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Building Envelope: How Insulation Can Strengthen Your Home

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Many homeowners give little thought to what goes on inside their home’s structure, as what we don’t know about can’t hurt us, right? Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. What’s known in the industry as a ‘building envelope’ is everything that separates the internal environment of your home from the external environment of the outside world. It envelops your home, if you will. Understanding the role of a building envelope and how you can enhance it means being able to strengthen your home’s protective barrier, producing a safer and more energy-efficient environment for you and your family.

What is a building envelope?

Learning more about this important component of your home’s structure can help you improve your quality of life in various ways. If you want a stronger, more durable home, reduced energy bills, reduced noise levels and more, keep reading. Building envelopes control the climate inside your home, protecting your household from temperature fluctuations, besides being crucial to your home’s structural integrity. If you’re looking to renovate your house or create a loft conversion, for example, it might be necessary to reinforce your building envelope, as it improves how well your house can handle external forces and weight.

Reinforcing your building envelope

As mentioned, reinforcing your building envelope can help you cut down on energy costs by helping your home retain heat in the winter and keep it outside in summer, taking pressure away from your HVAC system. Not only that, but it can strengthen the structure of your house, adding years to its lifespan and providing a superior foundation for renovation projects. The best and most cost-effective way to improve your building envelope is through insulation, as the two work together to provide excellent insulation, prevent air leakages and bolster your home’s structure.

How insulation supports your building envelope

Expertly installed, high-quality insulation is the difference between an efficient and strong building envelope and a quickly deteriorating one. A weak building envelope can not only cost you a small fortune in energy bills, but it can actually impact the health of your household due to air leakage and temperature changes. Investing in insulation to empower your building envelope will actually save you money in the mid-to long-term, not to mention making your home quieter, safer and stronger. Because insulation reduces the rate at which heat enters and exits your home, it can minimize energy transfer throughout the entire structure.

How to get the best insulation

Because insulation is out of sight and typically out of mind for those who don’t understand its importance, many insulation providers use cheap, ineffective materials. King Insulation has been in the business for over 4 decades, and it’s no surprise why. We offer free home estimates to figure out exactly what you need, then we get to work using the highest quality insulation materials and modern installation techniques. There’s a reason we’re industry leaders. Call one of our helpful advisors to schedule a free evaluation today.

How To Tell If Your Insulation Is Good

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Is your house too hot in summer or chilly in winter? You might have an insulation problem! How do you know if your insulation is no good? Professionals use what’s known as R-value to determine if there’s enough insulation in an attic. But you can get an idea of your insulation’s R-value before you call in the pros.

You’ll need a few things, including a headlamp so that your hands are free to measure the depth of the insulation, a tape measure, and a respirator mask, which protects your lungs from insulation particles. Once in your attic, it’s important that you only step on 2x4s. Otherwise, you could go right through the drywall into the room beneath you!

It’s easier to measure the depth of your insulation if it’s at a relatively uniform height. Unfortunately, not everyone is that lucky. If your insulation is flatter in some places and mounded in others, you’ll need to take multiple measurements and average them out by adding the heights and dividing by the number of measurements.

Determining R-Value

Once you have that measurement, it’s time to calculate the R-value. This number depends on the type of insulation in your attic.

  • Blown Fiberglass – multiple the depth by 2.5
  • Blown Cellulose – multiple the depth by 3.4
  • Fiberglass Batts – multiple the depth by 1.25

If you’re unsure what kind of insulation you have, the following descriptions can help.

Do you think of insulation as pink? Then you’re imagining fiberglass, but that’s not the only color this insulation comes in. Batting can also be yellow, black, blue, brown, green, or white. Fiberglass batting is rolled into place and looks more fibrous, while blown fiberglass is a bit fluffier and looser. Blown fiberglass is also commonly white.

Cellulose is basically cut-up newspaper and has a chunkier and denser appearance than fiberglass. Because of its source, cellulose insulation is gray, but you may notice some colored pieces in the insulation.

Ideal R-values for Attic Insulation

Once you determine the type of insulating in your attic, you can do the calculations to reveal the R-value. But what is a good R-value? It varies depending on the climate in which you live, so you have to be careful that you’re not reading R-values for a different location. Fortunately, the Department of Energy has maps and charts describing the ideal R-values based on climate and where the insulation is used in a building.

In most of Arizona, an R-value between R-38 and R-60 is preferable for attics. However, in the very northwest and southeast parts of the state, an R-value as low as R30 might be fine. Finally, the southwest part of the state has an R-value range of R30 to R49, and you don’t want too much insulation in your attic.

Your insulation is good if it stays within those R-values. However, if it’s much lower than those R-values, your insulation isn’t working as hard as you want it! Then, it’s time to call in the professionals like those like King Insulation to get your insulation up to spec, so your home will be more comfortable!

Can Attic Insulation Prevent Pests?

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Because of the weather in the local area, you probably deal with pests from time to time. If you feel like you have a lot of pests in your attic, you might be wondering how to get rid of them. One option could be to install better attic insulation. Not every home comes with the insulation necessary to prevent these critters from invading your home. What do you need to know about this problem, and how can attic insulation help you?

Why Do Pests Like the Attic?

There are several reasons why you probably have a few pests in your attic. First, foot traffic is significantly lower than it is in other areas of the home. Just as you don’t like pests, they don’t like you. They tend to hide where the people aren’t.

In addition, there are a lot of great hiding spaces for pests. For example, you might spot them living in storage areas and cardboard boxes. It is also very easy for pests to find sources of food. If something is left in the attic, it is probably going to be there for a while. Therefore, it is easy for pests to survive.

What Types of Pests Live in the Attic?

There are several different types of pests you might spot living in your attic. For example, it is not unusual to see silverfish, termites, crickets, beetles, hands, and cockroaches in the Attic. It is critical for you to deal with these critters as quickly as possible. Even though they are incredibly annoying, they can also be hazardous to the structure of your home. For example, silverfish are known to destroy documents and photo albums. Termites are known to destroy your home. They can also be hazardous to your health, particularly those with chronic respiratory issues.

How To Use Attic Insulation To Keep Them Away

Standard installation is not enough to keep the critters out of your home. Instead, it is important for you to use something called TAP insulation. This stands for thermal, acoustic, pest control in insulation. It is strong insulation, so you do not need to worry about it driving up utility bills. In fact, you might be able to save money on your regular utility expenses. Because this insulation is also able to keep out pests, you might be able to save money on home repair bills as well.

Call King Insulation for All of Your Insulation Needs

If you are looking for a way to effectively deal with pests in your home, you need to rely on a professional who can help you. At King Insulation, we have the training and experience necessary to help you improve your insulation. We can help you save money on your utility bills while also keeping annoying pests out of the home. To learn more about the different types of insulation we have available, give us a call today! It would be our honor to help you with your insulation needs.

Home Remodeling and New Insulation: A Sensible Combination

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A home remodeling job usually constitutes a major project. As thrilling as it may be to give your residence a whole new look, you’ve got to consider the health and wellness of the older, original structures as well. So does that mean you should re-insulate your home as you remodel? Let’s look at some reasons you should.

Timely Repair and Replacement

It should go without saying that any new addition to your home will need a certain amount of wall and ceiling insulation. However, that new insulation won’t perform as well as it should if it has to work alongside old, deteriorated insulation. Pests and moisture can cause insulation to lose its efficiency over time. In fact, 65 percent of American homes never receive sufficient insulation to begin with! You might as well make sure that all your insulation offers the same degree of thermal protection while you’re going to all the trouble to make your other home improvements.

Better Air Quality in Your Newly-Remodeled Home

The same mold and moisture that damages insulation can also introduce spores and bacteria into the air that circulates through your home, potentially making you or your loved ones sick and/or triggering allergy attacks. By installing fresh insulation during your remodel, you can help to ensure a higher standard of indoor air quality for occupants. At the same time, your technicians can address little air gaps and leaks that have been letting pollen and dust into your home. By caulking or otherwise sealing these gaps, your insulation team will also boost your residence’s energy efficiency.

One Project Instead of Two

As noted above, sooner or later your original insulation will need repair, augmentation, or replacement. When that day arrives, your insulation technicians may need to open up walls and other enclosed structures to access the insulation. Noise, dust, and debris commonly accompany these actions, so you might as well incorporate them into the chaos of your current remodeling project. You’ll also save on both labor costs and overall labor time by rolling these two significant renovation jobs into one.

Better Energy Efficiency for Better ROI

Most home remodeling jobs can rack up quite a bill, from the skilled construction and tradesperson labor to materials and cleanup costs. Anything you can do during the remodel that boosts your home’s energy efficiency could help absorb some of those costs in the long run by reducing your utility bills, especially during the long, brutal Phoenix summers. This job could prove the perfect opportunity to request an energy audit to see whether your home’s insulation can stand some improvement. You’ll end up with, not just a more beautiful and comfortable home, but also a more cost-effective one.

If you’re planning on remodeling your Phoenix-area home, and you haven’t upgraded or even thought about the state of your insulation lately, contact King Insulation today. Our skilled installers will be happy to evaluate your insulation and make sure your remodel incorporates any smart improvements that enhance your overall results.

 

Energy Conservation vs. Energy Efficiency

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Various natural and artificial elements produce multiple forms of energy. Therefore, the components are helpful in many circumstances and have many uses. Additionally, natural or manufactured resources are abundant or sparse, dangerous or non-hazardous, renewable or non-renewable.

The confusion between conserving energy and maintaining power productivity is common. Some individuals even believe that both are interchangeable and provide the same benefits. However, they serve contrasting purposes, although they include qualities that significantly benefit homeowners, businesses, and the environment.

What to Know About Saving and Reducing Energy Use

Whether you invest in low-voltage products or use your heavy-duty appliances frequently, you can significantly reduce power consumption at home or in the office.

While energy conservation and energy efficiency have a few similarities, not everyone knows the differences. At King Insulation in Phoenix, Arizona, we understand the confusion between both methods and can help you determine their significance and cost-effective advantages.

What Is Energy Conservation?

Energy conservation is saving energy by decreasing your use of power-hungry electronics.  In other words, driving your car only a few days per week and setting your computer to sleep mode are two examples.

A few other instances of conservation include:

Setting the refrigerator temperature to 37-40 degrees F.

Air-drying laundry on a clothesline.

Changing heating system filters.

What is Energy Efficiency?

Energy efficiency is a practical technique for lowering power consumption. While it involves energy-saving methods, it maintains a similar service level. For example, if you turn off a few or all of your lights, you’re practicing energy conservation.

Here are a few ways to increase efficiency:

Replacing appliances that are at least ten years old.

Insulating water heater and pipes.

Installing LED bulbs that produce 90% substantial light.

How Do I Benefit From Energy Waste Prevention?

Homeowners and businesses can preserve their electronics and appliances by preventing energy waste issues. While power is essential for individuals to survive in local and rural areas, it still should be used when needed rather than excessively.

Here are three reasons why saving and improving energy is vital for your home:

1. Reduces Living Expenses

Saving energy usually reduces living expenses. Additionally, most equipment can exceed its life expectancy if used for one hour or only a few days per week.

2. Lowers Utility Bills

As a home or business owner, energy costs can affect your recurring monthly expenses, increasing your bill by hundreds of dollars per month. Reducing energy consumption without sacrificing quality is an excellent way to save money.

3. Provides an Eco-Friendly Alternative

The less energy you use, the more beneficial your power-saving approaches can be to the environment, human health, and the ozone. Therefore, you can effectively track your energy consumption habits by using your appliances and other electronics less frequently.

Get a Certified Energy Audit in Phoenix, Arizona!

King Insulation will provide you with a free consultation to assess your energy-saving needs. We offer various insulation types for your comfort and help keep your utility bill low. Contact us today to receive a direct service quote and schedule an appointment.

Where Is My Home Losing The Most Energy?

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Common Threats to Residential Energy Efficiency

When you live in an area subject to extreme temperatures (like Phoenix), every ounce of energy efficiency counts. Weakness in your home’s energy efficiency can cost you dearly, especially as temperatures rise and your HVAC system struggles to keep up. If you feel like you’re burning more energy than you should just to stay comfortable, check out these leading causes of energy loss in homes.

Windows and Doors

Windows and doors represent the most common causes of excess energy loss. An estimated one-fifth of the air that passes through your home does so through either the windows and doors themselves or through leaks and gaps around their frames. If an energy audit confirms this leakage, skilled professionals can seal any detected gaps. You may also want to replace your old doors and windows with ENERGY STAR certified products designed to provide superior thermal insulation. Simply replacing inefficient windows with ENERGY STAR windows can reduce your energy costs by 12 percent.

Frame Walls

Homes that feature wood frame walls face certain vulnerabilities to energy loss in the form of air leakage or conductive heat transfer, also referred to as thermal bridging. Research conducted by the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) indicates that the worst leakage in these walls include the wall-to-foundation joints, wall-to-roof joints, and horizontal OSB joints. If you’re losing air through these joints, your frame walls may need more or better internal insulation. A professional energy audit can confirm and pinpoint these hidden issues.

Ceilings

Some of your home’s energy may leak through the ceiling and up into the attic. This problem points to a lack of insulation in the floor joists and any open space between the ceiling and attic. If you have a cathedral ceiling that leaks energy, you may need to add insulation between the ceiling and the roof deck.

Attics

Attics may trap the energy lost through ceilings, growing insufferably hot and placing challenges on your air conditioner. If your attic traps heat energy despite reasonable ceiling insulation, it’s time to apply some additional insulation to the attic floor. You may also need to invest in insulation baffles for the roof.

HVAC Ducts

Your HVAC system couldn’t heat or cool your home effectively without the ducts that feed treated air to the various vents. If these ducts develop leaks due to improper installation or natural wear and tear, warm enter can enter this normally closed loop. This extra heat energy undercuts the air conditioning’s efficiency. At the same time, cooled air drifts out through the leaks instead of being directed to the living spaces of your home. Either problem forces you to crank up the system just to stay comfortable. You can solve this problem through duct repairs and/or adding insulation around the ducts.

If you can’t find or fix the source of your home’s energy leakage despite your own best efforts, contact King Insulation. Our experts can perform a thorough energy audit of your residence, locate the trouble spots, and provide top-quality insulation services to increase your comfort and reduce your utility bills.

Where Are Homes Losing The Most Energy?

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Homeowners pay extra in heating bills every year due to heat loss in their homes. Therefore, it is essential to learn about the areas where your home is most likely losing heat and develop a solution to reduce the heat loss. One of the best ways to determine which areas of your home are causing significant heat loss is by having an expert come out and do an energy audit on your home.

Cracks in the windows, walls, and doors

The most common way your home loses heat is through cracks in your doors, windows, and walls. The best way to fight heat loss through cracks is by filling the gaps and using weather stripping around the windows and doors. It is important to note that the effect of weather stripping goes away over time, so it must be replaced every few years.

Basement walls and floors

If you have an unfinished basement, you are losing a significant amount of heat through the walls. The best way to correct this is by finishing the basement and insulating the walls with high-quality insulation. If the cost of completing the basement is too high, then you can reduce heat loss in an unfinished basement with blanket batts and rolls or foam board. While the walls in the basement are more likely to be a significant source of heat loss, the floors may also be a contributing factor. By installing a carpet or tile over the cement floors, you will help alleviate the heat loss in the basement.

Framed walls

Another common source of heat loss is through the framed walls. Many people assume that the framed walls are well insulated, but that may not be the case. It is best to bring out an expert to make this determination. If your home is not well insulated in the framed walls, you can have additional insulation blown in and avoid a major renovation.

Windows

Windows can be another source of extreme heat loss in your home. If your windows are older and it is time for a replacement, you will want to invest in Energy Star-rated windows. If you are not ready to replace the windows, adding storm windows can help reduce heat loss until you are prepared to replace the windows.

The attic

If you have an attic, there is a good chance your home is losing heat through the ceiling. Therefore, it is critical to have a well-insulated attic. The experts at King Insulation would be happy to evaluate the attic and recommend improvements to the insulation.

Doors

Similar to windows, if the doors in your home are older, they are most likely a significant source of heat loss. When replacing your doors, be sure to pick an Energy Star rated door. Try to avoid glass doors to the extent possible as they are not well insulated.

If you are interested in learning more about your home heat loss solutions, reach out to an expert at King Insulation today for a free consultation.

 

Upgrading Your Insulation? Don’t DIY It!

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We are prominent believers in the DIY mindset. Learning how to do something so that you can do it time and again is an invaluable skill. With that being said, certain projects may lend themselves better to professional assistance rather than the DIY mindset. If you live in Phoenix or any of the surrounding areas, you are likely well aware of the wild shift in temperatures that the seasons can bring. From scorching heat to cool winter nights, you’ll want to ensure your home’s protection through the installation of high-quality insulation.

Let’s take a closer look at the importance of insulation as well as why it’s a job better reserved for the professional technicians at King Insulation.

Insulation Removal: Potential Dangers

In order to attain the most possible benefit from your new insulation, you will have to remove your old materials. Unfortunately, most everyday homeowners are not prepared nor qualified to safely remove the old insulation from their property. Older insulation can be beholden to rat droppings, asbestos, and even mold and moisture problems — an issue not usually covered by homeowner’s insurance. Exposure to these potential hazards can lead to potentially dangerous consequences for your health.

To properly dispose of your old insulation, have a professional technician approach the task. Professional contractors know how to safely and properly remove all insulation from the home, including the insulation within your attic, walls, and crawlspaces.

Benefits of Professional Insulation Installation

Hiring a professional insulation contractor to handle the task can take a load off your shoulders while helping your home in the long run. Not only will you be able to enjoy sitting aside while the task is handled for you, but insulation contractors at King Insulation can help in a number of other ways.

Here are a few ways in which a professional installer can directly help you and your home.

  • Get An Energy Audit – An energy audit is a (free!) and effective way to find out where energy loss is largely coming from within your home. An energy audit will include the testing and inspecting of equipment, heat transfer, and air movement in your home. An energy audit can help you save money while focusing on replacing the right insulation.
  • Reduced Energy Costs – New insulation from a reputable supplier can help to directly and dramatically reduce your heating and cooling expenses. New insulation can help to better seal cracks and gaps against air leaks, both indoors and outdoors.
  • Year-round Benefits – Insualtion helps your energy expenses not just in the winter, but in the summer as well. Professional insulation will keep you comfortable no matter the time of the year or the weather outside.

Improve our Home Today With King Insulation

King Insulation is a full-service provider of professional insulation installations throughout the state of Arizona. Founded in 1981, King Insulation provides professional installers with unmatched products to leave you assured that you are getting the greatest value possible for your time and money.

The team at King Insulation offers

  • Residential Insulation
  • Commercial Installation
  • Free Home Estimates
  • Lead-Safe Certified Firm

To have new insulation installed in your home, call on King Insulation for a free estimate!

Pros and Cons of Spray Foam Insulation In Your Phoenix Home

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Whether you are new to the region or a lifelong Phoenix resident, keeping your home properly insulated is imperative for your overall comfort. Temperatures in Arizona can ebb and flow with the seasons, bringing surging heatwaves and chilly nights. To keep your home temperate at all times, consider the benefits of professional spray foam insulation services through the team at King Insulation.

Let’s start our discussion by exploring the pros and cons of spray foam insulation as well as how King Insulation can support your service needs.

What Is Spray Foam Insulation?

Imperative to the overall comfort of a home, properly installed insulation can act as a barrier between your walls, ceiling cavities, and floors. Spray foam can be sprayed directly into an open cavity, such as a new attic or crawl space, as well as any other odd areas. Spray foam can be applied anywhere that a technician can find access, including small cracks, gaps, and crevices. Spray foam insulation does not lose its shape, nor does it compress, sag, or deteriorate through cracking over time.

Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation

Spray foam insulation can be a perfect choice for homeowners throughout Arizona. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of this product together to see if it is the right choice for your home.

  • Prevent Mold – Spray foam insulation is an ideal way to prevent potential mold issues. Reducing moisture levels while preventing the spread of mold, spray foam insulation can be especially beneficial to individuals with allergies.
  • Fits Any Area – Spray foam can be applied in any open crack or crevice as it fits into the space surrounding it. Clinging to surfaces, spray foam can become a long-lasting solution.
  • Reduce Moisture – Water damage, rotting wood, and mold are all problems of the past with spray foam insulation due to the fact that it can prevent moisture from accumulating.

As far as downsides go, spray foam insulation may be considered unattractive to some, though this is a matter of personal taste. Spray foam insulation can be enjoyed with the assistance of a professional technician at King Insulation.

Contact King Insulation Today!

Founded in 1981, King Insulation has been focused on providing the people of Phoenix with professional insulation services at unbeatable prices. King Insulation aspires to live by every tenant of their customer service agreement: provide the most professional job, the best products, and the most value to every customer in the area.

Learn more today by contacting King Insulation with any questions or concerns!

What Does An Average Electric Bill In Phoenix Look Like?

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How much have you been spending on your electric bill in Phoenix? It might surprise you to know that Phoenix is one of the most expensive cities when it comes to electricity costs. However, there are ways that you can keep these costs down.

Let’s take a close look at the average Phoenix electric bill and how you can lower those numbers.

What is the Average Electric Bill in Phoenix?

The average electricity bill in Phoenix is pretty high. This is one of the more expensive cities to live in when it comes to electricity. In fact, Arizona is the sixth most expensive state when it comes to the cost of electricity.

The cost of electricity in Phoenix is roughly $450 a month for a 2,000 square foot home. This is only slightly larger than the average size of a home in Phoenix which is 1,600 square feet.

Electricity costs get more affordable the smaller an individual’s home or apartment account is. However, the size of your home isn’t always the biggest factor when it comes to air conditioning costs. How your home is insulated can dramatically impact your electricity bill.

How Much Does Electricity Cost in Phoenix?

The average cost of electricity in Phoenix, Arizona is 11.9 cents per kilowatt hour. This is significantly higher than you would find in other parts of the country.

Part of the reason electricity is so expensive in Phoenix is because of the hot summers. People rely on their air conditioning to make their homes livable and this drives up electricity costs during those hot months.

What About Electricity Bills in Arizona?

The average monthly bill for electricity and Arizona is $128 per month. This is much higher than in other major cities like Chicago and New York which are closer to $100 per month.

The rising temperatures in Arizona are partly responsible for this increase in the cost of electricity. As more residents turn on their air conditioning, companies ratchet up the cost of electricity to increase their profit.

Why is My Electricity Bill in Phoenix so High?

There’s a lot that goes into the reason why electricity bills in Phoenix are so high. Some of those reasons are just the natural byproduct of living at one of the hottest places in the world. It takes more air conditioning power to make indoor temperatures more comfortable in these climates.

However, a big reason why electricity costs are so high is due to improper installation. Making sure your home is able to retain that temperature is one of the best ways to keep your costs down.

How Insulation Can Improve Your Energy Costs

Insulation isn’t just for keeping homes warm in colder climates. Insulation also helps keep your home cool during those hot summer months.

The job of insulation isn’t just to retain heat, but to make sure that the home’s temperature stays steady throughout the day and throughout the night. Professional insulation installation can help make sure that your home it’s comfortable and even the hottest months. High quality insulation also can help you lower your electricity bill in the years to come.