Archive for the ‘Insulation’ category

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Air Leaks: Search, Locate, and Seal

December 21st, 2010

As the weather turns colder every day, the symptoms of air leaks in your home may begin to show. Temperature fluctuations and longer furnace run times are just a couple of the symptoms that may be costing you your comfort and extra money on your monthly energy bills. We try our bests to seal up our homes as air tight as possible, but still air can leak in from almost anywhere in the home. You may not think that a couple little air leaks are a big problem, but those leaks could be costing you more than you think. These are some common problems caused by air leaks:

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Posted in Go Green, Home Repairs, Home Services, Insulation, Money Saving

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Duct Leaks and Insulation

November 17th, 2010

Many homeowners are on the right track with making their homes more energy efficient. They replace the old heating and cooling systems with high efficiency units, install a programmable thermostat, have their yearly maintenance performed, and replace the furnace filter regularly. However, thousands of homes that have these improvements are still wasting loads of energy. How is this possible? Leaky or poorly insulated duct work is the problem.

Problems Caused by Leaky and Un-insulated Duct-work

When the builder installed the duct work system in your home, they had to place sections of the duct-work system in areas that are no conditioned by the air conditioner or furnace. As a result, the air that passes through the ducts will either loose heat or cooling to the duct work material. For example, attics are common place for duct work to be hidden. During the winter, the temperature in the attic is similar to the temperature outside. When the duct work is not insulated, it becomes very cold. As hot air passes through the ducts, some heat is lost to the cold duct-work material whether it is metal, fiberglass, or another duct-work type. » Read more: Duct Leaks and Insulation

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Furnace, Home Improvements, Home Repairs, Home Services, Insulation, Money Saving

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Heat Loss Solutions: Boilers

November 11th, 2010

Heat loss is a problem that is usually associated with forced air furnaces. Leaky duct work and drafty rooms are among the biggest complaints that these units are known for. Boiler owners often assume that because they use radiators instead of vents and duct work, they don’t have to worry about heat loss. However, heat loss is still an issue that even boiler units can be affected by. There is simple fix that any homeowner can create even if you do not have a single “do it yourself” bone in your body! What is the solution to this problem? Radiant panels.

Heat Loss in Boilers

The truth is that boilers would not have this problem is radiators were installed in the center of every room in the home. But, this would not only be inconvenient for furniture placement but also horribly unattractive. No matter which type of radiator you have in your home, vertical, horizontal, baseboards, ect…, odds are it is smashed up against a wall in the corner of each of the rooms in your home. This is where the problem comes in. » Read more: Heat Loss Solutions: Boilers

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Posted in Boiler, Go Green, Heating, Insulation, Money Saving

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Prevent Attic Insulation Scams in Your Home!

November 9th, 2010

Homeowners have long been weary when looking for a contractor to perform any services in their home, and unfortunately, there is more bad news. Attic insulation services now join duct cleanings and home repairs as a source of fraud in this industry. Adding attic insulation to a home that has old or poor amounts of insulation can save the homeowner big bucks on their energy bills and take a load off of the furnace and air conditioner. With these benefits, it makes sense that thousands of people have this service performed every year. But, if you are considering using this service in your home, you must be on the lookout for the fraudulent schemes that illegitimate attic insulation companies have come up with to maximize profit and minimize services. » Read more: Prevent Attic Insulation Scams in Your Home!

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Posted in Consumer Protection, Home Improvements, Home Services, Insulation, Money Saving

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Use that Unused Space

October 4th, 2010

Many of us look around our homes and think that we have used up all of the space that we have, but few people remember to take a peek up in the attic. Most homes have a plethora of attic space that is going to waste. You may throw a box up there occasionally, but are you really getting the most out of your attic space. You should consider optimizing that space by remodeling. Attics can be transformed into everything from bedrooms to workout rooms. The possibilities are truly endless if you use a little creativity and the help of a contractor.

It is worth the cost?

For most homes, the answer is “yes.” If your attic has adequate space, you can save yourself the trouble of adding on an addition or searching for a new home. Also if the job is done well, it can add value to your home. Suddenly your two bedrooms 1 ½ bathroom home can be a 3 bedrooms 2 ½ bathroom home. That not only entices prospective home-buyers, it also makes your home more livable now for you and your family. However, if your attic is in bad shape or if the space is limited this may not be the perfect place to begin remodeling. » Read more: Use that Unused Space

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Contractors, Heating, Home Improvements, Home Repairs, Home Services, Information, Insulation, Remodeling, Value

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Attic Insulation

February 5th, 2010

If you look at a weather map you will notice it’s not just Chicago, but the entire Northeast portion of the country that is being hit by harsh winter weather so far this year. Many homeowners in different regions are trying to find ways to combat the cold. Here, we are taking a look at the ways attic insulation can help your home this winter! » Read more: Attic Insulation

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Posted in Heating, Insulation

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