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Custom Insulation Boston Worcester Blog

Protect Your Home from all the Rain with Seamless Gutters

8 June 2012

With all the rain, thunderstorms, wind storms and potential upcoming hail you probably now know the benefits of having the right gutter system on your home.

As a result of the all the recent rain, have you noticed any water in your basement that you have never had before. If so, you may have issues with your gutters.

If your gutters are not working properly, you could end up with water in your basement, water behind your siding, basement flooding or damage to your fascia, soffit, foundation, and landscaping. As you can imagine, all of these scenarios are bad for your home.

Protect your home with Custom Insulation’s Seamless Gutters. Not only are seamless gutters more attractive, they are more effective as well.  Seamless gutters are more attractive and more effective. If your home needs new gutters, contact us.

Home Insulation 101

30 May 2012

Home Insulation is a crucial element for all new home or new home additions and for green building projects. Insulation is also imperative in Massachusetts to keep your home warm in winter and cool in the summer. Proper home insulation is imperative in keep home heating and cooling bills low.

Insulation blocks heat transfer, and in some cases, sound transfer.

The R-value is used to measure the insulation's resistance to heat flow. Therefore, the higher the R-value, the better the insulation is at blocking heat transfer.

Insulation can improve a home's energy efficiency by either keeping heat in or out, depending on the season.

For the best in energy efficiency in any season, the Department of Energy recommends insulating attic spaces, ducts in unconditioned spaces, cathedral ceilings, exterior walls, floors above unheated garages, and foundations.

To improve the energy efficiency in your home, or if you are building a new home or home addition, contact Custom Insulation.

Keeping Your Home Evenly Cool in Summer

22 May 2012

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

Copper Gutters Increase Home Value and Decrease Home Maintenance

16 May 2012

Homeowners are always looking for ways to make their homes more beautiful with less maintenance. If this is accomplished while increasing the resale value of the home, all the better.

Copper Gutters are a great way to do this. Copper gutters last longer and stand the test of time much better than other types of gutters, including aluminum gutters. Additionally, they require very little maintenance and are beautiful additions to the outside of your home.
 
Of course every home needs a gutter system, and traditionally, the choice has been aluminum gutters. But more and more homeowners today are discovering copper. Some are choosing copper gutters purely for beauty, but regardless of the initial reason for reviewing copper gutters, the benefits pay for themselves.
A greener alternative, copper gutters today are almost entirely made from recycled copper.

They are very low maintenance, with no rust or rot, you won’t have to replace them for the life of your home.
Copper gutters are very sturdy and durable, rarely is there a storm where you will find your gutters hanging off when you use copper.

Copper gutters can give your home a better resale value because of both utility and aesthetics.

Copper gutters are especially right for those homeowners who want to maintain the architectural beauty of their home, but copper gutters complement any style home beautifully. Copper gutters are fast becoming the preferred choice for the homeowner. For information on the cost and installation of copper gutters for your home, contact Custom Insulation
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Improve Home Insulation and Save Money

8 May 2012

Most homeowners want the temperature of their home to be comfortable while decreasing their energy bills at the same time. This sounds like a conflict right? You can achieve both by improving home insulation. Contact Custom Insulation and we can take a look at your insulation and makes some recommendations for you. We will take a look at the insulation panels, check for air leaks, and check the energy efficiency of your heating and cooling ducts. They will then recommend changes that will improve the insulation of your home.

If your home has any of the following, that may be a sign of poor insulation.

  • Damp or musty smells
  • Drafts of cold air
  • Peeling wall paint
  • Some rooms being colder than the others
  • Cold floors
  • Frequent running of the HVAC unit

Depending on the cause of the poor insulation, we may recommend Insulating the attic and/or crawl spaces.

When you install better home insulation you will be able to see a substantial reduction in your energy bill for years. New insulation can also be used as a selling point when you decide to move. Most importantly, your home will have uniform temperature in every season.

Gutter Cleaning Tips

1 May 2012

Custom Insulation offers The WaterFall Gutter Guard System as a way to protect your seamless gutters from debris and the need to clean your gutters. If your home does not have this gutter guard system, it's that time of year when a second gutter cleaning is almost always needed. New leaf debris and recent high winds can cause leaves, pine needles and debris to clog your gutter causing potential rainwater overflow. In turn, this can cause landscape erosion and water damage to your home.

There are a many gutter cleaning tips that can bring sanity and safety to this springtime job. Here are some of the basics:

Ladders: Always let someone know you will be using a ladder to work on your gutters. Use a safe and sturdy ladder, with a small shelf strong enough to hold a five-gallon bucket to collect the debris from the gutter.

A four-legged step ladder for a single story home or an extension ladder for a two-story home is recommended.

Hose nozzles: Use a garden hose with a pistol-grip trigger spray nozzle. This type of spray nozzle allows you to adjust the water pressure with one hand. This style of hose nozzle allows it to be easily hung over the front edge of the gutter while you move the ladder.

Wear Gloves: Gloves can help protect hands against dirty, rotting leaf debris that are often ridden with bacteria from wild life.

Rake the Roof: From the ground, rake all branches and leaves off the roof first. Otherwise, the next rain will wash all the debris down into the clean gutter, clogging it up again.

Tired of cleaning gutters, or hiring others to do it for you? We don’t blame you; contact Custom Insulation for information on our Aluminum Gutter Guard System.

Spring is the Time for Home Energy Savings

24 April 2012

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.

Spray Foam Insulation is Perfect for Re-insulating Existing Homes

20 April 2012

Now that you have turned off the heat in your home in Worcester, and before you turn on the AC, think about how to fix up your home to save on the next round of home energy bills. Many homeowners are looking for ways to save money. One way to do that with new or pre-existing homes is by making sure it has some solid insulation.  Injection foam insulation is good for the planet AND our pocketbooks.

Foam insulation is efficient and gives you bang for your buck. Spray foam insulation is great for insulating preexisting homes or open frame new homes. Fiberglass insulation is most common in existing homes, while effective, it lets more heat out or into your home. Heat loss and air infiltration is the main culprit for wasting energy.

For a preexisting home, spray foam insulation is perfect. Perfect for re-insulating a wall system, spray foam insulation can fill cavities easily.

To start saving energy and money this spring, contact Custom Insulation.

Copper Gutters are the Clear "Green" Choice for New Homes and Remodels

10 April 2012

If you are thinking of building a new home or renovating the home you have, you know that green building materials are all the rage. But this is a trend that does not seem to be going away. Architects, builders and homeowners are trying to reduce their carbon footprint, which shows in the increasing use of environmentally friendly materials. This means that more and  more homeowners are turning to copper gutters as green materials and for aesthetics.

Copper is a perfect choice for gutters. Copper is one of a handful of materials that are considered to be fully sustainable. It is estimated that 55% of all the architectural copper in use is recycled.

Copper gutters have a lifespan of at least 100 years. So copper gutters last as long as your home and look beautiful for all those years too. You won’t need to replace copper gutters. Copper is also a fungicide which makes it maintenance free. So while moss is the main problem with traditional cutters, copper gutters fight moss all on their own.

Are you thinking about price? When comparing price and durability, cast iron, aluminum and PVC gutters can’t beat copper. Based on price, durability, appearance or environmental factors, copper gutters are the clear choice for your new home or your newly remodeled home. Contact Custom Insulation for more information.

Proper Insulation Makes your Home Comfortable While you Save Money

3 April 2012

In your home wall colors, floor coverings and furnishings often change over time. Routine maintenance is also necessary. If your home was built before 1980, when it comes to the comfort and value of your home, insulation plays a key role.

According to the US Department of Energy, only 20% of houses built before 1980 are considered well insulated. In fact, many of these homes have no insulation at all.

Heat is a form of energy - it always seeks a cooler area - flowing outward in winter and inward in summer. By reducing heat flow in a properly insulated home, less energy is used to heat and cool the home.

Insulation works all year long to provide a barrier that slows down the natural transfer of heat. Insulation keeps temperatures consistent in all areas of the house.

When you spend money on things to make your home look better, new siding or new furniture, you know that none of these things will pay you back. Foam Insulation is permanent. It never needs to be done again and you will enjoy the benefits of greater comfort all year long. Plus, you will see savings on your monthly energy bills. Insulation doesn't take long to pay you back.
 
Spray foam insulation is a safe, easy and clean way to insulate your home. In most cases it's injected from the exterior of your home like ‘shaving cream' and hardens after several minutes. It provides a sealed thermal envelope that locks out moisture to prevent mold, mildew and bacteria growth. It contributes to the overall comfort and health of your home.

When you insulate your home correctly, it's one of the lowest cost options for improving both comfort and energy efficiency. On average, newly insulated home thermostats can adjusted between 3-4 degrees (down in the winter, up in the summer) while enjoying a more comfortable and consistent temperature throughout.

According to the DOE, when it comes to maximizing energy efficiency, inadequate insulation is a leading cause of home energy waste because it forces even the most efficient heating and cooling systems to work harder and consume more energy. The savings from improving your home's insulation will add up all year long since the DOE estimates that between 50%-70% of the energy used in an average US home is consumed by heating and cooling systems.

Want more information on spray foam insulation? Contact Custom Insulation Company in Worcester.

NWI Times

Insulation helps keep your house cool in the summer!