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Home Blown-in Insulation & Gutter Solutions
9 August 2011
Homeowners spend millions each year caulking, replacing windows & doors, and weather stripping to make their home more energy efficient. But, one of the biggest culprits of energy loss is the chimney.
When you have a fire in your fireplace, the chimney works great. It acts as a funnel and takes smoke and dangerous gasses away.
But, your chimneys work even when there is no fire. This is the easiest escape route for the warm air in your home. You can tell that air is escaping through your chimney if your chimney has cold air in it or if you feel powerful drafts from very small gaps in your windows or doors.
Cold air can't get in unless it is going out at the same speed.
How do you stop this?
2 August 2011
Many homeowners have a kind of a love hate relationship with their gutters. You know you need them. They protect your home from excess water that pours off your roof during rain storms. The damaged caused by this excess water can ruin your fascia, soffit, foundation, landscaping and cause basement flooding. You often don’t even think about your gutters, until you notice that they are failing, peeling or need to be cleaned.
Often times, aluminum gutters are painted and they peel; several times a year they have to be cleaned. The down spouts get clogged with leaves and debris, and the gutters themselves collect everything from sticks and leaves to balls.
With seamless gutters from Custom Insulation, you can escape these problems. These aluminum gutters are available in a variety of colors with baked on enamel to ensure beauty for years to come. No peeling! The WaterFall Gutter Guard System protects your seamless gutters from debris and the need to clean your gutters.
Our Aluminum gutters with the WaterFall Gutter Guard System, helps take the hate out of your relationship with you gutters. If it is time for you to replace or update your gutters, if you are simply tired of cleaning your gutters with the change of the seasons, contact Custom Insulation.
26 July 2011
Alternative heat is a great option for your home. Either supplementing the existing heating system or entirely heating your home with a wood or pellet burning stove, fireplace or insert can enable you to really cut down on your utility bills.
There's a reason why a large number of Massachusetts homeowners are wood stove loyalists. Wood stoves are timeless in their appeal, they provide efficient heating and they have a unique style.
The selection of Lennox Wood burning stoves from Custom Insulation offer distinctive sizes and designs that combine superior craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology.
Regardless of your décor or your heating needs there is a Lennox fireplace that will fit your home perfectly. From gas- and wood-burning to pellet fireplaces, you have many choices.
If your home has an existing masonry or metal fireplace, there are easy and attractive ways to spark new life into it. Pellet burning fireplace inserts fit into almost any traditional fireplace opening to instantly transform your room into a warm and entertaining space.
We are insulation specialists. We can ensure, when we install your stove, insert or fireplace that your chimney is draft free, and that you won’t be losing valuable heat through the chimney. Who better to install your new stove, fireplace or insert than Custom Insulation Co?
19 July 2011
Pellet stoves offer an alternative means for heating your house. They are traditionally compared to the wood burning stove, because the heat they put out is similar, but there are those who believe pellet stoves offer some advantages over traditional wood stoves.
At the top of the list of advantages is the fact that pellet stoves are easy to load as compared to wood burning stoves. The pellets themselves are small and can be stored in a small space efficiently. Wood needs to be stacked and hauled, and needs a fairly large space to be stored. Pellets burn very hot so they burn very efficiently, because of this they create very little ash or waste.
The pellet stove hopper electronically feeds the pellets into the stove. The hopper can be programmed to evenly and consistently dispense the pellets, so in effect pellet stoves can be programmed to burn at an even rate and can remain at a consistent temperature over time. Many consider this the largest advantage because it allows pellet stoves to be very economical.
Overall pellet stoves can save people quite a bit of money in Massachusetts which is a region where heating costs are typically higher. If you are considering adding a pellet stove to your home, contact Custom Insulation.
12 July 2011
We know, it’s July. But it is never too late to start thinking about how you are heating your home this coming winter. If you were one of the many in Massachusetts that got hit with larger than expected heating bills last winter, you should think about an alternative heating option for your home.
Regardless of your décor or your heating needs there is a Lennox fireplace that will fit your home perfectly. With gas- and wood-burning fireplaces, you have a long list of choices. One of our favorites is the Montebello. This fireplace combines the elegance of a clean-face design with grand proportions and dramatic fires and puts out up to 60,000 BTUs.
There's a reason why a large number of homeowners are stove loyalists – they are timeless in their appeal and provide efficient heating and a unique style. The large selection of Lennox stoves offer distinctive sizes and designs that combine superior craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology.
Contact Custom Insulation today to find out more about cutting your heating bills this winter.
7 July 2011
There is no question that every home needs a gutter system. So paying for gutters is absolutely worth it. But what about copper gutters? They are more expensive, and they are very beautiful, but beyond that, are they actually worth the money?
Low cost gutters, even though they appear to serve the purpose in the short term, are easily damaged and have to be replaced or repaired periodically. Copper rain gutters may be the answer.
Copper has better tensile strength compared to other gutter material. The strength increases as the copper content of the gutters increases. There are plenty of copper roofs that have been intact for centuries. Copper gutters add great value to the aesthetic looks of a house as well.
Aluminum gutters are an alternative to copper. They are not as strong however, and they can be damaged during cleaning. When considering which material gutter to install, long time durability is important.
Copper gutters will oxidize and turn green, and if this is a look you don’t like, they can be treated. While aluminum can be painted to blend with the building architecture, the coating peels off easily and requires a new coat frequently.
A copper gutter is especially right for those homeowners who want to maintain the architectural beauty. Unlike the need to hide aluminum gutters, a copper gutter can actually enhance the beauty of your home. A home is valued not only in terms of its architecture and structure, but also by the accessories that it has. Copper gutters can give you better valuation in the long run in terms of utility and aesthetics.
5 July 2011
Retrofitting an existing home to be more energy efficient is an effective way to save energy and reduce the cost of homeownership. Retrofitting includes a variety of projects from replacing old light bulbs to installing new insulation. Practical home improvement has become popular among savvy homeowners looking to save.
According to the US Department of Energy, 80 percent of homes built before 1980 were built with insufficient insulation. Old dishwashers waste up to 6,700 gallons of water per year — enough water to run an efficient dishwasher for seven years. Replacing old, single-pane windows can save a homeowner hundreds on energy bills.
Retrofitting an existing home to make it more green and an energy efficient structure is easier than some homeowners might realize. Some tips for homeowners looking to make their home more energy efficient and environmentally friendly are:
•Windows — Energy efficient windows are better insulated, allowing a home to stay cooler in summer and warmer in winter. If homeowners are not able to replace their home’s windows, closing cracks and seals with caulk to reduce air leakage is a great alternative.
•Insulation — According to the US Department of Energy, more than 50 percent of the energy used is for heating and cooling the air. Energy usage for heating and cooling is high because conditioned air often escapes through poorly insulated walls and attics creating a never-ending cycle of circulating air. Updating a home’s insulation may allow homeowners to retain conditioned air and spend less to keep the home comfortable. Homeowners can receive up to $500 in tax credit for updating insulation in 2011.
•Doors — Old or improperly sealed doors can significantly affect a home’s energy efficiency by allowing conditioned air to easily escape. Installing a new door can provide more effective insulation than older ones.
•Programmable thermostat — The US Department of Energy reports that homeowners can save roughly 10 percent on heating and cooling bills by turning their thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day.
Original Article - News Telegram
22 June 2011
The movement toward green technologies has been widely discussed recently, as more companies and consumers have looked for ways to become more ecofriendly.
One such green, energy-saving technology not receiving much fanfare is spray foam insulation, which contractors apply through high-pressure pumps, which then expands within cracks and various crevices to block any areas that air flows through.
Custom Insulation provides this advanced type of insulation as well as bio-based fiberglass batts.
With three solutions now available, spray foam, blown in and blanket insulation, they have the ability to work with various clients.
There are places where blanket insulation is best, others places where blown in is best and then there are places where they will advise using spray foam. And all three products may even be used on the same house.
The efficiency of the insulation can lead to greater long-term savings. Within three to five years, most home or building owners witness this increased savings.
14 June 2011
8 June 2011
As the days get warmer you might start dreaming of air conditioning. But, there are some other ways to keep your house more comfortable during hot summer days that are easier on your wallet and the environment.
Attics can reach temperatures over 140 degrees F on hot summer days. If there isn’t much insulation between the ceiling and attic a lot of this heat is going to be transferred into the house. Increasing attic insulation can make a big difference in the comfort level of a home and will also cut your heating costs in the winter. By adding R40 insulation to a poorly insulated attic the temperature inside the house will drop by 6-8 º F on hot days.
Proper attic ventilation is also important in keeping your house cool and extending the life of your roof. Without it, as the sun goes down your attic won’t cool off as much and will continue to heat your house throughout the night.
The use of spray foam insulation has been rapidly growing as Architects, Builders and Homeowners become aware of the long term energy savings and comfort benefits associated with using spray foam. However, if you have a walk up attic, blanket insulation would be fine to use.
16 Jacques Street - Rear
Worcester, MA 01603
Phone: 508-755-2315
Fax: 508-756-1941
E-mail: info@custominsulation.com
