If you live in an area that experiences high temperatures in the summer - or all year round - you know how crucial it is to keep your home cool, especially if you have pets or children. In the height of summer, you also know how expensive it can be to keep your house at livable temperatures. A home's energy bill can often be more than half consumed by cooling it. In addition to keeping your home cool, good insulation can also help reduce those costs. How to find summer issues with your home's insulation. Check Problem Areas If you are unsure where your home might have an insulation …
Would you like to improve the energy efficiency of your home? A good place to start is with air sealing. About 43 percent of your monthly energy bill can be attributed to your home's heating and cooling system, so you can save a lot of money by ensuring that as much conditioned air as possible stays inside your home rather than leaking out. Your home is likely to have leaks in places like the door frame or the windows, as well as air leaks beneath the door. There are so many ways for your home's conditioned air to escape, that it can be difficult to locate and seal every …
Is there any homeowner who wouldn't like to save more money on their energy bills? Many households are more concerned about their energy bills than you might think. One in three American households had difficulty paying their energy bills. The reason why? Many homeowners struggled to maintain adequate heating and cooling in their homes. Insulation is something we've all heard of. What exactly does insulation do? The majority of homeowners are unaware of what insulation does to save energy. You can save more on your energy bills by installing adequate …
There are several types of insulation available, each with different strengths and weaknesses. They are used in combination with vapor barriers and air sealing to prevent the loss of conditioned air as well as the entry of outside air. As a loose-fill material, cellulose presents a high R-value and offers effective insulation against air leakage and infiltration and can also prevent air movement. However, like other loose-fill insulations, it is prone to settle, causing it to lose its R-value. How Much Does Cellulose Settle? Based on how it is installed, cellulose insulation can …
The spring season means new goals and lists – some personal, some practical, like home improvements. You might have a never-ending list for home improvements, or maybe you just want to make a few improvements. We will examine in this article why properly insulated homes are beneficial and why home insulation and ventilation should be a top priority when choosing what home improvements to make this new year. What is Insulation? In order to understand the benefits of a properly insulated home, we first need to understand what insulation and ventilation is, as well as its purpose. …
While we frequently discuss the impressive insulative properties our cellular shade options offer, we also thought it wise to present information about some other parts of your house that can realize greater energy efficiency in terms of heating and cooling expenses. Many of these are spots that are overlooked by homeowners, but if they are effectively addressed, the financial savings tend to be truly impressive. Remember that heat rises, and as such, a smart method of keeping your home toasty during the winter months is to increase the insulation level in the attic space. The …
When it comes to taking care of your home, the roof ventilation may be one of those things that you haven't taken into consideration for a while, but in fact, plays a crucial role in your home. Your roof system's lifespan depends on how much attic ventilation you have in place, and at the same time, helps you save from the unnecessary and future roof and other related repairs to your heating and cooling system. Attic Ventilation: How It Works The intake vents need to go all the way down through the soffits, while the exhaust vents are placed at the roof ridge - this is a good …
Cellulose insulation is the best type of insulation to keep your home cool in the hot summer months and warm during the cold winter months. It’s eco-friendly too. Here are a few reasons why you should consider using cellulose insulation today. 1. Insulation is rated on the R-value (resistance to thermal conduction). Dense packed cellulose is usually installed using air so there are no gaps present. High installed density measuring about 3.5 pounds of material for every cubic foot ensures there is no settling. 2. Movement of heat is through convection which means that cellulose …
Ice dams on your roof can present a huge headache in mid-winter. It's difficult to add to the frustration o an ice dam. There's just nothing quite like that steady drip from the ceiling and nothing to stop it immediately. If you've never had to deal with such a drip, consider yourself lucky. Otherwise, you're likely using your favorite search engine to find out "How to remove an ice dam from your roof". There's no better time than now to find out how you can prevent an ice dam. In fact, learn from your mistakes and know that your insulation in your attic is quite possibly to …
Any homeowner knows his house the best. That is the reason why you need to evaluate your insulation levels based on the experiences that you have had over the previous few seasons. Some of these symptoms can be the last sign of a predicament, but before you remove any drywall carrying out a comfort test is much easier. Homeowners or even these who have leased the premises can derive valuable information about the insulation by going round the home quickly. This is what they need to look for: Variations in temperatures You should never feel that you have gone to a different …
Per the federal Department of Energy, the average home uses anywhere from half to two-thirds of its overall energy use just for heating and cooling alone. Substandard insulation is something that can result in serious air leakage. This makes your home far less comfortable. It also means you are wasting money on a monthly basis. Proper insulation means that you and your family can enjoy comfortable and healthy living in an energy-efficient way that helps the environment as much as your wallet and bank account. What Advantages Do Quality Insulation Mean For Your Home? If your …
Living in Minnesota means that you must have a properly insulated home if you would like to be comfortable throughout the year. Many people think of insulation as that cotton candy like material that is found throughout the house. Fact of the matter is, many people are unaware of how essential insulation is to their homes. Mild Weather The season in which you decide to add new insulation to your Minnesota home is going to play an essential aspect in the installation cost as well as how comfortable your home is. In Minnesota, the fall season tends to be the best time to insulate due …
Do you know if the insulation in your home is the correct R-value? Are you using the correct type for the right rooms? It is important to ensure that you are using the correct insulation in your home. If you have recently used drywall in your garage or you are finishing your basement, it becomes important to not only know the type of insulation that is required to fill this space, but also the thermal resistance that is needed. This is determined by the R-value of the insulation. Here is more information on the right insulation type that you should be using, what R-value means, …
Do you believe that your house has enough insulation? There is a 90% chance your house doesn't have enough insulation unless you have added insulation to a renovated or a newly bought home, or extra insulation was added when your home was being built. As per the data released by North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, 9/10 homes in the US do not have enough insulation. The importance of insulation in homes should be clear from the fact that heating and cooling costs account for 42% of the utility bill in a typical home as per the data provided by the US Department of …
Good home insulation can have a tremendous impact in keeping the house cool during the warmer months. This is why home insulation is a top priority for homeowners and it can do an equally good job during the winters. It's recommended to focus on your home insulation as the temperature starts to rise outside. When everything is well-insulated, you are going to have a far easier time managing the amount of cooling that's used indoors. This can lead to major savings on your bills at the end of the month while keeping things as comfortable as necessary. Here is a deeper look …
The cause of many health problems inside of a home can be easily identified. In most cases, it has to do with molds, mildew, or fine particulate materials. Although your ventilation system is designed to keep you warm or cool, it may also be delivering particulates that are unhealthy. This could include dust, pollen, and other materials that can lead to respiratory issues. It is important to have home safety checks from time to time. MGT Insulation offers home health services. They may also be able to do work that can resolve the issue quickly. What Type Of Services Really …
It makes sense to insulate a garage if you are going to be heating the space. The same kinds of insulation materials can be used in the garage that is used for the rest of your home. However, there are some materials that are better than others, depending on whether or not your garage is finished. You should also consider insulating your garage door, and it has different installation requirements compared to what is needed on ceilings or walls. Fiberglass Insulation In garages, the most commonly used kind of insulation is fiberglass (it is also the most popular kind that is …
Thanks to the sheer volume of information available on the topic -- some accurate, some not, and some outdated -- it's all too easy to develop misconceptions about spray foam insulation. This is a building material that's experienced vast technological improvements in the recent past. Information on foam insulation that was accurate 20 years ago may be entirely incorrect today. There's also a wide enough range of different foam products that you can't trust too many blanket statements to accurately fit all foams. Common Foam Insulation Misconception False: Closed Cell …
If it has become expensive to cool or heat your home, or some of the rooms feel uncomfortable, in most cases air leaks are undoubtedly among the primary culprits. Air leakage occurs throughout your home, as the air that you have paid to condition escapes through openings. These processes force your HVAC system to work a lot harder and cause your home to become too hot over the summer months and too cold over the winter months. All attics have cracks and gaps that let air escape. This is partly due to flaws in the construction of the home, or from HVAC or electrical work, or from …
You have finally decided to get that insulation for your home but you are now wondering about the type of insulation to choose. There are a number of options available to you including cellulose, fiberglass, and spray or injection foam. It can be a daunting task to choose the right insulation for your home as there are a number of things you need to consider including: Cost of the insulating material Effectiveness of insulation material Long-term savings Insulation for Your Attic: Comparing Spray Foam Vs Fiberglass Vs Cellulose If you are experiencing difficulty in …
If you are living in the Twin Cities, you should expect cold winds, frosty mornings and heavy rain during the winter season. Yes, it’s exciting to wear the warm jackets, gloves, boots and scarves. However, it could be very frustrating if your home is not warm enough after a long cold day outside. Many families in Minnesota are struggling to keep their homes warm and comfortable during the winter season. They always end up using the heater and keep it on until the house becomes warm. However, if your home never seems to warm up there is a problem. If your home feels drafty and …
Roof ice dams can be a brutal fact of life in cold, snowy regions. For homeowners living in such places, making ice dam prevention is a crucial factor to consider when roofing your house. The significance of this issue is even greater since ice dam prevention materials are what roofing companies provide during cold climates. Therefore, it’s prudent and natural to be wary of add-ons provided by companies soliciting your particular business. So, what is ice dam prevention and do you need it? Impact of Ice Dams The ice dams’ effect is often not noticed until much later. Maybe in a …
Homeowners have one enemy in common, which is moisture. It has far-reaching implications from health consequences to structural damage. If the moisture level is too high, it can damage your home’s foundation. It accumulates on various surfaces thus causing the rotting of wood structures, the peeling of paint, and the short circuiting of electrical wirings. Pests such as termites, cockroaches, and other bugs also thrive in damp areas of the home. Dry, wet spots also promote the growth of mold thus leading to health problems, which include coughing, nasal stuffiness, throat …
The attic is one of the essential parts of your roof and the house in general. When kept in the best condition possible and properly-insulated, the attic will help repel anything from rodent infestations, strange smells, and even leaks into the house. In addition to this, sealing the attic helps create an envelope of warm air inside the house which translates to a more energy-efficient home in the long run. Proper attic insulation is essential for it helps seal cracks and crevices that moisture, animals, and heat might enter your attic. Here are some of the reasons and advantages of …
At MGT Insulation, we have insulation services for any application in your home or business. We start with a state-of-the-art infrared testing and blower door to identify any insulation problems that you may have. We then work with you to create a solution that works for you Some of the insulation applications available are: Attic Insulation, Sidewalls, Rim Joists, Crawl Spaces, Tuck Under Garages. The Insulation Products that we use are: Closed-Cell Spray Foam Insulation, Cellulose Insulation, Fiberglass Insulation, Foam Board Insulation. See our website for more …
Ice dams (and icicles) form when the snow melts, runs down your roof and refreezes near the edge. This only occurs when part of your roof warms to above 32 degrees F, warm enough to melt the snow, while the roof edge remains below freezing. This is often the result of a warm attic. In most homes, heat escapes through ceilings into the attic and warms the wood and shingles directly above it. Although the outdoor temperature is below freezing, the snow melts over the warmed section of roof. When the melted water runs down the roof, it hits the cold edge not warmed by the attic. There …
You’re probably aware that most attics and roofs are vented. Maybe you’ve seen a fan in the side of your attic under the eaves, or maybe you’re aware of the ridge cap at the peak of your roof. What you may not know, however, is that most homes don’t have enough attic ventilation, and that this lack of adequate ventilation can be raising your energy bills and doing damage to your home. Proper attic ventilation is an important part of overall roof maintenance. Attic ventilation is important to keep the air flowing through your attic, rather than simply letting it sit. Ventilation …
Foam board insulation is a great alternative to the very common fiberglass batt insulation that is in most of our homes. It has a higher R-Value per inch of thickness, it’s resistant to moisture and is easy to work with. Because of its resistance to moisture, foam board insulation is a great choice whenever and wherever there is a chance it could get wet, such as: an exterior foundation, inside a basement against the foundation, and on the outside of a house beneath a house wrap. Foam board insulation is more expensive than traditional batt insulation, so use it only when moisture …
Spray foam insulation, also known as foaming insulation or sprayed insulation, is a two-part liquid insulation that insulates and air seals wherever it is applied. The material comes in two large 55 gallon drums – an iso and a resin. These two liquids are kept separate until applied at the jobsite by a qualified, licensed spray foam installer. The two liquids travel up through a heated hose to the spray gun where they are combined to create the foam. The foam expands within seconds to fill the cavity surface. Depending on the type of sprayed-in foam insulation used, closed-cell or …
When it comes to insulating your home, there are two commonly used materials to do the job, fiberglass and cellulose. Both materials improve the energy efficiency of your home but do so in different ways. R-Value R-values refer to how well an insulation performs at blocking thermal transfer. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation performs. Fiberglass and cellulose have similar R-values, with ranges depending on how and where they are installed. Because fiberglass comes in batts or blown-in insulation and both materials can be loosely or densely installed, this can change …