these green insulation's is the cost.
One of the most natural of all green insulation's is dirt. If you are getting ready to build a house, you might consider going underground. Building an underground house will save you much money on utility bills over the years. Saving energy is good for your wallet and also the planet thanks you.

Energy Savings

Saving energy is a very important thing to do. In the long run it will help the planet, including the animals that we share it with. This saving of energy will also save you money that can be used elsewhere for better purposes. Turn your thermostat down to 65 degrees and dress warmer. You will actually sleep better in a cool room. If dressing warmer is uncomfortable for you, invest in a programmable thermostat that so that you can keep the house cool while you are away and warm it back up just before you arrive home. Also do not forget to to insulate. Most homes are under insulated. This will save you money and make it easier to keep your house heated or cooled in the summer. See you next time.

Double Bubble Insulation

Double bubble insulation is a foil type insulation that comes in different size rolls. This insulation is used in pole barn buildings, residential houses, and commercial buildings. It has many other commercial uses also. The main advantage of this type of insulation is the ability to reflect longwave radiant heat. Properly installed, this insulation will reflect up to 95% of all radiant heat. It also re radiates only 5% of the heat compared to 90% of ordinary building materials. This makes it an excellent insulation to use in cold and hot climates. It can be used as house-wrap in a new constructed home. This will give the radiant heat effect and will save you money on your utility bills. It can also be placed on top of existing insulation in your home. See you again.

Buying Insulation

When you are buying insulation, always shop around, The same brand and size might be up to 15% higher in different stores. Always call before you go looking. A phone call is much cheaper than using gas to go from store to store. Also ask if the product is in stock and if there is enough for the job you are doing. This will save you time and aggravation from going there first and finding out they do not have what you want. See you all soon.

Cheapest Insulation

The cheapest insulation is not always the best buy. The cheapest insulation per R value is the fiberglass roll insulation. This comes in different widths and thicknesses for your convenience. Do not use insulation made for 2 x 6 studs in 2 x 4 studded walls. You will have to crush the insulation in, therefore decreasing the R value. The cheapest board insulation is probably the Styrofoam type. This insulation has very low R value breaks very easy. You will be better off getting a high density foam board insulation. Stay warm this winter, insulate now.

Water Lines

Hi everyone. How is everybody? Before freezing weather sets in, make sure you wrap your water pipes with insulation. There is special insulation made for water lines and pipes. There is a foam piece in the in the shape of the pipe with a slit down the length for easy installation. Also available is heated insulation wrap which is more expensive, but is an excellent investment. You can also wrap the pipes with fiberglass roll insulation. If a pipe freezes and breaks, it will be much more costly than the money you spend on insulating them. So get on it and insulate them now. See you all later.