Blog Posts Written for You & Valley Insulation, LLC

Aug 04 2021

How to Find Out Where Home Air Leaks Are Coming From

Who doesn’t want to reduce energy costs? Air leakage in the home is equivalent to energy loss, so you may see higher heating and cooling bills. By understanding, locating, and sealing air leaks in your home, you can save a lot of money. Read on to learn how to identify and fix air leaks in your home. Don’t forget, you can always call in the professionals with Valley Insulation for help.

What are quick methods to take care of air leaks in my home?

There are some signs that your home may be leaking air. The most obvious is higher energy costs. Compare your utility bills (gas and electricity bills) with the same period a year ago. Have your costs risen sharply this year? There may be new air leaks in your home.

Other signs of recent air leaks include rattling windows, hot and cold rooms, and even excessive dust.

Inspect windows and doors for leaks. If you can rattle your windows or doors, you might have possible air leaks because movement means possible air leaking. Look at the outside of your windows and doors to see if any caulking is missing. Missing caulking can indicate air leaks.

Check your house for damage to siding, windows, and the roof.

How do I troubleshoot air leaks in my home?

Air leaks most often occur around doors and windows, on top of basement walls, fireplaces, recessed lights, duct vents, wiring holes on walls, and attic roof hatches.

Fortunately, there are three inexpensive ways to locate leaks of various sizes around these places.

Flashlight test. Wait until night, turn off all the lights in the room. Ask a friend or family member to come out and stand in front of where you think the leak is coming from. Then turn on the flashlight from the inside. If your friend can see the light coming in from the house, it may have some leaks.

Incense or toilet paper. Hold up an incense stick or one piece of toilet paper near a window, door, or suspected leaky air spot. Drafts and air movements will move the incense smoke or toilet paper in erratic directions.

Manual inspection. Expecting an extremely hot or cold day. Check all the seams in your home. Don’t forget the outside of the structure. For best results, moisten your hands with water to make it easier to feel the temperature change. If you can feel a drop or a sudden rise in temperature near the joint, you may have noticed an air leak.

How do I seal air leaks?

Don’t worry, there is a sealing solution for every leak! Once you find out where the air is leaking in your home, take action.

Check out these quick tips for air leaks in sealed homes.

Windows and doors. Use caulk and weather strips. Depending on the position and shape of the window or door frame opening, you can choose weather strips, felt, foam, rubber, and metal weather strips. Use a caulking gun on small areas. For less durable options, try using rope putty.

Attic and crawl space. This is a tough task, but you need to properly insulate the attic and crawl space. A simple diagnostic tool is a ruler. If your insulation is shorter than 10 inches, fill it with a layer of cellulose insulation. Better yet, invest in home insulation from Valley Insulation. And, of course, wrap the tubing to any HVAC plumbing.

Basement. To insulate the large space (half an inch or more) between the house frame and the foundation, try a can of polyurethane insulation foam. The foam expands to firmly fill the large gaps. Fill in the small gaps with silicone or latex sealant. Always use heat-resistant caulk around the stove or water heater vents.

Who can help me fix air leaks in my home?

Need help with your home insulation? Valley Insulation has the answer! For further assistance or in-person consultation, call Valley Insulation in Ohio at 513-353-4100.

Jul 21 2021

Valley Insulation Discusses Home Insulation Statistics

Wooden man sits on the word Truth in block letters

Valley Insulation is the premier cellulose insulation installer in the Greater Cincinnati area. We offer world-class Nu-Wool insulation for your home’s attic and walls. In today’s blog, we discuss home insulation statistics.

Is home insulation eco-friendly?

Yes, Nu-Wool is 85 percent post-consumer newspapers. Every ton of recycled newspapers saves 17 trees, and those trees absorb 250 pounds of carbon dioxide every year. Let’s say we install 400 pounds of cellulose insulation in your home. Your installation potentially saves 3.5 trees from being used as a paper product.

For every BTU it takes to produce cellulose insulation, homeowners save 12 BTUs. That’s a lot of carbon dioxide staying out of the atmosphere!

What is the R-value of Nu-Wool cellulose insulation?

Nu-Wool is 10 percent more efficient than ordinary insulation. Here’s why. The average R-value of wall insulation is 3.5 per inch. Nu-Wool has an R-value of 3.8 per inch.

How does home insulation help my heating and cooling bills?

On average, heating and cooling account for 54 percent of your home’s annual utility bill. Meanwhile, uninsulated floors waste 10 percent of your home’s heating bills. But here is where cellulose insulation really helps you. You can reduce heat loss in your home by 67 percent by installing wall insulation where there previously was none. You can decrease heating and cooling costs by 40 percent after installing attic insulation to the right depth.

How long does it take to recoup my investment in home insulation?

On average, you recoup the costs of new home insulation in five to six years. After that time period, your investment turns into savings. You can save even more the longer you own your home. The important thing is that your individual results may vary.

How can install insulation in my home in Cincinnati?

Interested in new home insulation from Valley Insulation? Let us know! Call our team at Valley Insulation for a consultation today!

Jul 08 2021

What Does the EPA Say About the Money You Can Save With Proper Home Insulation?

According to the government’s Energy Star program, the average American household spends more than $2,000 per year on utility bills. If you’re a homeowner, chances are you’re always searching for ways to save money on energy costs. Fortunately, there’s a lot of room for improvement, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has good news for you!

How much energy savings can I see from new home insulation?

When it comes to energy savings, home insulation and sealing can make a big difference. The EPA estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs (or 11% of all energy costs on average) by sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces, and basement rim joists.

This estimate emphasizes characteristics that define the “typical” American home, including:

1,700 square feet of conditioned floor area
15% window-to-floor-area ratio
23% total system duct leakage
Four bedrooms
Construction with wooden studs, joists, and rafters with batt insulation in walls and blown insulation in attics

Your individual results will vary.

Why is saving energy important?

Cutting back on your energy costs with home insulation improvements has many benefits for U.S. homeowners like you.

First, it puts money back in your wallet. Chances are, if you could save even a fraction of those $ 2,000 ( ish ) dollars you likely spend on energy costs every year, you’d be happy. While home insulation improvements require an upfront investment, they pay for themselves over time with energy savings.
It’s also good for the environment. Quite a bit of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The household energy used by the average American family produces about twice as much carbon pollution as a car. Insulation reduces your carbon footprint by sealing and insulating your home, replacing old appliances with newer, high-efficiency ones, and setting your thermostat wisely. At the same time, you are asleep or away from your home are all things that are better for our environment.

How can help me save money on heating and cooling costs?

As you can see, properly sealing and insulating your home can decrease your energy costs and cut back on your carbon footprint. If you’re ready to start making these improvements, Valley Insulation can help. Call us today to get a quote or for more details on our customized insulation services. Keep in mind, your individual results will vary from any examples we have listed here.

Jun 24 2021

How Deep Should Cellulose Insulation Be in Your Attic?

Properly insulating your attic can prevent many unnecessary headaches and hassles. Having the correct amount of insulation not only reduces your energy costs but also ensures that your home remains at a comfortable temperature all year long. Proper insulation prevents erosion from water vapors and cuts back on heat buildup in your attic (which can make the shingles on your roof crack).

So now that you know why insulation in your attic is so essential, the next logical question is: How much cellulose insulation should be in your attic? Valley Insulation will answer this question in today’s blog.

What factors determine the depth of insulation I need?

Cellulose and fiberglass insulation are both common types of insulation used in homes. The preferred amount of cellulose insulation in your attic will vary depending on the following factors:

Where you live: Depending on where you live in the United States, you may need a higher or lower R-value of insulation. (R-value is a measure of thermal resistance or resistance to the flow of heat. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulation’s effectiveness.) Cincinnati has warm and humid summers and frigid winters, so a higher R-value is preferred.
How old your home is: If your house is more than ten years old, you’ll likely need to add more insulation to your attic. How much you need to add will depend on the current condition of your existing insulation. An experienced insulation contractor can assess your attic insulation and provide trustworthy recommendations.

How deep should cellulose insulation be in my attic?

According to Energystar.gov, most attics’ recommended cellulose insulation level is to insulate to R-38 (about 10 to 14 inches). However, homeowners in the Cincinnati area should take into consideration the climate and adjust accordingly. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that attics in Cincinnati-area homes are insulated to an R-value of 38-60. For cellulose insulation, that’s about 13 to 16 inches deep.

Who can help me install home insulation in my attic?

Properly insulating your attic will make your home more comfortable and put money back in your wallet. Suppose you’d like to improve the existing insulation in your attic. In that case, a Valley Insulation professional can help you determine how much additional insulation is necessary and what type of insulation best fits your needs and budget. Contact us today at (513) 353-4100 to get a quote from one of our highly trained insulation installers.

May 26 2021

Make Insulation Part of Your Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

As spring arrives, you look over your home and begin to prepare a physical and mental checklist. Things like trimming trees, removing leaves and debris from corners, power washing siding, and checking air conditioning units are probably topping the list. But when was the last time you checked your home insulation?

Proper maintenance of your home insulation will prevent several issues including loss of heat or cool air, mold and mildew, and wood rot. It is less expensive to replace a few rolls of insulation than to tear out and rebuild floors, ceilings and walls.

Water Damage

Spring is known for increased rainfall. This is great for plants and grass, but not so for your insulation. There may be parts of your home that have been compromised over the years, allowing moisture in and onto your insulation. When this happens, the water has nowhere to go, so it stays in the insulation and becomes the perfect environment for mold and mildew growth.

Mold spores release into the air, causing respiratory issues and triggering allergies. This can also add to damp and musty odors in the home. Wet insulation on or next to wood like floor joists and wall beams can absorb moisture as well, causing more mold and even rot.

By checking your home insulation after every wet season, you will be able to identify these issues and have the insulation removed and new installed.

Animals

When colder temperatures arrive, smaller animals will seek shelter. This includes the less-inhabited parts of your home like the basement, attic and garage. Just because spring arrives doesn’t mean they will want to leave. Think of your home insulation as a large, warm blanket for small animals and rodents.

They will also use your home insulation as a mating area, nest for offspring and a bathroom. Particles from these animals can become part of the air that you and your family breathe, potentially causing illness.

One way to remedy this situation is by checking your insulation a few times a year. Look for droppings, nests, and the smell of urine or feces. This home insulation will have to be removed and destroyed. Look for any entry points that the animals used to find their way in and have them covered.

Home Energy Audit

Is there a part of your home that always feels hotter or colder, despite what the thermostat reads? When you put your hand on a wall, is it especially warm or cold? This could mean you need insulation inside the wall. Not having proper home insulation for your outside walls and in ceilings could be costing you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars every year.

Consider having a home energy audit done on your home. An auditor will examine several things, including windows, walls and eaves to see if they can identify any issues that would cause leaks into and out of your home. An audit will also check your attic insulation to make sure it has been properly installed and applied evenly between walls. Even distribution is key to maintaining ambient temperatures, reducing cold spots in the home.

Following these simple steps to ensure your insulation is working as efficiently as possible for your home will save you from unneeded repairs, reduce energy bills and increase the quality of the air you’re breathing.

Rely on Valley Insulation for Home Insulation

Talk to the experts at Valley Insulation, serving the Greater Cincinnati area since 1977, for home insulation installation. Contact us online or call 513.353.4100 for more details on what we offer.

Insulation experts since 1977