Beat the Arizona Heat

Whether you have survived decades of summers in Arizona, or you are preparing for your first, there are a few tips to staying cool.  It is always a good idea to spend time in water, maybe a river, a lake, or your backyard pool.  Planning a few weekend getaways to anywhere else less hot can significantly increase your sanity through the summer months. 

Although these ideas should be implemented by every family, there are more crucial components of a successful summer survival plan.  Obviously, you cannot chill in water the entire summer because you may have to go to work or the grocery store.  But you might be thinking that both the grocery store and your workplace have great A/C, and you would be right. Almost any public place ensures their units are operating well to combat the extreme temperatures of the outside.

Then you go home to continue the battle with the heat. Now for some homeowners it is an easy response to crank up the A/C and pay the bill. For more cost-conscious people, the solution to beat the heat is not as simple though. During the summer, cooling costs can change exponentially with each degree difference.

So, the cost to cool your house to 78 degrees Fahrenheit versus 80 degrees Fahrenheit could be twice as much. You may be thinking that’s impossible, but with an inefficient house, that is a potential reality.  Although that may sound unhelpful, the good news is still to come.

If you insulate your house properly, and seal all of your ductwork, will ensuring you have quality doors and windows it is not too expensive to make your house comfortable. In fact, you could keep it at 78 degrees Fahrenheit for less money than you were spending for 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you don’t believe it, do some research yourself. There are plenty of sources out there that will explain how a house loses a certain percentage, usually between 15-30, of all energy because of heat loss/gain.  So if you would like to stay cool this summer, without spending a fortune, you should consider some energy efficient improvements for your home.

If you are interested in learning more about energy efficient improvements for your home give us a call. We would love the opportunity to earn your business.

Why Energy Efficiency Rebates?

Did you know about the Energy Star program in Arizona that will help homeowners pay for improvements to their house? Well you are about to know! APS and SRP have teamed up with Energy Star to provide a Home Performance program with significant refunds for a variety of energy efficient upgrades to your existing home.  Although the monthly savings of improving your home should already be a good enough reason to make your home more energy efficient, the program adds more of an incentive with rebates.

There is a wide variety of rebates for your home you may be eligible for and some that may apply to items already on your to-do list.  Upgrading your AC before the summer heat, or replacing your old pool pump are just two options the program promotes. Click here to see a complete list and to learn more about the program.

If you are still wondering to yourself if this is real or maybe you are asking why in the world would an energy company want you to spend less money on buying their product? Well that is a great question, a question that I use to ask before I was let in on the secret. 

So here it is, the reason energy companies in Arizona are giving away free money; they want more money. I guess it’s not a secret, but let me explain how it works.

The less a company spends the more they take home. And just like any business, APS and SRP have expenses every month. They may not have to “pay” to keep the lights on, but there are many other bills they must pay on a regular basis. This may sound obvious, but the largest expense is not a typical monthly item. Rather it is something they would rather put off for as long as possible: a new power plant.  A new plant will easily cost APS or SRP millions of dollars if not a billion dollars.

What that means if they can gain more customers without increasing the required energy load, they can make more money. If every homeowner in Arizona was 15% more energy efficient, APS could gain 180,000 customers, and SRP could gain 150,000 customers.

So, the rebates help the energy companies more than they help you, but don’t let that stop you from saving money.  Call us today to learn more about saving money with rebates today! We would love the opportunity to earn your business.

Fountain Hills Home – Spray Foam

When was the last time you went to a friend’s house for dinner and admired their premium insulation? Let me guess… never? Even as insulation contractors, we never look at insulation if we don’t have to.  So why would you want to spend extra cash on something that no one ever appreciates?  Well, have you ever had guests complain that your spare bedroom is hotter than the rest of the house? Or have you noticed that you’re A/C has a more difficult time keeping up than it used to? Or maybe your energy bill is a lot higher than your neighbors? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions you should consider insulating your house with the best of the best.  Spray foam insulation can solve many problems and offer benefits that other products cannot.  It may not be granite counter tops, but homeowners are getting more excited about it.  Peter and Linda Volny are extremely pleased with the spray foam insulation installed in their Fountain Hills home!

Peter explains that most of their neighbors with traditional insulation have much higher electricity bills. He also loves the pest protection that spray foam insulation provides. Since the home was built he has only seen 3 scorpions in his home, compared to the several dozen a year that his neighbors suffer.  Although they love their home for many other reasons, Peter and Linda love the comfort that spray foam insulation provides every day. 

So if you are interested in spray foam but have several questions, we are here to answer them. We would love to help you create more savings and better comfort in your home. 

Call us today for a free estimate. We would love the opportunity to earn your business!

Spray Foam Proof

In a society where everything is checked and monitored, it makes sense that you would ensure the effectiveness and safety of any product for your home. Appliances, tiles, fixtures, furniture, and every other aspect of a home take careful consideration.  It should be the same with building materials that go into the skeleton of your home.  The right type of wood and quality screws and nails may not sound like the most exciting choices in comparison to interior design, but the building envelope is just as important.

Often overlooked by homeowners, is how to insulate the home. After the drywall is hung, nobody notices the insulation so why does it matter? Well, In Arizona, it is especially important to pick the right insulation.  Since we have consistently hot summers and crazy monsoon storms, insulation is the major barrier between the weather outside and the comfort of your home.  Understanding that key fact should incite a closer look at what type of insulation.

Take the advice of architects from all over.  Spray foam is gaining recognition as the no-brainer choice for builders all over the world. China, Ireland, Scotland, Czech Republic, Canada, and more are starting to use spray foam more prominently because of its long lasting benefits.  We have many articles that lay out why spray foam is such a effective material to insulate buildings, but not this post.

Many parts of the U.S. still have specific codes that make installing spray foam more difficult and more expensive.  Want to know some good news? Arizona has embraced the benefits of spray foam insulation and made it affordable to install, even in existing homes.  You don’t live in Arizona? I have good news for you too, we are still accepting applications for 2017.

So take advantage of the great product of spray foam insulation in your home today. Still unsure of the advantages? Check them out here!

Arizona Home Remodel

Whether you are a real estate investor or simply looking to upgrade your house, a return on investment (ROI) should be a constant calculation for each project. Even if you do not plan to sell your house any time soon, you should still plan as if you are so you can keep as much money as possible. And although everyone likes money, some of us our not very good with it.  So, if you are going to tear your house apart, you probably have a plan about putting it back together. And although we are not a remodeling contractor, half of our work is for remodels. Thus, we have seen where things have gone well and things have not. 

Usually problems occur when a project goes over budget and minimizes the potential profit causing stressful quick thinking.  To help you make the decisions a little quicker, as well as plan ahead a little better we have a list of home improvements that will give you the most bang for your buck!

ROI for home improvement projects

Although we want you to notice the entry about insulation, the entire list is helpful for other home improvement projects. We are avid remodel fans, because it takes something old and makes it beautiful again. We also understand that insulation lacks flare, like a newly surfaced kitchen boasts, but it is still a great improvement to make.

Upgrading your insulation means saving money long-term, because of energy efficiency. It also makes your home more comfortable, which is the goal of most projects. Your house will also be one step closer to selling, since insulation is a point on the home inspection list.

Regardless of your decision to insulate or not, you should always remember to look at the cost-value relationship of any home improvement especially when planning a large remodel.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss insulation for your next remodel, give us a call. We would love the opportunity to earn your business.

Air Barrier – Dusty Arizona

Old time wild west movies are often portrayed in our beautiful desert state. Tumbleweeds and cacti usually set the scene for a cowboy to walk into a dusty old saloon.  Although a John Wayne film would not be complete without the saloon, I would suggest the dust plays an almost equal role in telling the story. In fact, Arizona can still provide that dusty old time feel.  Unfortunately, we do not always want our homes looking or feeling like a wild west movie.  We would prefer a clean house where we can watch a movie with a dust-filled saloon.

Most home owners do not consider dust when they or buying or designing a house, but we do.  Although it may sound weird that an insulation company is cognizant of making your house cleaner it is one thing we enjoy about our job. Saving money and the planet with energy efficient improvements are a main reason we love spray foam insulation, but it also makes your house cleaner and safer. 

Unlike traditional insulation like cellulose or fiberglass, spray foam creates an air barrier in addition to a thermal barrier. This is important because spray foam insulation prevents the transfer of heat through the materials of your walls and ceiling and through the gaps between materials where air can penetrate your home.  Think of it like this, if you were to wear a light sweatshirt on a very windy day, you would likely be chilled to the bone. Similarly, if you were to just wear a windbreaker in below freezing temperatures, you too would be freezing.  But if you were to wear a snow jacket that combines the warmth of a sweatshirt and the wind resistance of a windbreaker you would stay much warmer.

Spray foam is the best insulation value, and not just because it controls the transfer of heat.  It can also stop dust from getting into your house as easily.  Spray foam insulation stops air movement through any surface where it is applied, so the only vulnerability is open windows and doors.  Keeping out the dust is not only cleaner, but it also prevents allergens and other air pollutants from creeping into your house.  Your home is also protected against pest problems because of the tight envelope that spray foam provides.

In conclusion, spray foam insulation is the new sheriff in town, serving and protecting the good people of Arizona. If you have a dust problem and need a gun slinging hero to save you from the desert’s antics, give us a call.  We would love the opportunity to earn your business.

Don't DIY (Don't Do Insulation Yourself)

In today’s culture of DIY everything, it appears no task is too big or too complicated. There are endless how to videos and guides online that will walk you step by step through any project you may want to tackle.  And in the defense of the world-wide web, many of the projects can in fact be done by you and your family on a Sunday afternoon. We just don’t think installing insulation is one of the projects you can complete effectively without some expertise. 

Regardless of what type of insulation you use for your home, proper installation is key to effectively controlling the temperature of your home (higher R-value) as well as ensuring the best efficiency (lower energy bills).  An R-value is the measure of an insulation’s ability to resist heat flow, which means the higher the R-value the better.  That is not the only factor to consider, because the R-value of insulation quickly diminishes when there are holes and gaps from installation. Just a 5% error in application can reduce your R-value by more than double.  And with more error, the negative effect is exponentially worse.

So, when evaluating the cost vs. value relationship of installing insulation on your own, you might want to consider hiring a pro who can ensure proper installation.  With that being said, there are some insulating materials that can be installed in your free time.  Thick floor length curtains can accentuate any room and provide extra protection from the outside temperature by preventing heat movement through windows.

I am not telling you stop being the best DIY family on the block, but I am simply advising you to pick your battles.  Go repaint your living room, or redo your bathroom, but maybe let a professional fix your HVAC system and install new insulation.

Here is a home where we recently improved the comfort and energy efficiency. If you would like more information on insulation for your home, check us out or give us a call! We would love the opportunity to earn your business.

Why Spray Foam Insulation?

Many home owners and home builders often ask if spray foam is worth the cost. They also question if spray foam is safe. Although there are many considerations when choosing insulation, spray foam should be at the top of the list. Would you like to learn why? Good, we are offering a FREE Lunch and Learn at the end of February. Check out the details here.

Lunch and Learn Details

Insulation: Can you have too much?

The summer heat of Arizona takes its toll on even the toughest of valley natives.  That’s why it is important to ensure your home is a desert oasis instead of a hotbox.  So how do you create a comfortable and cool retreat in your house? Many people will suggest an upgraded AC or installing new insulation will help.  Although these people are right, there are a few factors you should take into consideration, starting with finding a licensed and trustworthy contractor. Since we are not an HVAC contractor we will share some insulation factors you should consider before the summer heat.

Insulation can conserve energy and save you money on your heating/cooling bill because, it creates a thermal barrier between your home and the outdoors.  This may sound expensive, but upgrading your current insulation should not break your bank.  In most Arizona houses, the insulation level is below the industry standard of R-38, which means heat can transfer from your hot attic to your cooled house.  Now some contractors will try to tell you that you should insulate well above the industry level because it translates to a thicker thermal barrier.  The only issue with that thought process is the cost vs. savings relationship because it does not always come out in your favor.

An insulation value of R-44 is reaching the balance of energy efficiency and wasting money.  Anything over an R-44 in the greater Phoenix area is unlikely to produce a substantial savings in comparison to how much it costs to install it. Technically speaking the more insulation, the larger the barrier, but it definitely crosses the line of practical home improvements.

Although it is important to know how much insulation you should have installed, it is just as important to have it installed properly.  If it is not installed properly even in just 5% of the attic, the consequences can be exponentially worse than 5% loss in R-Value.  This means your thermal barrier is not intact and you would have wasted time and money.  In conclusion, it is important to hire a trustworthy contractor to ensure proper installation, as well as providing enough information to help you make an educated decision

Call us today with any of your insulation questions, we would love the opportunity to earn your business!

Do You Have a Dusty Home?

Arizona is well known for its hot climate, dry desert, and old time wild west stories.  Long time Arizona dwellers do not notice these characteristics as much as visitors however.  Everywhere has A/C, our skin has adapted to the dry, and the stories are nothing new.  We are accustomed to most of the abnormalities that Arizona has to offer, but there is one issue that is constantly present, especially for homeowners in the valley, dust. 

Cleaning your house on a regular basis should include dusting off shelves, bookcases, and all other surfaces regardless of where you live, but Arizona homeowners know the severity of this statement.  Maybe you just moved here, or you still live elsewhere and don’t think it can be that bad.  Either way let me introduce you to the haboob.

Although a haboob is not the only way your house suffers from dust attacks, it is something you want to prepare for now. A dusty home is annoying and potentially hazardous to your health since you breathe the same air that carries the particles, but can easily be fixed.

With typical insulation in your attic and leaky ductwork, you’re HVAC system is unfortunately bringing dirty air into your home from the attic.  However, with spray foam insulation that creates a continuous air barrier between your home and the outdoors, dust infiltration is limited to doors and windows.  Additionally, you can seal the ductwork to ensure a cleaner and safer environment for you and your family. 

So, if you have spray foam insulation installed in your home and ensure your ductwork is sealed well, just don’t open any doors or windows during a haboob and you should be ok!

If you are interested in protecting your home from dust and these crazy storms, call us today! We would love the opportunity to earn your business!

Sound Benefits of Insulation

Arizona has seen some major growth in population over the past decade which has resulted in a boom in new homes.  Housing developments are popping up all over the state creating more and more suburban clusters.  Although it is exciting to be living in a growing city, there are some minor annoyances caused by all of the people.  Traffic is worse, smog is enveloping the city, and neighborhoods are getting noisier. 

Although we cannot offer a solution to your traffic wallows or smog concerns, we can provide some help with the excessive sound in your house.  If you are building a new home or remodeling your house, we suggest you look into installing better insulation. 

Most people associate insulation with temperature control, and although that is its main purpose, certain products can act as a great sound barrier as well.  Spray foam insulation and injection foam insulation can block sound extremely well because the sound waves are absorbed more than they are passed through the material.

But you ask how much does it actually help? Well spray foam has an STC rating of about 37 in a 3.5” wall.  Injection foam has an STC rating of about 53 in a 3.5” wall.  Fiberglass batt in a 3.5” has an STC rating of about 36. In other words, a wall insulated with open cell spray foam will reduce sounds by 37 decibels, injection foam by 53 decibels, cellulose dense pack by 80 decibels and fiberglass batt by 36 decibels. So how much does it help? Think of the sounds you might want to get rid of… like your neighbors yelling and shouting and compare it on this list of typical sounds and their loudness in decibels, and then subtract the appropriate value (37, 53, 80 or 36) and notice the difference it could make.

10                           A leaf falling

20                           Rustles of autumnal leaves

30                           Whispering

40                           Living room, quiet classroom

50                           Refrigerator working, car driving past

55                           Percolating coffee-maker

60                           Sound of human voice, machinery

70                           Television set on loud, vacuum cleaner, several people on the telephone

75                           Busy restaurant around lunchtime

80                           Alarm clock, freight traffic, doorbell

85                           Sawing, mixer

90                           Truck close by, screaming, yelling, shouting

95                           Drill, violin

100                         Machine in a factory, compressor, fighter jet at 300 m

105                         Helicopter close by, large drum

110                         Rock concert, chainsaw

120                         Human voice at its loudest, police siren

130                         Thunder

140                         First Monday of the month siren from close by

150                         Fireworks

160                         Shooting with pistol or rifle

170                         Avalanche firework

180                         Rocket launch platform

194                         Saturn rocket

Although there are more aspects of your home where sound can travel (windows, doors, and halls) insulating your walls properly can significantly help!

Here is a short video showing how spray foam insulation significantly helped this homeowner reduce sound in their converted barn.  (They used more than the 3.5" noted above so the decibel reduction would also increase.)

If you are interested in reducing sounds in your home, we would love the opportunity to earn your
business!

Insulate Your Fixer Upper!

HGTV and the world of fixer uppers has brought a new wave of interest to the remodel industry.  More individuals are investing in a house that needs a lot of work done before it can be classified as a comfortable home.  Although there is always a certain amount of risk associated with investments, flipping a house can be one of the riskiest ventures because of all the variables. And because of these risks there are numerous resources floating around with an abundance of advice.  There are books, videos, podcasts, seminars, TV shows, and so many more outlets that guarantee a successful flip.  But even all the information in the world cannot ensure a profitable endeavor.

Therefore, planning a remodel is stressful and complicated.  Without a prior understanding of the complete building process, it can be tough to know where to start and what aspects of the house to consider.  Return on investment should be one of the main deciding factors for any project but especially with home renovations.  There is a fine line where you need to spend money to increase the value of the house, but not spend more than the value you add. 

Unfortunately, I do not have a recipe of success for you to follow. But what I can offer is some cost vs. value comparisons of projects based on a national survey.

National Cost Vs. Value Report

These numbers can help you determine which projects will allow you to retain the value at the time of sale.  As you can see, attic insulation is the only one on the list that actually puts more money into the value of a house than it requires to complete the work.  And although there are always exceptions to any rule, this guideline is a good reference for cost analysis.

If you are needing an insulation contractor, we would love the opportunity to earn your business.

New Year - New Home

Every year people resolve to become better versions of themselves despite previous attempts that have been forgotten about over time. Regardless of the inspiration that comes at the beginning of a new year, time can slowly eat away at the motivation to maintain improvements.

So, set a goal that can be easily accomplished in the first month of the year and that you can continue to reap the benefits throughout the year!  What I am suggesting is not a magic pill that will let you eat anything for a year and still be healthy.  Instead my solution for your resolution is to make your home a healthier and more comfortable place to be by sealing your air ducts.

Breathing fresh air can help you create a healthier living space. Here are 6 reasons how clean air can improve your life.

• Fresh air is good for digestion.
• Improves your blood pressure and heart rate.
• It makes you happier.
• Strengthens your immune system.
• Fresh air cleans your lungs.
• You will have more energy and a sharper mind.

Sealing your ducts ensures that dust and debris from your attic and outside are limited, and anything that does remain can be filtered out through your HVAC system.  And even though it is important to visit the great outdoors to get true fresh air, sealing your house maximizes the time you can reap the 6 benefits listed above.

Sealing your ducts can also save you money and allow you to invest in some other new year resolutions, like a gym membership.  Overall, making an improvement to your home that increases its comfort and promotes health is a great choice.  Check out this resource if you want more information about duct sealing.  See how insulation could also be a great solution to your new year and new home.

We hope your New Year is strung with many improvements, and would love to earn the opportunity to make duct sealing one of those improvements.  Happy New Year!