Year: 2017

Three Ways Home Technology Pays Off

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Today’s home technology puts control of basic home systems at a homeowner’s fingertips. Through a smartphone app or a centralized unit located inside the home, the homeowner can manage a variety of home functions including lighting, home security, and even the home’s heating and cooling system.

Adding home technology has several benefits. Here are just a few to consider:

  • Energy and Cost Savings
    Home technology can help save on monthly energy bills by reducing home energy use. Home technology can turn off power to appliances and electronics when they are not in use such as during the work or school day when the home is empty. This reduces “down time” energy draw and delivers power only when necessary. These savings can be noticed as soon as your first energy bill. Apps like LG’s ThinQ take saving energy a step further by connecting to smart grids to identify the times when energy demand is low. It then notifies homeowners of better times to use energy for routine household chores such as doing laundry or charging an electric car.
  • Convenience
    Have you ever left your house and wondered if you’ve adjusted the temperature? Smart thermostats can tell you what’s happening in your home at any time. Some smart thermostats like Nest can automate home heating and cooling by learning your home’s occupancy and energy patterns to maximize comfort when you are home and energy savings when you are not.
  • Comfort
    Home technology allows you to adjust your home’s interior environment before you arrive. With the touch of a button, you can adjust interior lights, your heating system, and more to ensure your home is at your desired comfort level the moment you walk in the door.

Adding home technology to your home and lifestyle can have many benefits! Check out the links above to learn more about these options.

Why Insulate & Seal Your Crawl Space Before Winter?

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If your home is built on a crawl space, you know firsthand the challenges it can cause. Moisture in a crawl space can cause a host of problems. A damp crawl space is an ideal living space for pests, can cause odor inside the home and can compromise the structure of your home. Insulating your crawl space can dramatically improve your home’s comfort, can help reduce your energy bills and improve the quality of air inside your home.

Don’t wait until summer to insulate and air seal your crawl space! Here are three reasons to insulate your crawl space before winter:

  1. Improved air quality
    Crawl spaces are naturally damp. As your home breathes, air from your crawl space flows into your home’s living space through penetration points around wiring, plumbing holes and more. This means the air in your crawl space is mingling with the air you breathe every day. Not only is this distasteful, it’s also unhealthy. Air sealing and insulating your crawl space will improve the air quality will help keep pollutants out of your home.
  2. Lower energy bills
    Does your furnace run more than you would like during the winter months? This can be in part from damp, cool air from your crawl space being drawn into your home. This air then has to be heated to your comfort level, requiring additional effort for your HVAC system – and additional energy use. Sealing your crawl space will help keep winter energy bills in line and help your HVAC system maintain a longer life.
  3. A more comfortable home
    An unfinished crawl space affects your home’s everyday comfort. Are your floors cool during winter? Is your main living area cooler than the upper level of your home? Sealing and insulating your crawl space can help moderate the temperature in your crawl space and keep cool air away from your floors.

Crawl space problems don’t go away, but they can be corrected! Don’t let another season go by with a damp crawl space. Contact our office with your crawl space questions or to schedule a free crawl space estimate.

 

3 Best Ways to Insulate Your Attic

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Ways to Insulate Your AtticWhen it comes to upgrading insulation in a home, the first area that comes to mind is the attic. Do you know why insulation in an attic is an important part of your home’s overall insulation system? Buildings have a natural airflow that draws inside air up and out. Adding insulation and sealing air leaks in an attic helps heated air stay inside your home. It also stops your HVAC system from running unnecessarily and helps keep energy bills in line.There are three ways to insulate your attic – adding blown fiberglass, air sealing and insulating with fiberglass or insulating with spray foam.

  • Adding blown fiberglass insulation to an existing attic increases R-value by adding a fresh blanket of insulating protection to your home. This is a basic method of upgrading attic insulation and a cost-effective option.
  • Sealing air leaks and upgrading insulation dramatically improves home energy efficiency. In an existing home, attic insulation is removed and penetration points around the attic floor are sealed. After air sealing is complete, a fresh blanket of blown fiberglass insulation is installed. In a new home, penetration points around the attic floor are sealed before insulation is installed.
  • Installing spray foam insulation in an existing attic or the attic of a new home can optimize energy protection. Insulation is removed from the attic of an existing home and spray foam is installed along the roofline. This creates a thermal barrier along the attic ceiling to allow for storage along the attic floor. Spray foam insulation can be installed along the roofline of a new home as part of the construction process.

Adding insulation to your attic is one of the most cost-effective ways to save money on your energy bills each month. Wondering if your home could benefit from additional attic insulation? Contact us for a free estimate.

Hire A Commercial Insulation Contractor

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Construction Project

When it comes to a construction project, time is money. When deadlines are missed or subcontractors hit snags, an entire project can be delayed. With the scale of a commercial project, each decision becomes even more important, including choosing the best insulation contractor. If it’s time to hire a commercial insulation contractor for your next commercial construction project, here are a few things to look for:

  • Commercial insulation experience. Hire a commercial insulation contractor that has extensive commercial insulation experience. The best commercial insulation contractor should confidently answer questions about fire ratings, codes, etc.
  • Fully licensed and insured. A quality commercial insulation contractor will hold the proper insurance and licensing to perform commercial insulation work. If you have any doubt, ask.
  • Current installation techniques. The best commercial insulation contractor will recommend installation techniques to help improve performance, aesthetics and more. A professional commercial insulation contractor will be up to date on industry trends and provide recommendations to make your project even better.
  • Installer base. Hire a commercial insulation contractor that has a large installer base that can complete your installation in a timely fashion. Confirm your contractor has an adequate number of installers available to handle your project when install day comes.

ABS Insulating has vast commercial insulation experience, is up to date on new commercial insulation technologies, is properly licensed and insured, and has the installer base to complete your project in a timely fashion. To get an insulation estimate on your commercial project, contact our office.

3 Wall Insulation Methods for New Homes

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Insulation Methods for New Homes

When thinking of insulation, the attic area of a home is often the first space that comes to mind. Properly insulating a home goes beyond attics and includes walls, crawl spaces, and more. For years, fiberglass batts have been used to insulate wall cavities. Today there are wall insulation options that provide greater energy efficiency and comfort. Here are three wall insulation methods to consider for your next new home construction or remodeling project.

  • Dense Pack Fiberglass with Air Sealing – Fiberglass is a cost-effective insulator. Combining dense-pack fiberglass insulation with air sealing prevents air infiltration and makes a home more comfortable and energy efficient at a cost-effective price point.
  • JM Spider – JM Spider® Plus is fiberglass insulation that is installed in open cavities such as walls before drywall is installed. It is manufactured with interlocking fibers that spring and lock in to place without adhesive or installing behind netting. This technology fills any gaps and voids in a cavity with quick drying times to deliver high-energy performance and help keep your project on schedule.
  • Flash and Batt – Also known as a hybrid insulation system, flash and batt combine fiberglass insulation and spray foam insulation in one application. During installation, one inch of closed cell spray foam insulation is applied. Once in place, a fiberglass batt is placed over the top of the foam. This is a great option to achieve high performance and at a budget-friendly price.

There are many options to insulate walls in new homes and remodeling projects. Contact our office to learn more about these options and schedule a free estimate.

 

Check your Gutters! The Why and the How.

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Adding a Gutter Leaf Protection in Charlotte, NC

Fall is a favorite season for many. For homeowners, it brings to mind dropping leaves and cleaning out gutters. If you are focused on cleaning up leaves from your lawn, don’t overlook your gutters. Gutters direct water away from the foundation of your home. Allowing leaves, sticks and other debris to pile up in your gutters can result in poor drainage and can ruin your foundation.

If you’re tired of cleaning your gutters, consider adding gutter leaf protection. If your gutters are open and it’s time to clean them, here are three easy steps to guide you through proper gutter cleaning:

Remove debris.
After safely placing your ladder, carefully remove debris from the gutters. Be sure to wear work gloves to protect your hands from sticks or any other sharp objects that may not be visible to your eye. Check the downspouts to be sure they are clear so any water drains properly. After removing the debris, take a few minutes to wash out any remnants and help them perform better.

Check installation.
While you are on the ladder, it’s a great time to check that the gutters are secure. Confirm that the gutters are properly connected to the rafters and are stable. If not, this is the time to replace any pieces that are not secure.

Check for holes or missing pieces.
A leaking gutter is as harmful as a missing gutter. If you find holes in any gutters caulk can be temporary fix until your gutters can be replaced (schedule this soon!). You’ll also want to check the rivets that are near the down spouts. These rivets help water flow properly to and through the down spout rather than running over the sides and down to your foundation.

If you notice problems with your gutters, it’s time to have them replaced. Contact our office to discuss your questions and schedule a free estimate.

5 Tips by ABS Insulating to Save Money on Energy Bills

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Tips to Save Money on Energy Bills in Charlotte, NC

Any time is a good time to save money on energy bills! If you dread cool weather, then fall is a great time to make home energy improvements. Here are some projects to get a jump on before cool temps arrive:

  1. Check Your Heating System.
    Your HVAC system will work more efficiently and have a longer life if it’s regularly serviced. Having your system checked can also help prevent a system break down during winter.
  2. Upgrade Your Insulation.
    The majority of heat loss in a home occurs up, not out. As your home naturally breathes, conditioned air is drawn up through the house an out the roof/attic. Adding insulation to your attic is a cost-effective way to save money on energy bills.
  3. Inspect Your Gutters.
    Water can cause huge damage to a home! It’s a great time to make sure your gutters are fully functioning and properly draining water away from your home. While you’re at it, consider adding gutter leaf protection so next year you won’t have the messy job of cleaning your gutters.
  4. Air Seal.
    Air sealing penetration points around your home helps prevent conditioned air from escaping. Penetration points can be found around outlets, vents, ducts, chimneys and more. Keeping conditioned air inside your home keeps your home comfortable and reduces wear and tear on your HVAC system.
  5. Reverse Your Ceiling Fan.
    Easy to do – and often overlooked! Changing the direction of your ceiling fan creates an upward draft and redistributes warm air. Helpful hint: dust your fan blades before reversing directions!

Interested in upgrading your attic insulation, upgrading your gutters, or sealing air leaks? Contact our office to schedule a free estimate!





Protect Your Home with Gutters

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Gutter Protection for Home Water damage can wreak devastation on your home. Water damage can cause mold and can even
compromise the structure. When building or remodeling a home, choosing gutters isn’t typically first on the list. However, knowing the damage poor gutters can cause, they are one of the most important investments you can make to protect your home.

It’s important to choose the right size gutters and have them professionally installed. The proper choice and installation of rain gutters helps draw water away from your home, saving thousands of dollars in potential future repairs. In addition, installing a gutter drain system can help further draw water from your home.

Gutter Project in Charlotte, NC by ABS Insulating

Gutters are available in a variety of colors, styles (including leaf protection), and sizes (5” and 6”). With today’s design options, gutters can enhance the look of your home.

ABS has been installing gutters since 1998. Our gutter division delivers the same quality and attention to detail as our insulation clients. We have knowledge of and experience in every aspect of rain gutter selection, customization and installation.

Contact our office to discuss your project or schedule a free estimate. 

 

What is Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality?

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When we think of air quality, we most often think of outdoor air. Did you know that the air inside your home might have the biggest impact on your health? One estimate indicates the average person receives 72 percent of their chemical exposure at home (via The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/USEPA).

Indoor air quality can be affected by many things – construction materials, materials used to manufacture furniture, cleaning products used in our homes, etc. If you would like to improve the air quality inside your home, here are some steps:

Change cleaning products – look for cleaning products, air fresheners, etc. that are made with natural ingredients or are low-emitting products.

Air seal your home – keeping out external pollutants helps maintain your home’s indoor environment. When external pollutants are kept out, your indoor air can be properly tested and maintained. Spray foam insulation effectively seals air leaks and insulates in one step.

Ventilation – After your home is air sealed, having a proper mechanical ventilation system will help remove indoor air pollutants.

Contact our office to learn about how spray foam insulation can help keep out external pollutants, help maintain your home’s indoor air quality, and help reduce your energy bills. We are happy to provide a free estimate.