Stay Cool During Summer Heat: Home Upgrades That Really Help
Spring is here, the lawnmowers are out in force - battling tall grass due to the past month of rain here in NE Ohio
The weather is changing and many homes are running both heating and air conditioning on the same day. Air conditioning is generally cheaper to run than the heater and families will notice a bit of relief on their energy bills due to the change.
But what if we told you that you and your home can benefit even more this year – and that spring is a great time to do it? Here are some recommendations from Unified Insulation Systems that will save you money, and improve the value of your home at the same time!
'Just tell me already' right? OK – Its your insulation! Or perhaps lack of insulation...
Here is a true story; My daughter is renovating her cottage-core home into a more perfect version of itself, redoing the kitchen, living room, office, and entrance, basically the entire lower floor. Upon tearing out the old drywall, they discovered that there was zip, zero, no insulation to be seen in their walls. They were shocked to say the least. As they put it all together in their heads, its no wonder the kitchen had drafts, and the living room was always cold in the winter and roasting in the summer!
Unfortunately that story is all too common in the insulation industry. One study in 2006 came to the conclusion that 90% of American homes were under-insulated! If your home was built before or around the 70's or 80's, chances are that your home is one of the ones included in that study!
Insulation can prevent energy loss (by this I mean both hot and cold air) by a large margin. In the walls, you're looking at saving around 35% more of your energy. The attic and roof account for another 25%, the floors and basement are 15%, and stopping drafts will save another 15% of your energy. This adds up quickly to big savings every month!
As I mentioned earlier, Spring is a great time to insulate or to reinsulate your home (insulation does age and become less effective, requiring eventual replacement). While most attention to insulation is given in the Winter, when you're cold and uncomfortable, Spring brings warm days and outdoor enjoyment, its a much more comfortable time to have your home insulated!
Want more? Air Sealing is our 2nd recommended upgrade! Sealing around doors, windows, pipes, basement rim joists and any other portion of the home that touches the outdoors will stop outside air from entering or exiting the home. Many small air leaks add up to big overall air changes in the home, if this exceeds the recommended amount per hour, you're basically blowing your heat or A/C right outside, not cool! I recall many fathers saying 'I'm not heating the whole neighborhood”...but you might be!
These two upgrades will work hand in hand to make your home more comfortable, more energy efficient, and more valuable! In fact, the return on investment, from attic insulation alone, is 117% according to Energy.gov! That means it adds more value than it costs, but who is interested in FREE MONEY anyways?
So to wrap it up, insulation and air sealing are two of the most easy home upgrades to increase energy efficiency, savings, and comfort – and Unified Insulation offers both! We also have financing available so that no one has to worry about paying for these upgrades up front! More please! – Unified Insulation blows competition away with a 10 year warranty on blown-in cellulose insulation ensuring that you'll be covered and problem free for a decade!
Just a side note: If a company says they have a lifetime warranty on their insulation, they're lying. No insulation will last a lifetime. We have seen foam in walls that has sucked moisture out of woodwork in the frame, shrunk, and actually created air gaps where there is no insulation at all. This foam had a 'lifetime warranty' and we were still able to put TWENTY 25lb bags into the walls – meaning that the foam was withered away to nothing and turned to dust at the slightest touch.
If you want quality insulation that lasts, give Unified Insulation Systems a call to book your complimentary inspection with our thermal cameras and your free quote! We'll show you just where your home is vulnerable and provide our plan of action! Call (330) 773-7377 to speak to one of our team members, ask questions, and schedule your inspection!
