Lewis Insulation Blog Posts

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.

Spray Foam Insulation: What It’s Made of & How It Works

Posted July 22, 2019 by Lewis Insulation & filed under Spray Foam Insulation.

Building a new home or looking to update your current home or business’s insulation? It is important to consider the type of insulation as well. For example, have you considered closed cell spray foam insulation? You’ve likely heard about spray foam insulation before, but maybe you are unfamiliar with what it is or how it works. As the experts in spray foam insulation for Wayzata, we are here to give you the facts so you can decide if it’s the right insulation for you.

What is spray foam insulation? Spray foam insulation works as an air barrier material that seals walls, floors and ceiling cavities against air movement. This includes spaces around electrical outlets and light fixtures, and also where walls meet windows and doors. Spray foam can be sprayed into an open cavity, like in new construction, crawl spaces, attics and more.

When should spray foam insulation be used? Many newer homes these days are insulating their newly built homes with spray foam insulation for energy efficiency as well as comfort benefits. And, homeowners of existing homes are deciding to retrofit their attics, walls, and crawl spaces with spray foam to fix uncomfortable room issues as well as to save money on monthly energy bills.

Another great thing about spray foam insulation is that it never loses its shape. Unlike conventional insulation materials, spray foam fills cracks, gaps and crevices on installation. It won’t compress, sag or settle over time.

And, because spray foam insulation fits so well into every nook and cranny, closed cell spray foam insulation also allows very little moisture into your home; this also means that dust and other allergens are less likely to enter your home too. This could lead to better health for you and your family, especially for those who have allergies. Closed cell spray foam insulation is also a great way to help reduce the amount of outside noise that enters your home. This is especially beneficial for those who live near a busy road or a similar area.

Closed cell spray foam insulation can even help improve your home’s structural integrity as well as help keep out birds, insects, squirrels and other critters from nesting in your home. In the long run, this could help you avoid pests like termites, which could cause a great deal of damage and require expensive repairs.

What is spray foam insulation made of? When most spray foam insulation is made, two liquids combine causing a chemical reaction to form the spray polyurethane foam.

Are you ready to learn even more about spray foam insulation for your Wayzata area home? Call Lewis Insulation at 763-477-2612, or you can contact us and request a Free Estimate.

How Attic Insulation Keeps Your Home Cooler During the Summer

Posted June 25, 2019 by Lewis Insulation & filed under Attic Insulation.

When you hear “insulation” you likely associate it with winter and warmth. However, insulation is key to keeping your home cool during the summer as well. The purpose of insulation goes beyond keeping things warm. Just think about your child’s lunch box; it is insulated to keep the cold air in and its contents cool; the same goes for your home. Insulation is essential to keeping your home cool and your energy costs low. As experts in attic insulation for Eden Prairie 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.

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.

Did you know that temperatures in the attic can exceed 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 attic 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.

Ready to get started? 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 attic insulation experts can help determine what type of insulation is best for your home and budget. Whichever type of attic insulation you go with, you will notice that the rooms in your home are more evenly cooled and your cooling system is no longer working overtime.

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