Lewis Insulation Blog Posts

Why Insulation is Still an Essential

Posted April 21, 2020 by Lewis Insulation & filed under Insulation Info.

As many people around the nation are remaining indoors, there are some essential services that remain open. Essential construction is one of these services. Which brings us to insulation installation; one of the most essential services of all. You may wonder if insulation is of importance this time of year with the weather warming. In fact, the purpose of insulation goes beyond keeping things warm. Insulation is essential to keeping your home cool and your energy costs low. As the trusted name in insulation for Minneapolis and the surrounding areas, we would like to tell you more about it and how it can be the most essential parts of keeping an efficient home today and into the future.

Are you aware that temperatures in your home’s attic can exceeds 130 degrees on a hot summer day? Without insulation to create a thermal barrier, this heat seeps down into the house, raising the indoor temperature by an average of 10 degrees. This can easily cause the air conditioner to work overtime in order to cool down your home. This not only makes it consistently warmer inside but can also have a huge impact on your energy bill.

Proper and adequate home insulation from Lewis Insulation can benefit you in a number of ways. Not only could you see some savings on your cooling bills this summer, but you could help the environment as well. Buildings emit greenhouse gas emissions and the best way to reduce these emissions is through proper attic insulation. After all, insulation is a thermal barrier, meaning it slows the transfer of heat. While walls need insulation too, the attic is the most important place to boost insulation if you discover your home doesn’t have enough. Attic insulation is there to prevent sweltering summer temperatures from entering the attic and passing through the ceiling and into your home.

Are you ready to learn more about why insulation is an essential for your unique home? There are a variety of types of insulation to choose from including closed cell spray foam, fiberglass and cellulose. Each come with their own unique set of benefits and our insulation experts can help determine what type of insulation is best suited for your home and budget. To learn more about insulation for your Minneapolis home, give us a call at Lewis Insulation. Dial 763-477-2612, or you can contact us to set up a Free Estimate.

What Makes Attic Ventilation Vital

Posted March 18, 2020 by Lewis Insulation & filed under Attic Ventilation.

You likely already know that ventilation is the flow of air through a system of intake and exhaust. But, how does ventilation relate to the attic and why is it important? As the experts in attic ventilation for Minnetonka, we’d like to discuss this essential part of your home’s cooling and heating systems.

Attic ventilation systems are unique to every home. Factors such as code requirements, regional climate and roof and ceiling designs all need to be considered when venting your roof. There are two main types of roof ventilation:

Exhaust vents
Intake vents

We can install the most efficient and effective attic ventilation systems. We understand how important it is to install proper attic insulation. It helps prevent temperate air loss from the living areas and diminishes the energy impact of having cold or hot air flow through the attic.

The type and number of vents needed will depend on your unique home. Our attic ventilation professionals will determine the exact amount needed for your home. As a general rule, you should establish a 1:300 ratio in which every 300 square feet of ceiling space calls for 1 square foot of attic ventilation. Accessory items like grates, piping and others that sit on your roof may also be an issue in calculating and setting up true ventilation.

In addition to preventing ice dams in winter, attic ventilation has many benefits when it’s hot outside as well. When the temperature outside rises, the temperature on your roof can be nearly doubled. A hot roof over a poorly vented attic translates into a very hot attic.

Heat infiltration to your home occurs through the attic. Even with adequate insulation, some heat will seep into your ceilings and down into the rooms when temperatures climb. Because of this, your air conditioner will run more often in order to cool the air off, driving up energy costs.

Consistent high moisture and temperatures in the attic due to lack of ventilation can cause damage to the roof including rippling, warping and more.

With spring arriving early this year, it is important to contact the experts here at Lewis Insulation as soon as possible to prepare for summer. Our experts can calculate how much ventilation your attic needs and how much is already there.

Ready to get started? For more information on attic ventilation for your Minnetonka home, call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us and get a Free Estimate.

Has Your Home Been Trying to Tell You Something this Winter?

Posted January 15, 2020 by Lewis Insulation & filed under Insulation Info.

With temperatures dropping here in Minnesota, you may be noticing some weak spots in your home’s heating and insulation systems. For example, is your furnace working constantly to keep your home warm? Are there drafts in your home? Have you noticed unusually high heating bills? If so, your home may be trying to tell you something and winter is the time to listen. As the trusted insulation contractors for Maple Grove and the surrounding areas, we would like to tell you more about the signs your home may be giving you that it’s time to consider the health and efficiency of your home insulation.

Does each room in the home seem to be a different temperature? If different rooms have different temperatures that’s a clear sign your house is under-insulated. It’s important that all areas of your home are properly insulated. Heat and cool air can escape almost anywhere if there isn’t proper insulation to stop it.

Over the winter, take note of any drafts in your home. Drafts in certain areas of a home are caused by cool air entering around window frames and doorways. Adding the right type of insulation in these key areas will not only make your home feel less drafty, it will also save you on energy bills.

Speaking of energy bills; look over your home’s energy bills from the last few years. Do you notice huge increases? This may be one of the first tangible signs your home’s insulation could use some help or reevaluation.

Aside from high heating bills, another warning sign in winter is ice dams. Ice dams occur when heat rises from a poorly-insulated home and melts the bottom layer of snow off on the roof. The melted water then trickles down towards the gutters and freezes once it hits the cooler air. The result is large chunks of ice and ice dams.

Does your home feel cold? While it may sound rather simple, when drywall and paneling inside a home feels damp or cold, that is one indication that there is not enough insulation.

And, these are just a few of the signs to look out for this winter. Have you noticed any of these telltale signs? For more information about our insulation contractors serving Maple Grove and the surrounding areas, call us at Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us to get a Free Estimate.

How Proper Attic Ventilation Can Help Prevent Ice Dams this Winter

Posted November 18, 2019 by Lewis Insulation & filed under Attic Ventilation.

Here in Minnesota, we get quite the snow-filled winter. And, with our unpredictable weather and temperatures, we are at a high risk of getting ice dams. An ice dam is a build-up of ice on the eaves of roofs that results from melting snow under a snow pack. Freezing at the eave impedes the drainage of meltwater, which adds to the ice dam and causes backup of the meltwater, which may cause water leakage and damage the home. Dams can tear off gutters, loosen shingles, and cause water to back up and pour into your home. But, don’t fret! There are ways to prevent ice dams; one solution being proper attic ventilation. As the experts in attic ventilation for St Michael and the surrounding areas, we would like to tell you more about what ice dams are and how to prevent them.

So, what causes ice dams? When all three of the following conditions occur, ice dams can form quickly:

Warm air rising to the peak of the attic causing snow to melt and flow to the eave.
Cold air at the lower part of the roof.
Heavy snow coverage on the roof, acting as a layer of insulation preventing heat loss.

When the melted water at the eave refreezes, it allows the water to backup thus causing ice dams.

How can you prevent this? Proper attic ventilation can prevent ice dams. There are two main purposes of attic ventilation; to protect against damage to your structure and to reduce energy usage. Ventilation during the winter helps to reduce moisture as well as keeps attics dry and at an even temperature. During the winter, the warm air from the home below transfers into the attic and if it isn’t released via proper ventilation, it can cause problems.

What can you do? Have proper attic ventilation installed by professionals like this at Lewis Insulation. We can install the most efficient and effective attic ventilation systems. It is also important to install proper attic insulation. This helps prevent heat loss from the living areas and diminishes the energy impact of having cold air flow through the attic.

And remember, do not use an axe or ice pick on your roof if ice dams do occur. This can cause bodily injury and/or roof damage. After a snow fall, remove the snow off the roof with a roof rake. And, if you do notice ice dams forming, contact attic ventilation and insulation experts like us who can assess the situation and recommend a plan of action.

Are you interested in learning more about attic ventilation for your St. Michael area home? Call us at Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us to set up a Free Estimate.

Attic Insulation Contrast & Compare: Fiberglass Vs. Cellulose

Posted September 19, 2019 by Lewis Insulation & filed under Attic Insulation.

Don’t let money fly out of your roof! The attic is one of the most essential areas of the home to ensure proper insulation in. Attic insulation keeps the desirable temperature in and the undesirable temperature out. But, what kind of insulation should you choose? When it comes to insulating your home and specifically your attic, there are two commonly used materials for the job and that’s fiberglass and cellulose. Of the two, fiberglass has been around the longest is more commonly used, but cellulose has been gaining a lot of traction in recent years as people strive to lower their energy bills. As the experts in attic insulation for Maple Grove, we would like to compare and contrast these two materials to help you choose the right one for your unique home.

Fiberglass Attic Insulation

Fiberglass insulation is a man-made product composed of sand and recycled glass. It can be installed in both new and existing homes, garages, attics and more. It is one of the most widely used materials for attic insulating today. It is non-combustible, non-corrosive & non absorbent. If exposed to moisture, fiberglass will not hold water.

Here at Lewis Insulation, we install high-quality JM fiberglass insulation. When you have us upgrade your attic insulation with JM fiberglass insulation, you can expect year-round comfort. Whether it be your attic, walls, floors or ceilings, you can be assured that you will use less energy to heat & cool your home.

Cellulose Attic Insulation

We install blown-in cellulose insulation in both new and existing attics and walls, as well as garages, pole buildings etc. Cellulose insulation is manufactured from recycled newspaper. It is non-toxic, and will not rot, decay, or contribute to mold growth. Cellulose insulation is considered “green” as it is made from recycled newspaper and requires less energy to manufacture than fiberglass insulation.

Cellulose insulation is also chemically treated to resist fire, insects and mold. It has a better resistance to air flow and prevents the upward movement of air caused by temperature differences. The R-value of cellulose insulation actually improves during cold weather.

Cellulose insulation is considered a greener material than fiberglass and being made of paper, does not pose any health issues to the installer or home occupants.

Overall, both materials improve the energy efficiency of your home but do so in different ways. It is up to you which material you choose!

Want to learn more about different types of attic insulation for your Maple Grove home or business? Contact us today to install fiberglass or cellulose insulation by calling 763-477-2612 or Contact us Here. Serving St Michael and the entire Twin Cities Metro.