Spring Cleaning: The Perfect Time to Check Your Home's Insulation

As winter fades and flowers start to bloom, spring comes as a time of renewal and freshness. It's also a good moment to pay some attention to your home after the long, cold months. While many people focus on cleaning closets and dusting forgotten spots during spring cleaning, don't forget about insulation. It's like a secret helper in your house, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer. But just like anything else, insulation can wear out over time, leading to higher energy bills. That's why spring is the perfect time to give it a check-up. At Lewis Insulation, we are proud to be experts in insulation in Plymouth.

Insulation is the silent hero of your home's energy efficiency, working behind the scenes to keep you cozy when it's cold and comfortable when it's hot. However, as time goes on, insulation can degrade, get damaged or even settle, making it less effective and causing your energy bills to go up. That's why spring is a great time to take a look at your home's insulation and make any necessary improvements before the heat of summer hits.

Here's why you should make insulation inspection and maintenance a priority this spring:

1. Energy Efficiency: As temperatures rise, your HVAC system has to work harder to keep your home cool. If your insulation isn't doing its job, you could be losing cool air, which means your air conditioner has to work even harder, costing you more money. Making sure your insulation is in good shape can help you save energy and lower your utility bills.

2. Comfort: Good insulation not only keeps your home energy-efficient but also helps keep it comfortable all year round. Poor insulation can lead to uneven temperatures throughout your home, with some rooms feeling too hot while others stay chilly. By addressing insulation issues now, you can ensure consistent comfort for you and your family.

3. Preventing Moisture Damage: Spring showers might bring May flowers, but they can also cause problems for your home if moisture gets inside. Insulation plays a crucial role in preventing moisture buildup and condensation, which can lead to mold growth, rot and damage to your home's structure. By keeping your insulation in good condition, you can protect your home from water-related issues and maintain its integrity.

4. Allergy Relief: Springtime allergies can be a nightmare for allergy sufferers, but did you know that proper insulation can help reduce indoor allergens? By sealing up gaps and cracks where allergens can sneak in, you can create a healthier indoor environment and breathe easier during allergy season.

So, where should you start with your spring insulation inspection? Begin by checking the insulation in key areas of your home, like the attic, walls and crawl spaces. Look for any signs of damage, compression or moisture intrusion, and don't hesitate to call in a professional like Lewis Insulation if you're unsure about the condition of your insulation.

Are you ready to make sure your insulation in Plymouth or the surrounding Twin Cities area is ready for the upcoming year? Call Lewis Insulation today at 763-477-2612 or contact us!

 

Home Insulation and Energy Efficiency: Myths vs. Facts

Homeowners are often bombarded with advice on how to make their homes more energy efficient. One of the most common recommendations is to improve insulation. However, there are many myths and misconceptions surrounding insulation and its impact on energy efficiency. At Lewis Insulation, we understand home insulation in Plymouth and want to debunk some of the most common myths.

Myth 1: All Insulation is the Same

Fact: Not all insulation materials are created equal. Different types of insulation have varying levels of effectiveness and suitability for specific areas of your home. There are many different types of insulation materials available, such as fiberglass, cellulose, foam board, and spray foam – each with their own pros and cons.

Myth 2: Insulation Alone Will Drastically Reduce Energy Bills

Fact: While proper insulation is a crucial component of energy efficiency, it's not a standalone solution. A holistic approach to energy efficiency is imperative. This approach often includes factors like air sealing, efficient HVAC systems, and lifestyle choices. It's essential to know that insulation works in conjunction with these elements.

Myth 3: Adding More Insulation is Always Better

Fact: Over-insulating a space can be as problematic as having insufficient insulation. There is an insulation "sweet spot" in each home, where too much insulation beyond that can lead to issues like moisture problems and reduced indoor air quality.

Myth 4: Insulation Stops Heat Transfer Completely

Fact: Insulation slows down heat transfer; it doesn't stop it entirely. Insulation helps to address the principles of heat transfer (conduction, convection, and radiation), however, it does not fully stop heat from transferring.

Myth 5: Insulation is a One-Time Investment

Fact: Insulation can degrade over time and lose its effectiveness. Regular maintenance and insulation inspections are required to ensure it continues to perform optimally.

Myth 6: Insulation Doesn't Matter in Warm Climates

Fact: Insulation is beneficial in both cold and warm climates. Insulation helps maintain comfortable indoor temperatures and reduce cooling costs in hot climates by keeping conditioned air in and outdoor heat out.

In the world of home energy efficiency, misinformation abounds. By dispelling these common myths and presenting the facts about insulation and its role in reducing energy consumption, you can make more informed decisions about how to improve your home's efficiency. Remember that achieving a truly energy-efficient home involves a combination of factors, and insulation is just one piece of the puzzle. Stay informed and consult with the professionals at Lewis Insulation when making decisions about insulation upgrades to ensure you get the best results for your home and budget.

Do you need home insulation in Plymouth or the surrounding Twin Cities area? Call Lewis Insulation today at 763-477-2612 or contact us!

 

4 Myths About Attic Ventilation

As a homeowner, do you understand attic ventilation? As attic ventilation experts in Minneapolis, Lewis Insulation is here to discuss these widely believed myths! If you have any questions about attic ventilation, contact us.

The right attic ventilation can help manage moisture levels, so it’s an especially important topic as it is estimated that 90% of homes have unreasonably high levels! Proper ventilation can protect your belongings, your roof and your insulation.

1. The More Attic Ventilation, The Better

One of the biggest myths we hear is that more attic ventilation is always better. As with most things, more is not always better. Unfortunately, just as is the case with air conditioning units and furnace capacities – more is not always better. While too little attic ventilation is an issue, having too much may be an even bigger risk.

Attic ventilation often comes in the form of roof vents, which create more access to the inside of your home, so having too many can increase the risk of leaks, weak spots for storm damage, or sparks entering your home and causing destruction on the inside.

This leaves the question: how much ventilation is just right? Unlock Goldilocks who needs to test out multiple options to make the right choice, your decision is simpler – just give us a call! Your local professional, like Lewis Insulation, can identify the proper amount of attic ventilation for your home.

2. Roof Vents Equals Attic Ventilation

Unfortunately, simply having roof vents does not mean that you have the right amount of attic ventilation, or even much attic ventilation. Depending on your home, roof and type of roof vents, your roof vents may not do much of anything for your attic ventilation. Each home and roof are unique, so the best way to ensure that you have proper attic ventilation is to hire a professional to install a ventilation system that will work for you.

3. Roof Vents Allow Warm Air to Escape During Winter

Contrary to popular belief, attic vents don’t lower your home’s energy efficiency. Many fall into this belief due to the fact that hot air rises, but if your warm air is rising straight up to your attic and out of roof vents, you have bigger problems than attic ventilation.

Chances are, if warm air is escaping through roof vents during the winter, you have an insulation problem. Unfortunately, to double down, insulation problems often increase moisture – meaning that you likely have a ventilation problem as well.

4. Only Warmer Climates Need Roof Vents

While some may assume roof vents are only there to increase energy efficiency in the summer by releasing excess heat and that therefore colder climates don’t require ventilation, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Increased energy efficiency is a benefit of good attic ventilation, there are other pieces that are better designed for energy efficiency. Shingle color, sun exposure and insulation each contribute more to energy efficiency.

However, attic ventilation is still very necessary, even in cooler climates. In fact, colder climates tend to benefit even more from proper ventilation than warmer ones. Cooler climates experience more condensation in the attic due to the chilly temperatures outside, meaning that the moisture levels are often higher than in warmer climates.

Now that you are armed with a better understanding of attic ventilation for your home in Minneapolis – are you ready to call an expert to make sure your ventilation is up to its job? Call Lewis Insulation today at 763-477-2612 or contact us!

Pros and Cons of Foam Insulation

Over the winter, insulation acts as one of the primary barriers to heat escaping. In the summer, it keeps the heat out and cool air in. Both of these impact the overall efficiency of your home. Especially when living somewhere with such a wide range of temperatures and winters as harsh as Minnesota experiences, insulation is an important piece to making sure your home stays comfortable all year round. That’s why we’ve consolidated a list of pros and cons about foam insulation in Rogers! Here at Lewis Insulation, we have experience working with multiple kinds of insulation, but foam is one of the most popular – and for a reason!

Pros

Increased energy efficiency.

While this can be said of any insulation choice, spray foam insulation improves the thermal envelope around the home, allowing less air to escape the home and keeping your home warm or cool as desired for a lower cost! Increased energy efficiency can help you spend less in heating and cooling bills, saving you money all year round.

Contributes to structural strength of home.

Foam insulation has also been proven to increase the structural strength of a home! Due to how spray foam insulation is installed and it’s expansive properties, it can increase the durability of the home.

Superior R-value.

When compared to traditional rolled or blown in insulation, foam insulation boasts a higher R-value. This means that less heat can be conducted through the material, making it a more efficient insulator than many of its competitors.

Moisture resistance.

Additionally, foam insulation has the highest moisture resistance of commonly used insulations. In fact, FEMA has classified it as having the highest resistance to flood damage! So, if you live in an area where moisture is a common issue within the house – foam insulation is a great choice!

Cons

Requires professional installation.

Spray foam insulation is not a DIY project. It requires proper and precise mixing of chemicals to ensure an effective installation and can pose safety risks if handled incorrectly. A professional has to undergo training to be able to properly handle foam insulation.

Health concerns during installation.

Due to the nature of mixing chemicals, foam insulation can pose a health risk if the installer is not fitted with the proper PPE. Gloves, eye protection and masks are all strictly required during installation and handling of spray foam installation to avoid any health risks or injuries.

Failing to adhere to manufacturer’s guidelines causes long-term issues.

Without proper experience and understanding of manufacturer’s guidelines, there can be long-term issues caused by unprofessional installation. Failing to adhere to guidelines can cause prolonged odors, oily residue and ineffective insulation. However, a professional understands the manufacturer’s guidelines before going into any job.

Luckily, all of the cons are negated when you choose to hire a professional like Lewis Insulation! We understand the manufacturer’s guidelines for each insulation we work with and ensure that each contractor on site wears the proper PPE to keep them safe.

Is it time to have new foam insulation installed in your home in Rogers or the surrounding Twin Cities area? Call Lewis Insulation today at 763-477-2612 or contact us!

6 Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation

If you need to add or replace insulation, there are a lot of decisions to be made. Choosing the right kind of insulation, picking a contractor, etc. However, it shouldn’t deter you from pursuing the much-needed home renovation. Insulation is imperative to the efficiency of your home, and even adds some protection to it as well. It’s important to make sure you are choosing both the right type of insulation for your needs and an experienced contractor to install it for you.

One type of insulation with many benefits is spray foam. When you need spray foam insulation in Minneapolis, the experts at Lewis Insulation have you covered! In the meantime, here are some common benefits of using spray foam insulation in your home.

1. Noise Reduction

When building a home in a neighborhood with limited space, it’s hard to know what kind of neighbors you’ll be getting. While we all hope for nice, friendly and quiet neighbors, we also know that’s not always the case.

Luckily, spray foam insulation can significantly reduce noise, allowing you to enjoy your new neighborhood, even if your neighbors are a little noisier than expected.

2. Cooling and Heating Efficiency

Due to the nature of spray foam insulation, it can get into small cracks and crevices unlike other types of insulation. When applied, spray foam expands and dries, blocking air and water from entering through the cracks.

When air is blocked from sneaking in through little cracks in your home, you can improve your heating and cooling efficiency! In the summer, hot air is kept out while cool air is kept in – and the reverse is true for winter!

3. Fewer Allergens

When those same small cracks and crevices are sealed, fewer allergens such as pollen can make it into your home. This allows you to survive the curse of seasonal allergies easier! Plus, your guests will feel more welcomed and comfortable in a home that doesn’t make them sneeze non-stop.

4. Bug and Pest Prevention

Yet again, another benefit of filling small cracks in your home with spray foam insulation is preventing access to bugs and pests. An infestation of mice, bugs or other pests can quickly become an even bigger problem due to damage they may cause within your home.

Spray foam insulation can block their access, meaning money saved on pest control and added peace of mind.

5. Mold Prevention

By sealing up small cracks, spray foam insulation prevents moisture from leaking into your home through the outside walls and roof. This prevention of moisture in turn prevents the growth of mold and mildew in your walls.

By stopping the water leaking through walls, spray foam insulation can help prevent health issues caused by exposure to mold or mildew over time.

6. Environmentally Friendly

Using spray foam insulation into your home reduces energy consumption of your home as it reduces the amount of cooling or heating required to combat the outside air sneaking in. By making your home more efficient, you are making it more environmentally friendly.

Plus, spray foam insulation is a long-term solution for insulation as it lasts longer than other types. This allows for less materials to be used over time in your home, reducing waste.

When it comes time to install or replace insulation in your Minneapolis home consider spray foam insulation. Call Lewis Insulation today at 763-477-2612 or contact us!

 

Getting the Facts About Fiberglass Insulation

If you’re considering fiberglass insulation for your Wayzata area home or business, it’s time to get the facts. There are many misconceptions about this popular form of insulation and the experts at Lewis Insulation are here to set the record straight. 

 Itch Factor 

 

Let’s squash this common misconception right off the bat. Have you ever heard you shouldn’t touch fiberglass insulation because it can make you itch? Nowadays, fiberglass insulation does not irritate the skin like it used to and manufacturing it is more environmentally friendly than it used to be. 

 

Benefits 

 

Fiberglass insulation is a cost-effective way to insulate your home or commercial property. Not only could you see some savings on your heating and cooling bills, but it can also help reduce noise pollution. It is also non-combustible and non-absorbent. It also has a great R-value. R-value stands for “resistance value” and it measures an insulating material’s resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulation power that material has. 

Defining Fiberglass Insulation 

 

Fiberglass insulation is a type of residential or commercial insulation that’s composed of sand and recycled glass. It is a man-made material and has a high surface area-to-weight ratio that makes it an ideal insulator for residential and commercial buildings. 

 

Versatility 

 

Fiberglass insulation can be installed just about anywhere in your house or commercial property other than in the basement. For your basement, you should consider closed cell spray foam insulation instead, which we can also install. 

 

Johns Manville Climate Pro® loose-fill fiberglass insulation is made for installation in open attics to fill hard-to-reach areas like corners, edges and around framing. 

 

Soundproofing 

 

Fiberglass is a great sound barrier and over time settles only slightly (2%-4%) compared to cellulose. All JM fiberglass insulation is specifically designed to absorb noise that can be transmitted through walls, & ceilings. 

Does fiberglass sound like a great fit for your home or business? Are you interested in learning more about fiberglass insulation for your Wayzata property? Call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612. We are a professional insulation company, and one of our specialties is fiberglass insulation. We have several decades of experience under our belts, and we are fully licensed, bonded and insured for all of the work that we do. You can get a free estimate on how much new fiberglass insulation will as well.

Why Insulation is Just as Important in Summer As It is in Winter

People often think of insulation as important only during the colder winter season, but the need for proper home insulation applies to hotter summer months as well. Insufficient attic insulation allows the summer heat to permeate into homes. This is why it is important to check attic insulation as the first step in troubleshooting a home that does not stay comfortably cool, or has extremely high electric bills during the summer months. Here at Lewis Insulation, we specialize in insulation installation including cellulose insulation for Wayzata and the surrounding areas and can help get your insulation where it needs to be for the summer months ahead. 

 

The weather is warming but is your home’s insulation working to keep your home cool? If your air conditioning unit is doing all of the work, it’s time to consider better insulation. Are there rooms in your home that you avoid during the summer? If so, then it’s very likely that you need to update your insulation. 

 

The best place to start is the attic. When the summer sun beats down continually on your roof, hot and cold air tends to behave differently than it would in the colder, winter months. As we all know, attic insulation, helps to keep the home feeling comfortable. Cellulose insulation is one of the best options to use in the attic since it offers superior sealing properties compared to fiberglass batts or rolls. Blown-in cellulose insulation provides a thick layer of insulation that provides great comfort to your home. Cellulose insulation is also plant fiber-based; perfect for wall and roof cavities to insulate, draught-proof and reduce free noise. And, since it is made of recycled plant fibers, it is safe for the environment and your wallet. 

 

If you’ve been having concerns about your attic’s insulation, our highly trained specialists are just a call away. Whether you’re completing a remodeling project or building a new home, our experienced team can help. 

 

Contact our insulation experts to learn more about how we can help your home stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. For more information on cellulose insulation in the Wayzata area, call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612 or you can contact us for a Free Estimate.