Salt Lake City insulation experts, in fact, recommend harnessing the sun for heating demands. With proper insulation, solar heat can remain in the home for hours on end.

When it comes to getting through the cold, trust on the Nordic countries to think of ways you can adapt to your lifestyle. Get a Salt Lake City insulation contractor like ESCO to inspect your home for possible methods of improving your home’s insulation. If successful, the chilliest of nights will hardly be a cause for concern.

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If you think you can opt for a heater/cooler right away without considering insulation first, think again. It’s a known fact that a house must be built of quality materials, and this includes a well-insulated envelope. There are many types of building insulation, like acoustic, fire and thermal, to name a few.

More people are becoming aware of the benefits of having energy-efficient homes: lower utility bills, enhanced indoor comfort, improved structural durability, and environmental protection. Here are a few ways to keep your home running cost-effectively:

Use compact fluorescent (CF) and light emitting diode (LED) bulbs.

According to Energy Star, CF bulbs reduce mercury emissions that result from electricity generation and use 75% less electricity than incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs, on the other hand, use only 2-17 watts of electricity and prevent heat build-up, reducing air conditioning costs.

Fill in the gaps.

Air leaks often cost you more money by letting heat escape and letting cold drafts into the house. Seal your homes by caulking in cracks and gaps in walls, roofs, and insulation. For windows and doors, secure weatherstripping that can withstand temperature changes, as well as wear and tear.

Install an insulation system.

By properly insulating your house, you will be able to regulate indoor temperature without having to rely heavily on heaters or air conditioners. Insulation will also help ensure that warm or cool air does not escape your home.

Change your air conditioner filter regularly.

Air filters remove pollen, dust, pet dander, smoke, and other pollutants from indoor air.

Regular maintenance makes your air conditioner run as efficiently as possible and keeps the air inside your home cleaner and fresher.

Invest in landscaping to add shade.

Plant trees near windows to keep away the harsh sunlight and cold winds. Low-water native plants like the yucca can also help you cut on your water bills.

Most homeowners invest considerably in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems of their homes. However, the effectiveness and efficiency of these systems may be highly compromised without proper insulation. Insufficient insulation can cause your HVAC system to work harder, and thus generate higher energy costs. Good insulation is essential in protecting Salt Lake City homes from the cold, snowy winters and the long hot summers the city gets. As Angie Hicks says in her article, homeowners may inspect their existing insulation and find out if it is still functioning as effectively as it should; however, some of the insulation, such as those tucked in walls, are not easily accessible for assessment. Professional energy audit teams dispatched by Salt Lake City insulation experts like ESCO Services Inc. can conduct more thorough insulation inspections.

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Winter is that time of the year when homeowners start cranking up their heaters' thermostats to warmer levels. It goes without saying then that heating systems, whether via furnaces or through HVACs, are indispensable during this cold season. However, over-dependence on heating can lead to higher energy costs, especially when you consider the voracious power consumption of such large appliances.

Heaters expend more energy if the warmth they produce quickly dissipates, since the machines have to work harder to maintain their thermostats’ settings. In layman’s terms, heat loss adds even more load to heaters. This heat loss is usually attributed to air leaks, but warm air doesn’t always need cracks to seep out from. Heat can also permeate and diffuse out through walls – unless they’re properly fitted with insulation.

Insulation can reduce the amount of heat escaping your home by serving as a physical barrier. Aside from the walls, even a home’s attic can be installed with insulation. There are numerous insulation materials available, and they all differ in their ability to resist heat flow. Padding a home with superior insulation can maximize the heating capacity of the structure by easing the load forced upon heaters; this should also lead to reduced energy costs.

If you choose to work on air sealing your attic on your own, be sure to set the project on a cool day. Wear the appropriate protective equipment like some safety gloves, comfortable and disposable clothing, and a mask or respirator. Aside from your attic, there are many other areas in your home that need to be sealed for air. A professional insulation contractor in Salt Lake City should have the necessary knowledge to weed out these areas and seal them. With efficient air sealing and insulation, your house should be all set to weather out the winter cold and protect you and your family. In this light, you might also want to have your heating system and equipment checked and repaired.

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In Salt Lake City, households rely on their furnace or boiler to give them warm showers when they need one. During winters, warm water is even much more relaxing because the weather can get really cold. However, it is during winter time too when heaters fail the most. To prevent this from ever happening again, make sure that your furnace or boiler has been checked by a plumbing professional and have it repaired when deemed necessary.

Make sure that your septic tank is also checked before winter time. Do not wait until it becomes full before you get it emptied, especially when it's nearing its maximum capacity as winter arrives. Digging through frozen and snowy ground is so much more difficult than digging through the same ground in any other season, making such type of service from a capable Salt Lake City plumber very expensive.

How would you know whether your septic tank is just about to reach its full capacity? If you have lived in your residence for quite a while, you would know how often it happens. If you have doubts, it is better to have it checked by a plumbing professional prior to winter's arrival so you can be sure that you're going to have a much nicer winter without being bothered by septic tank issues.

Insulating your home means getting it ready for extreme weather, be it the summer heat or the winter cold, and keeping your HVAC system from consuming way too much energy in trying to heat or cool your house. There are many professionals that can help you with efficient home insulation. But just which portions of your house should you have insulated?

Attic Insulation

It's recommended that you have batt or loose fill insulation in your attic. Loose fill insulation materials are blown in or poured into selected areas, thus they are perfect for irregularly shaped spaces with lots of obstruction. Batt insulation, on the other hand, provides more coverage when efficiently installed, and can even be much less costly.

Exterior Wall Insulation

Loose-fill insulation is also used for the exterior siding of existing homes. This is because this type adjusts to the shape of a surface, so, in using it, one doesn't have to worry too much about any wiring between the walls. Owners of new homes, on the other hand, have a lot more leeway when it comes to choosing an insulation type.

Foundation Insulation

Your home's foundation can also benefit from insulating materials, particularly if you want to prevent insect infestation, moisture problems, and even radon exposure. Most often, one has to plan how to use this type of insulation even before a house is built.

Insulating your home is a very important step in making sure that everything is energy-efficient; in other words, it does not force your heating or cooling system beyond its limits. Air sealing is one aspect of this need; basically it is the process of reducing the amount of air that leaks in and out of your home, thus allowing the temperature to stabilize more readily.

Air leakage happens when outside air comes in and conditioned air leaves via your windows and other similar channels in your home. The goal of insulation is to minimize massive air leakages, which of course excuses your vents whose job is to control and mediate this airflow.

When you seal these other air pathways, any insulation that you set up will work more efficiently. In fact, most contractors will seal the air first before applying any insulation; this way, your home will not only be more energy-efficient, but will also provide an excellent barrier for moisture penetration which can severely damage your home interior.

If you're having your home insulated just in time for the cold season, be sure to ask your contractor to have it air sealed first. This way, you and your family will be able to enjoy the holidays with comfortable heating and a stable energy bill.