The longer days are a sure sign that the Spring season is right around the bend. That means warmer weather, spring cleaning, and lots of time to prepare your home for the hot summer. Here are some energy saving tips from the insulation contractors at Dimensional Contracting.

Install Appropriate Insulation in Previously Neglected Areas

Here is an obvious tip, installing insulation with the appropriate r-value in the areas where your home needs it most. Insulation acts as a barrier to heat transfer, keeping your home cool in the hot summers and more comfortable in the winter. Spring is a perfect opportunity to get ahead of the hot summer and upgrade or improve your insulation before it’s too late. You don’t want to wait until you’re laying awake while sweating all night and losing sleep.

Leaks in Your Attic Insulation Can Cost You

One of the most common problems we see in customer homes is leakage in areas of the attic. People call us and ask why their electricity costs are so high and why their HVAC unit runs constantly and we often find the reason is because that cold air from the AC is leaking right out through the attic, and worse, the attic is heating up and warming the whole house. This results in a problem that attacks your home’s efficiency from two angles, and costs you a lot of money.

Attics are easy to overlook. You rarely go up there unless its to store something or bring something out of storage. Out of sight out of mind as the saying goes. Unfortunately this is an often neglected area in terms of energy efficiency. The attic should have the appropriate radiant barrier properly installed, it should have the right vapor barriers in place, and it should have insulation with the best appropriate r-value for the Texas climate. Good attic insulation installers know the right r-values, and the right installation methods to fix and upgrade all of these areas.

Additionally, all of the ventilation areas, hatches, and other parts of the attic must be properly insulated so that the insulation comes together in those areas snugly to avoid unnecessary temperature seepage. All too often we come into someone’s home to find the previous contractor or homebuilder neglected to add these finishing touches and only installed the bare minimum insulation to pass inspection. Folks, don’t settle for the bare minimum when you could be saving money every day on heating and cooling.

You Have Holes in Your Walls

You don’t see them, but you have holes in your walls. Just behind your paint, wallpaper, and family photos, there is space that should be full of the appropriate insulation with the right r-value. Chances are good that this is not the case and you’ve got holes in your walls where heat is invading your home during the summer and escaping in the winter. Our expert team can easily identify areas where temperature loss is occurring and install the right insulation to fix those problem areas and patch those holes. Additionally our team offers spray foam insulation to fill walls quickly and efficiently even in hard to reach areas.

Other Ways to Improve Insulation

You don’t need a pro for everything of course, and there are some things everyone can do to help improve their home’s insulation efficiency. The easiest thing you can do is to ensure that your doors and windows are closing and sealing properly. Make sure the weather strip around your doors and windows is in place and not crumbling or broken from age. Weather stripping is something that most homeowners can do to easily improve their heating and cooling efforts quickly and for very little cost. Some people will be tempted to install their own insulation thinking to save money, but we highly recommend you hire an expert for insulation installation.

Modernize Your Windows

Of course, insulation isn’t everything and if you don’t have adequate windows to begin with, you’re going to run into problems. Older homes have single pane windows or windows that may not seal properly. For the most efficient home, you’ll want to install modern windows that insulate properly to help you with your insulation efforts. However, new windows are considerably more expensive than insulation, so we recommend that you first fix insulation issues as this will save you money in the short term every day and will help enable you to afford those window upgrades. You want to get the fastest solution at the best cost and insulation is the best way to achieve that goal.

Local Insulation Contractor Ready to Install, Call (817) 966-9605

The summer time heat will be here in no time and you want to stay ahead of the weather. Call the insulation installation experts at Dimensional Contracting at (817) 966-9605. The call is free, the consultation is free. No obligation or high pressure, just an honest assessment and explanation of how we can help you. Our solutions are tailored specifically the our customers’ needs. No matter how big or small the project, give us a call and get an estimate from our insulation experts today.

Having the right insulation will make your home more comfortable no matter where you live. If you live in Antarctica or sweat it out here at home in the Texas heat, the R-Value of insulation is the key factor in controlling the temperature of your home.

Because of the laws of thermodynamics (see Newton’s second law of Thermodynamics) heat naturally wants to flow to cold. This is true when talking about the air inside of and around your home as well.  When cold air collides with hot air, the hot air cools down because of the transfer of heat energy in the air molecules.

Because of the physics involved in bodies of air with different temperatures, the heat produced by your HVAC unit heat wants to flow outside in the winter. The opposite is true in the summer, when the heat from outside wants to flow into your home and ruin that nice cold AC you’re paying so much for in electricity costs. The latter is a much more common concern in Texas of course, but we can also have some pretty cold days in winter as well. The good news is that if you have high-quality professionally installed insulation with the right R-Value, you are reducing the flow of heat in either direction that means your insulation improvements will help you year round. But what is R-Value and why is it important?

First, let’s start with why it’s important. Having the right R-Value will save you money year round. It will make your entire heating and cooling system far more efficient, meaning it will run less, consuming less power, and causing less wear and tear on your HVAC unit. This results in lower electricity and maintenance costs. Depending on how poor the insulation is prior to installation of properly fitted insulation of the right R-Value and type, sometimes the difference can be very substantial.

R-Value sounds sort of technical, but the R simply stands for resistance. The R-Value is the numerical value that represents how effectively an insulation resists the flow of heat. The higher the value, the greater the insulating power. Higher R-Value insulations are often a higher cost as well though, so its important to choose the right one for the right job. The Resistance Value of an insulating material gives you a way to easily compare insulation effectiveness, and the value even holds true across various insulation types, allowing you to compare different types of insulation using the same value scale. This is especially useful for insulation professionals when trying to provide you with the best insulation for your money.

How Do You Know What R-Value is Right?

This all depends on where you live of course. If you are stationed in Antarctica, your needs will differ slightly from those of our Texas neighbors. Colder climates tend to have a need for higher R-Values in insulation.

The way your home was built is a key factor in determining insulation type as well. If you have high vaulted ceilings, a basement, slab foundation, single or multiple levels, these are all things that need to be considered when choosing insulation of the right R-Value. Additionally, it may not be best to use the same R-Value insulation throughout your home. Typically higher resistance insulations are recommended in attics or high ceiling areas, the best way to figure that out is to consult with a professional and get an insulation audit.

The U.S. Department of Energy has specific recommendations for the total R-Values of homes throughout the country. Here is a map of the country with the zones shown. Texas falls into zone 2 and 3 which means they have a specific range of recommended R-Values for insulation installed in homes in that zone.

How Can I Tell Where I Need More Insulation?

The best way of course is to hire a professional to assess the home for any leakages and areas of temperature transfer that are causing you issues. However, you can most likely review your home yourself and find lots of areas with issues. Check out your heating system, make sure it is properly insulated and that the air filter is clean and airflow is good. Check around your windows and doors. Do you feel any air moving through the areas around them? That’s a sure sign there is something wrong. Look for any openings, cracks, or areas where wires or pipes come into the house from below or outside. Look for places you might suspect you could be losing all the air and wasting all the hard work you’re doing to pay the electricity bill every month.

Bear in mind that R-Value can only work effectively if the insulation is correctly installed. That’s one of the many reasons to choose a professional insulation installer, in addition to avoiding all the hot and dirty work involved. If insulation is installed haphazardly or incorrectly, the heat can flow through cracks and improperly filled areas, and you will lose money every year because of that small mistake. So while the resistance value of insulation is important, it isn’t the only factor involved in properly insulating your home. If you are interested in a free consultation regarding the insulation in your home and live in the Dallas Fort Worth area, please reach out to the attic insulation installers at Dimensional Contracting today via our website or by phone at 817-966-9605.

Insulation provides people living in houses, apartments, and other structures with increased comfort, reduced risks of serious injury caused by excessive heat or cold, lower recurring bills, and a generally positive impact on the environment.

According to Energy Star, a bureau of the United States government dedicated to conserving natural gas, water, and electricity usage throughout the nation, a typical American home can save up to 20 percent on annual utility bills with proper wall and attic insulation installation and can further improve that through sealing air leaks and having radiant barrier installed properly.

What Does Properly Installed Insulation Do, Exactly?

A major function of shelter is to keep us warm during cold, winter months; likewise, it serves to maintain cool temperatures throughout stifling, summer months. The reason shelter, especially modern homes, is so effective at segregating temperatures is because of walls, floors, ceilings – everything in between the outdoors and homes’ actual living spaces.

Hot and cold air will always attempt to reach equilibrium, a point at which two given volumes of air that initially featured a temperature difference will have equal temperature.

Without insulation, air creeps its way through small crevices between walls, around windows, where homes’ foundations meet the ground, through underused attics, and everywhere else in between.

Insulation helps slow down the transfer of hot and cold bodies of gas – in this case air both inside and outside of homes – which places less strain on central heating and cooling systems.

Why Is The Installation Of Insulation So Tricky To Perform Correctly?

There are tons of solid reasons explaining why homeowners should always seek out insulation installers, unless those same homeowners are professional, full-time insulation installers.

If you’re currently skeptical about the need to hire an insulation-installing professional, you won’t be in, give or take, four minutes. Trust us! Take it from the experts.

Fiberglass, The Most Common Modern Insulator, Is Bad News

Fiberglass is made up of many fibers, or tiny particles that are three times their width in length, at minimum. The compound – it’s commonly called glass wool or fibrous glass – is loaded with tiny glass fibers, the primary substance that forms fibers in the compound.

The tiniest pieces of fiberglass can travel into the lungs, where the substance causes some serious problems include painfully itchy skin from skin contact; red, irritated eyes; harshly agitated nose and throat areas, potentially causing bronchitis or asthma; another known short-term health affect of fiberglass exposure is irritation of the stomach lining. In rare instances, some people develop long term medical issues related to fiberglass exposure.

Unless you’re willing to take on the potential of well-documented health risks, consider hiring attic insulation installers.

The Wrong Insulator Can Actually Increase The Transfer Of Air Between The Inside And Exterior Of Homes

Cellulose is known to be the world’s longest-used insulator, having been used for thousands of years. Today, it’s essentially made of old newspapers covered with flame-retardant chemicals.

Historically it was created with cotton, hemp, straw, sawdust, and other natural insulators.

Although the fiberglass alternative is leaps and bounds safer than glass wool, it sinks to the ground over time, leaving large gaps between the top-most portions of walls and the eventual tops of cellulose insulation. This results in lower energy efficiency than when other options are chosen.

Further, cellulose is an excellent source for mold to grow if moisture is allowed to reach the insulation. Although vapor barriers can effectively keep out mold, at least in most situations, ripped, torn, or completely absent plastic vapor barriers can cause big problems – mold isn’t fun to deal with, can cause severe allergic and asthmatic reactions, and even permanently damage surfaces affected by mold and its close relative mildew.

The Installation Of The Attic Radiant Barrier Is Often Performed Improperly

Attics are typically less insulated than any other parts of homes, as homeowners spend less time in them than any other room in their houses and it often goes overlooked. Additionally construction companies sometimes install only the minimum required insulation which means that it may not be as efficient as possible.

Homes’ uppermost levels need to consist of an attic radiant barrier. Unfortunately for homeowners, they’re often installed incorrectly.

To install radiant barriers the right way, it’s important to leave at least a one-inch gap between the innermost layer of the roof and the radiant barrier itself. Laying such metal barriers directly underneath shingles can actually cause houses to be hotter. This is just one example of the subtle nuances that a homeowner may not know of, but where a professional insulation installation company is well experienced.

Even if the home stays roughly the same temperature after radiant barriers are installed incorrectly, purchasing and installing them incorrectly is still a total waste of money.

Failing To Hire Attic Insulation Installers Can Result In Fire

Attics are often filled with electrical lines, lights, and other sources of electricity. When cellulose – even if it’s been treated with chemicals to ward off fire – or fiberglass is exposed to electricity, that could result in a potentially life-threatening fire. Having your insulation evaluated by a professional company will help identify any potential hazards. Even if the insulation and wiring was initially installed correctly, it can be damaged and moved by pests or people storing things in the attic. This can cause insulation to become a hazard to your home and the safety of your family. Additionally having a professional insulation inspection done can identify areas where insulation has settled or had moisture damage due to leakage in the roof. Having an inspection done by an insulation professional can save you money and identify potential problems before they cause expensive damage to your home.

Free Estimate from Professional Insulation Installers

The insulation professionals at Dimensional Contracting offer a free, no obligation, no pressure estimate. Contact us today on our website or by calling 817-966-9605

The first snow of the year for Dallas residents happened on December 9th, just a few days ago. Many residents had to turn on their heat for the first time this year, and many of them found out they have poor insulation installed in their homes. This week, temperatures have jumped into the high 70’s further demonstrating typically chaotic Texas weather. If you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes.

The great thing about having good insulation installed properly in your home is that it works no matter if you are trying to keep the heat in or out. The recent cold weather freeze had many Dallas residents realizing that they could stand to invest a bit more into keeping their home comfortably temperature controlled. During periods of mild weather, it can be easy to forget how important that is, at least until the power bill comes. Good insulation pays for itself over time, and that alone makes it well worth the investment. You’re increasing your comfort and your home’s value, while simultaneously saving on utility costs.

All Weather Insulation for Texas Conditions

Some Texas residents have really inadequate heating and insulation systems, hoping for mild winter weather, and suffering through the season when we have cold snaps like last week. If you are one of those Texans, please reach out to us for a free consultation. You may not realize just how affordable it can be to have good insulation installed in your home. We don’t pressure you to buy, we just give you the facts and a competitive price. We can advise you on the proper R-Value for insulation in your home, we won’t try to sell you more than you need. We can identify areas where you may be losing heat or where heat may be coming in and ruining the cool AC you have running in the summer.

Correctly Installed Insulation Extends HVAC Life

You probably noticed your HVAC unit running fiercely during the freeze last week, and it may have run virtually non-stop. Unnecessary wear and tear on your HVAC system can lead to some incredibly expensive problems and really will shorten the lifespan of your system. Better insulation with the proper R-Value means all that warm air stays where you want it, inside or out. Your heating and cooling unit is going to run a lot less, which means less wear and tear and a longer life. Have you ever had to replace an HVAC unit? They run in the thousands of dollars plus expensive installation fees. It is far more affordable to upgrade your insulation which will upgrade the lifespan of your entire heating and cooling system. Its really an easy choice when it comes to savings, and is arguably one of the most important aspects of your home.

Attic Insulation Installation is Key

Everybody knows heat rises. Well guess where it goes when your attic isn’t properly insulated? Straight out of your house. When cold weather comes and your HVAC is running its mechanical heart out churning that heated air into your home, its blowing right out of your attic like smoke from a chimney. The opposite is true in the summer heat and all that heat comes in from the attic and mixes with your cool air. Some people even have their duct work in the attic without insulation. That means the air traveling through those ducts is going to heat up or cool down in a hurry and the air coming out of your vents in the house below is going to be the wrong temperature. A properly insulated attic and duct work can make all the difference in savings and comfort in your home below.

One of the most important things you can do for your attic, especially in Dallas Fort Worth, is to have a radiant barrier installation properly done by an experienced contractor. Radiant barrier when properly installed can provide a 25% reduction in heat gain from your roof during the hot summer and doubles as an insulating layer.

Life Expectancy of Insulation

You may be thinking your insulation is already in place and you have nothing to worry about. That may be true, but have you had a professional you can trust come out and assess your home? Older homes will have outdated insulation and may not provide the same R-Value of protection that modern insulation materials will have. Additionally, insulation that is improperly installed or old can have moisture damage or it could have fallen away over time or been damaged by pests. Modern insulations will provide a much better R-Value per area and are designed to have a much longer lifespan provided they are properly maintained by staying dry and positioned in the right places. Durability and effectiveness of materials balanced with affordability should be discussed with an insulation professional.

Why work so hard to come home to a house that is too hot, or in the case of last week, too cold? You work hard, pay your bills, and you should be able to rest in comfort. Your family should be able to rest in comfort. Your house should be your sanctuary for you and your family. Call us for a free, no pressure, no obligation, insulation consultation. You know what you have to gain, but what do you have to lose? Call us free today at 817-966-9605.