Custom Insulation Blog

We always get questions about heating and cooling when the seasons change. We have had some high temperatures, and many homeowners are inquiring about how to keep their cooling bills lower. Others are interested in how to keep homes a more even temperature so the AC can work less.

Q: I need advice on summer cooling of the second floor of my home. The finished basement is cold, (all vents closed) the rooms on the main floor are chilly (most vents closed) and the upstairs is warm with all vents open. Is there a reasonably priced option that you would recommend?

A: Fact, hot air rises. The upper floors will always be warmer, especially in the summer. To make the second floor more comfortable you should start by bringing your attic insulation up to at least R-49 and making sure the attic is adequately and properly vented. You will immediately notice a difference in comfort and more even temperature of your home. The investment will be well worth it because immediately you will begin to save money on both cooling and heating costs.

By increasing your attic insulation, you allow less cooled air out of your home, allowing your second floor to stay cooler and allows the other floors to have a more even temperature.

Are you interested in saving money on your cooling bill while keeping your home more evenly cooled this summer? Contact Custom Insulation.

Observer & Eccentric

Spring is the perfect time to make some adjustments to save on your energy costs. Most homeowners think about their heating bills in the fall and winter. But many should consider electricity bills as the weather warms up too. Electricity is at a premium in the warmer months. By making your home more efficient you can save as much or more when it’s hot outside.
 
Good insulation in your home is important in the warm weather in Worcester too while you are trying to cool your homes. When attic and ceiling fans are combined with the right insulation and ventilation, you will save money in the summer and protect your roof and shingles in the winter.

Good insulation will help prevent heat transfer into the house in the summer,  while a cold attic in the winter reduces the likelihood of ice dams.

Increase the comfort of your home with the right insulation. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates a homeowner can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs by sealing and insulating around the home.

For information on better insulating your home, contact Custom Insulation.

At Custom Insulation, this is some feedback we received from a customer who purchased a wood burning stove from us, and had their second floor bedroom ceiling insulation replaced.

“I have an antique home, and last winter we got ice dams. During the repair process, I the attic insulation replaced in my bedroom ceiling. The difference in the warmth of my home throughout the winter was very noticeable. I realize that this was a more mild winter, but cold is cold, and you still have to heat your home.

We use our wood burning stove primarily to heat our home, and with increased and better insulation in the second floor ceiling, the oil heat barely ever came on - all winter long.  The upstairs of our home used to be very cold throughout the winter and very hot throughout the summer. I can’t wait to see what happens this summer. I suspect that it will be so much cooler and enjoyable.
 
The difference in my oil heating bill was outrageous, in fact we have not used an entire tank! The difference was so great, that this spring I am going to have the rest of the upstairs and attic insulation replaced.”

Winter is here and your home may not have enough insulation. Your home is not energy efficient when you have high heating bills and cold, drafty rooms. Proper insulation in the walls and attic increases energy efficiency and can reduce heating bills by as much as 30-50%.

The first step for homeowners who want to reduce their heating bills is to determine if their home is energy efficient, check the insulation. Having adequate ceiling and wall insulation can reduce heating bills by as much as 30 to 50%.

There are external signs that your home lacks the proper insulation, but so far this winter we have not been able to use those guides: icicles, snow melting on your roof, ice in the gutters, and snow melted around the perimeter of your home.

But there are internal indicators as well: cold, drafty rooms; uneven temperatures from room to room; and walls and/or ceilings that feel cold.

Between 50% and 70% of the energy used in an average US home is consumed by heating and cooling systems. When looking to maximize your home's energy efficiency, the US Department of Energy puts inadequate insulation as a leading cause of home energy waste. Contact Custom Insulation for more information on increasing  your home’s insulation.

Making your home perfectly energy efficient can be challenging unless you’re building a custom home right now. Your best bet to energy efficiency now is tightening up the building’s envelope: caulking and weather stripping, more insulation, and better windows and doors.

Plugging air leaks and topping up insulation can save over $400 a year, according to energy provider Direct Energy. Upgrading insulation in a 1,200-square-foot attic saves enough money in energy savings to make up for the cost of the project.

For insulation, anything less than R12 in the walls and basement, R20 for exposed floors and cathedral ceilings and R40 in the attic should be upgraded. Going from R10 to R20 gives you the biggest boost: it’s the first few inches that are most important.

Adding rigid Styrofoam to the outside walls can bridge thermal gaps, which are heat leaks where the fiberglass insulation stops at the studs, although you may need to remove the exterior siding to do so.

For free quote for replacing insulation in your home, contact Custom Insulation.

Is your house cold? Maybe you just think that is a fact of living in Worcester, MA. Well it is true, it is cold here, but it is possible to keep your home warmer. Add or replace your attic insulation.

You can finally feel it, it took a while to get here, but it’s cold. Replacing your attic insulation can create a significant cost savings for you. Have a reputable insulation professional come out to your home to check the filling in your attic to see if it meets the current recommendations.

If your insulation is not in line with the current guidelines, then it’s time to consider replacement insulation or perhaps just filler to get it up to par.

The next step in replacing the attic insulation is choosing the type of insulation that you want and that is appropriate.  Going with what is already installed is usually the best idea for most homes, but if your home is older, you might want to change the type of insulation that you have.  Your choices of insulation are spray foam, blown cellulose and batting.
 
Homes in Worcester and the surrounds need thicker density insulation because they are subjected to more extreme weather conditions. Contact Custom Insulation for a quote.