Home Insulation

Replace Your Residential Insulation for Energy Efficiency this Winter

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With snow on the immediate horizon throughout parts of Minnesota, winter is quickly approaching, which means now is the time to prepare your home for the harsh weather to come. Have you noticed drafts coming in through your attic making your home feel chillier? Don’t spend a fortune on energy bills this winter, instead allow Lewis Insulation to replace your residential insulation in St. Michael or the surrounding areas!

Inadequate insulation can increase your energy bills. In fact, an estimated 75% of heat can be saved with effective insulation! Imagine how much lower your energy bills would be if three quarters of your heat weren’t wasted due to inefficient insulation!

Plus, requiring less energy to keep your home comfortable this winter actually reduces your carbon footprint! New insulation for your home can help you become more environmentally friendly while also saving you money.

Even if you are thinking of selling your home soon, investing in new insulation is still a good thing to consider. On average, home value increases $20 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills. Considering the expected drop in your bills thanks to your new insulation, the value of your home should jump too!

While new insulation may seem like a large investment, you will quickly see that by factoring in your monthly savings, the return on investment is high and happens quickly! New insulation is one of the best investments you can make in your home this time of year, as energy prices continue to rise, and cold weather is here to stay.

Each home is different, meaning that the right insulation could vary from your house to your neighbors’. Luckily, here at Lewis Insulation, we are ready to not only help you prepare your home for winter, but also to help you determine which new insulation fits the needs of your home best!

So, give us a call today to learn more about how new insulation can protect you from skyrocketing energy costs this winter. Our professionals are happy to discuss the benefits of new insulation, especially with winter just around the corner.

When it comes time to install or replace residential insulation in your home in St. Michael or the surrounding areas, choose the best. Call Lewis Insulation today at 763-477-2612 or contact us!

Old Insulation: To Remove or Not to Remove

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As your home’s first line of defense against extreme temperatures, insulation should always be performing at its best. If your old insulation is getting worn out and isn’t up to the task, what do you do with your old insulation?

Lewis Insulation takes care of all of your insulation needs in the Twin Cities area; from installation to removal, we do it all.

Now, to answer your question about when to remove or keep your old insulation! Here are some instances when it’s best to remove, and some when it’s best to keep, your old insulation.

When to Remove Old Insulation

Whether you are renovating an entire house or just redoing a single room, here are some scenarios in which you should remove your old insulation before adding new:

  • You’re replacing your insulation with spray foam. One of the biggest selling points of spray foam is that it expands to create and air-tight seal, but if there’s remaining insulation in the way the spray foam can’t do its job properly.
  • You’ve had rodents or other pests. Loose-fill insulation and fiberglass batts are both cozy hideouts for rodents and other pests. If you’ve had any critter issues, it’s best to remove your old insulation so you can ensure there aren’t any droppings left behind that could cause smells or attract new pests.
  • You’ve had water damage. If there are any signs of moisture in your old insulation, it’s important to remove it completely before adding new insulation. It’s equally as important to find the source of the moisture to ensure that you are protecting yourself against potential future damages. Wet insulation can promote the growth of mold and mildew, so you need to remove any waterlogged or damp insulation before proceeding with installing new to keep yourself safe.
  • You’ve had fire or smoke damage. If you have had a fire, chances are your insulation will need to be replaced, whether it has directly experienced fire damage. As insulation can absorb the smell of smoke, replacing it helps remove the lingering odor of smoke from your home.

When to Keep Old Insulation

While there are times to remove the old insulation first, there are also some instances where you can keep your old insulation and just add new to it! Please keep in mind that even if either of these are the case, any reasons from above to remove your old insulation should be considered first!

  • You’re adding loose-fill insulation. As there are no potentially harmful chemical interactions between mixing loose-fill insulation and other types of insulation, it’s entirely safe to add loose-fill to your existing insulation. As long as your old insulation is in good shape, adding more loose-fill is a great course of action to increase your home’s insulation effectiveness.
  • You’re adding batt or rolled insulation. Just as it was for loose-fill insulation, batt or rolled insulation can be added to existing insulation so long as it’s in good condition. There are no potentially harmful chemical interactions involved, so unless there’s another underlying reason, there’s no need to remove your old insulation.

So now you know – when it’s time for you to reinsulate your home whether you need to remove your old insulation depends on your specific circumstances. If you have any questions or still aren’t sure whether you need to remove your old insulation in your Twin Cities home, call the experts at Lewis Insulation today at 763-477-2612 or Contact Us!

Ensuring Proper Attic Insulation

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Is your home’s attic properly insulated? It’s important to ensure proper attic insulation to enjoy stabilized indoor temperatures year-round, prevent ice dams from forming on the roof in winter, reduce your home’s energy consumption, lower your monthly energy bills and much more. A properly insulated attic is more than just some fiberglass, it requires a much more comprehensive approach. As the trusted name in attic insulation for Wayzata and the surrounding areas, we would like to help you ensure a properly insulated attic. Here’s how:

An important first step is knowing what your attic requires. Many attics contain air leaks and are under-insulated, relying on small amounts of older materials for insulation. An energy audit or attic inspection by trusted attic insulation professionals can reveal where air leaks and insulation gaps exist in your attic.

Once you know what your attic needs, it’s time to choose the right kind of attic insulation. There are a few different options out there, all with different R-values. Understanding an insulation material’s R-value is important; it is the measure of how well it resists the flow of heat. The higher the number, the better the insulating power. Here are some of the different attic insulation types:

Fiberglass and Cellulose Attic Insulation. These types of blown-in insulation have almost the same R-value, and they are both environmentally friendly. Cellulose is made out of recycled newspaper and fiberglass is made out of sand, both of which are renewable resources. These insulation types are great for filling in gaps and ensuring your entire attic is evenly insulated. The installation process is generally pretty quick, depending on the size of your attic.

Spray foam. Closed cell spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is a premium insulation perfectly suited for the attic. With a high R-value, it acts as a barrier to keep the indoors from the outside climate, creating thermal, air and moisture isolation. It can expand and reach hard-to-till voids that other insulation types are not able to do.

Once you have the right attic insulation installed, it’s important to ensure property attic ventilation as well. Proper attic ventilation, when combined with air sealing and professionally installed insulation, cools the attic down during warmer months, when heat might otherwise enter through the roof and accumulate in the attic. It also allows warm, moisture-filled air to escape the attic during colder months.

Ready to get started? For attic insulation in Wayzata and the surrounding areas, call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us to set up a Free Estimate.

Attic Ventilation & How it Helps Regulate the Temperature in Your Home

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As we spend more time in our homes, we begin to notice inefficiencies and areas of the home that could use improvement. One common area that can go unnoticed is the efficiency of a home heating/cooling system and insulation/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 efficiency and why is it important? As the trusted name in attic ventilation for Minnetonka, we’d like to discuss this essential part of your home’s cooling and heating systems.

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There are two main types of roof ventilation; exhaust vents and intake vents. These help 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 each will depend on your unique home and our attic ventilation professionals will determine the exact need 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.

Attic ventilation isn’t just important in cold weather; it has many benefits when it’s hot outside as well. When the temperature outside rises, the temperature on your roof can be nearly double. 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.

Attic insulation and 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. We can install the most efficient and effective attic ventilation systems. We understand how important it is to install proper attic insulation. Our experts can calculate how much ventilation your attic needs and how much is already there.

Are you interested in getting some more information on attic ventilation for your Minnetonka home? Call us at Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us and get a Free Estimate.

Attic Ventilation & Ice Dams

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With the cold, unpredictable weather and temperatures here in Minnesota, we are at a high risk of getting ice dams. What is an ice dam? An ice dam is created by a build-up of ice on the eaves of roofs that results from melting snow under a snow pack. 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.attic ventilation st michael

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. However, there are ways to prevent ice dams and proper attic ventilation is key. 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.

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.

You should 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.

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.

Ready to learn 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.

Is Your Minnesota Home Under-Insulated?

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If you’ve noticed a chilly draft in your time, your heating system working overtime or if you’ve experienced higher than average heating bills, chances are your home is under-insulated. Homes all over are under insulated for one simple reason; home builders install the minimum amount of insulation required by code which is is rarely enough to keep a house warm.residential insulation

At Lewis Insulation we are experts in residential insulation for St Paul and the surrounding areas and have assembled a list of warning signs your home may not be properly insulated.

First, look over your home’s energy bills from the last few years. Do you notice huge increases? You may not notice extreme temperature shifts in your home or if your heating or cooling units are working overtime, but you will notice your extreme energy bill.

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.

Feel your walls. The interior ceilings, walls and floors in your home should feel warm and dry. When drywall and paneling inside a home feels damp or cold, that is one indication that there is not enough insulation.

Frozen pipes in your walls are another indicator that you have an insulation problem. Proper residential insulation should protect your home from damage caused by freezing outdoor temperatures.

A sign of a properly insulated home is even temperatures throughout. 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. During the winter months, drafts in certain areas of a home are caused by cool air entering around window frames and doorways. Adding residential insulation in these key areas will not only make your home feel less drafty, it will also save you on energy bills.

These are just a few of the signs your home may suffer from under-insulation. For more information about residential insulation for your St Paul area home, call us at Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us to get a Free Estimate.

How Attic Ventilation Can Help Save Energy

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Are you looking for ways to increase your home’s efficiency? One of the most important parts of keeping your home’s efficiency up to par is proper ventilation. As professionals in attic ventilation for Maple Grove, we would like to tell you more about attic ventilation and why now is a superb time to consider having it properly addressed by experts.

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Natural air flow in a well-vented attic helps to release the hot air out of the attic. This helps assist your air conditioning, keeping cooling costs low, your home comfortable and it running efficiently Have some more questions about attic ventilation? Here are a few answers. And, if you find you have some more questions about attic ventilation, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Most attics require air chutes to circulate proper air flow. Air chutes are placed between the rafters in the attic, and go down into the soffit to bring up proper air flow. The size of the attic determines how many air chutes are recommended for optimal venting.

At first it may seem odd to add insulation for warmth and then purposely allow cold air to enter the attic through vents, but this combination is the key to a durable and energy-efficient home. In the summer, natural air flow in a well-vented attic moves super-heated air out of the attic, protecting roof shingles and removing moisture. The insulation will resist heat transfer into the house.

Inadequate venting in your attic causes all sorts of problems, including wood rot to mildew, peeling paint, rusty nails or screws, roofing problems and even energy loss. The good news is that these issues can be easily prevented by simply venting your attic correctly.

Still not sure about attic ventilation? Give us a call today at Lewis Insulation and we can get you scheduled for a visit and tell you more about it. We will come out and take a look to determine proper ventilation, whether you have it or not. Whatever the reason you might think you need better attic ventilation, you should talk to a professional to determine what your home needs.

Are you interested in getting some more information about attic ventilation for your Maple Grove home? Then give us a call at Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us and get a Free Estimate.

What You Need to Know about Fiberglas Insulation

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One of the most popular types of insulation in the Twin Cities is fiberglass insulation. But, you may be wondering what is fiberglass insulation anyway? At Lewis Insulation, we provide a variety of insulation services to help you keep your home safe and comfortable and would like to tell you more about this wonderful insulation material.

First, why fiberglass? Fiberglass insulation is a cost-effective way to insulate your home. 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.

Fiberglass insulation is also easy to install. You will not have to wait long for fiberglass insulation to be installed. While the installation process can be easy, it is still best to call in the professionals, like tthose at Lewis Insulation, to get it installed.

The type of fiberglass insulation we install is mold and mildew resistant. So you will not have to worry that your new fiberglass insulation is retaining moisture and possibly causing more harm than good to you and your family.

Fiberglass insulation is a budget-friendly option for many homeowners. You still get many of the same perks as other types of insulation, but fiberglass is one of the least expensive options on the market today.

Fiberglass insulation can help increase the energy efficiency of your home. It helps to slow the spread of heat and cold by trapping pockets of air. This helps keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Plus, it helps the amount of outside noise that comes into your home.

What is it exactly? Fiberglass insulation is made out of very thin strands of 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. Nowadays, fiberglass insulation does not irritate the skin like it used to and its manufacturing process is more environmentally friendly than it used to be. And, many manufacturers are using recycled glass.

There are many different reasons to choose fiberglass insulation. Contact us to find out more! To learn more about fiberglass insulation for your Twin Cities home, call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612 or you can contact us to get your Free Estimate on our fiberglass insulation services.

Getting Some Answers about Attic Ventilation

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You may have heard about attic ventilation but are not totally sure what the means. As experts in insulation and attic ventilation for Eden Prairie, we have received many questions about both insulation and ventilation and would like to provide you with some answers. And, after leaning more about it, think your attic could benefit from attic ventilation, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We will be able to assess the amount of ventilation and/or insulation work you need in order to make your home run as efficiently as it should.

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Your home may benefit greatly from attic ventilation as well as the installation of new insulation. So, let’s get to it!

What is attic ventilation and how do you know if you have enough?

As many as 90% of American homes have moisture levels that exceed acceptable limits. Ventilation is what helps get rid of the heat and humidity, drawing it out of your home. Proper residential insulation and ventilation play a key role in making sure this heat and humidity do not build up in your attic.

One must precisely calculate the proper amount of venting needed to allow for proper attic ventilation. Insufficient ventilation leads to moisture issues during the winter months and cuts down on the overall efficiency of your energy usage during the summer months

The experts at Lewis Insulation can help determine what your attic already has and what your attic needs.

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. And, just any opening into the roof does not count as true ventilation.

Can more insulation by a substitute for attic ventilation?

It is common to assume that by adding more insulation you would be assisting in the overall effort to prevent winter and summer issues in attic ventilation. That is not the case, however.  Vents in the roof at points where insulation is installed allows for more opportunity for moisture to get in. Some venting is absolutely necessary on the roof but you do not want to add to it by installing more insulation.

Still have more questions? Call us up at Lewis Insulation and we can certainly get you scheduled for a visit. We will come out and take a look to determine proper ventilation, whether you have it or not. Without exception, you should talk to a professional to determine what your home requires.

Would you like m ore information about attic ventilation for your Eden Prairie home? Call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us and get a Free Estimate.

Attic Insulation and Its Many Benefits

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With our hot humid summers and cold windy winters, keeping an attic properly insulated can be very important. Proper insulation keeps the heat and air conditioning in while cutting your energy bills by a possible 30%. Attic insulation in the Twin Cities is so important for so many reasons. And, just because you currently have insulation in your attic already, it does not mean it’s doing its job. At Lewis Insulation, we install high-quality fiberglass, foam and cellulose insulation for homes in your area.

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Have your attic insulation assessed by the experts and upgraded whenever necessary. It could not only save you money, but improve a variety of other possible complications that can come with old insulation. If your home becomes warm quickly in the hotter months or too cold during the cooler months, chances are you could need new insulation. Having the experts at Lewis Insulation upgrade your attic’s insulation can help provide you and your family with year-round comfort. As experts in the industry for over 35 years, we have put together some of the many great benefits of replacing your attic insulation:

A Safer Home

Damaged, outdated insulation in your attic can be hosting a number of contaminants and possibly even rodents. Due to bacteria and disease, these contaminants can be incredibly harmful to you and your family’s health. They can even grow and spread throughout the home if not put in check. Keep in mind, if there is an odor present, you might very well need new attic insulation.

Energy Efficiency

By having your attic insulation replaced, you can essentially ensure you are not letting money escape through the ceiling. Today, nearly 60% of homes in the US are not properly insulated, so reduce your energy costs and help keep your home comfortable and well insulated all year long. Proper attic insulation can allow for even temperature distribution within the home as well as provide moisture control, and provide your home with a more environmentally-friendly impact. It can even increase your home’s resale value.

Stronger Home Structure

Many of us adopt an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality when it comes to old, outdated attic insulation, however, it can even begin to affect the structure of your home. Ignoring your attic insulation can cause damage to the wood frames or beams where rotting and mold can occur. Ensure the structure of your home by having your current insulation assessed and the experts will determine whether or not you need new insulation installed.

Learn more about attic insulation today! Call the experts at Lewis Insulation today and we can come out to assess your attic insulation and recommend the best solutions for your specific needs. Take a look at our project gallery and see the high quality work we can provide; we are proud of what we do!

Ready to get more information about attic insulation in the Twin Cities? Call Lewis Insulation today at 763-477-2612 or you can contact us to get a Free Estimate.