As the season of extreme temperatures gets closer, have you given any consideration as to how you can regulate the cost of energy? Applying spray foam insulation in the rooms that are poorly insulated, such as the basement, garage, and attic, dramatically reduces energy loss as well as the cost [...]]]>

Types of Spray Foam Insulation

As the season of extreme temperatures gets closer, have you given any consideration as to how you can regulate the cost of energy? Applying spray foam insulation in the rooms that are poorly insulated, such as the basement, garage, and attic, dramatically reduces energy loss as well as the cost of energy. There are two different types of spray foam insulation that are ideal for different situations: 1 component spray foam, and 2 part spray foam. Having knowledge of the type of insulation you need helps speed up the process of sealing these costly air leaks.

1 Component Spray Foam

• Expansion Amount: 10% when applied at 1/2” thickness
• Curing time: 20 minutes
• R-Value: 5.4 (per inch)
• Amount of tanks: 1

As a result of this being a low expansion foam, 1 component spray foam is commonly used to seal air leaks around doors, windows, HVAC and electrical penetrations, plumbing, and other small-sized areas where leaks occur. The foam should be kept at room temperature. It cures when exposed to moisture, so if you are going to use this insulation on a cold or dry day, be sure to use a spritzer to assist with the curing process.

2 Part Spray Foam

• Expansion Amount: 30 times when applied at 1” thickness
• Curing Time: Within 1 minute
• R-Value: 7.12 per inch
• Amount of tanks: 2

The high expansion 2 part spray foam is used to seal large-scale air leaks. It is commonly used to insulate walls, floors, and ceilings. This type of insulation has a higher R-value than 1 component spray foam, making it a more effective insulator. As with 1 part foam, the two tanks should be left at room temperature. Also note that the tanks are of different consistencies, and one tank needs to be warmed up to match the consistency of the other once you are ready for application.

Both 1 component spray foam and 2 part spray foam are closed cell, meaning the cells in the foam are packed closely together, instead of loosely. This provides the foam with strength and enables it to be water resistant, although not waterproof. All instructions regarding safety and application should be followed carefully. Regardless of the type that is necessary for your home, spray foam insulation seals air leaks and continues to save money on energy bills long after it has been used.

Air comes in and goes out through exterior doors whether or not they are open or closed. A simple way to check if your doors have this problem is through a sight test. While the sun is out, if you can see light coming in through the door when it is closed, you [...]]]>

Q-Lon Weatherstrip

Air comes in and goes out through exterior doors whether or not they are open or closed. A simple way to check if your doors have this problem is through a sight test. While the sun is out, if you can see light coming in through the door when it is closed, you definitely have an air leak on your hands. Installing q-lon weatherstrip to doors that need to be properly sealed reduces the amount energy lost through this source, reducing the cost of energy in the process.

Installing a q-lon weatherstrip is beneficial for a number of reasons:

• It seals up to ½” gaps. Sealing air leaks from the door can reduce home energy loss up to 11%.
• Reducing energy loss eases the burden on the heating/cooling systems, thus lowering bills.
• Limiting unwanted air exchanges in the home provides more control over home temperatures
• The weatherstripping acts as both a sealant and a door stop
• It is constructed to fit standard doors, but can be cut to fit smaller doors.

This type of door weatherstripping is comprised of polyethylene-clad urethane foam that remains flexible through temperatures as low as minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit. The foam is secured to an aluminum (metal/steel), vinyl (PVC), or wood carrier. The type of carrier that would be ideal for your home depends on the door that the weatherstrip will be installed on:

• Aluminum: Heavy duty carrier that is ideal for metal doors
• Wood: Carrier installed over wooden doors
• Vinyl: Suitable for use on doors that are not metal, steel, or wood based

As shown, weatherproofing doors through the use of a q-lon weatherstrip benefits the home in a number of ways. It saves doors from energy loss, and in doing so, saves you from spending more on energy than you need to.

A variety of tapes are used when attempting to weatherproof the home. Duct and foil tapes, for example, are commonly utilized for sealing leaky ductwork. The Venture Tape 460, also referred to as white vinyl tape, is a weatherization tape commonly used as seaming for vinyl faced fiberglass insulation and insulation blankets [...]]]>

White Vinyl Tape

A variety of tapes are used when attempting to weatherproof the home. Duct and foil tapes, for example, are commonly utilized for sealing leaky ductwork. The Venture Tape 460, also referred to as white vinyl tape, is a weatherization tape commonly used as seaming for vinyl faced fiberglass insulation and insulation blankets for water heaters. This sort of tape is produced to withstand extreme temperature conditions, such as high heat, as well as humidity. As a result, it is incredibly durable and is able to be used in a variety of conditions.

Each roll of white vinyl tape is 3-inches wide and 150-feet long. The durability of this sort of tape is not only limited to the type of weather conditions it can tolerate, but also in the strength of it. In addition, it is plasticizer and shrink resistant. The backing of the white vinyl tape is simple peel and stick, bonding securely.  It can be easily applied not only to fiberglass insulation and water heater blankets, but used for patching up tears in insulation as well.

White vinyl tape is a strong and solid tape. This tape has many benefits and can be used on many types of insulation. It helps keep insulation securely in place, and once applied, it can stand temperatures just as well as the insulation that it is being used on.

Together, faucets and showers account for approximately 33 percent of residential water use in the average home. Showers represent about 17 percent of water use, and faucets make up about 16 percent. Limiting the amount of water used through showers and faucets greatly affects the home’s water footprint and water costs. Installing [...]]]>

Low Flow Devices

Together, faucets and showers account for approximately 33 percent of residential water use in the average home. Showers represent about 17 percent of water use, and faucets make up about 16 percent. Limiting the amount of water used through showers and faucets greatly affects the home’s water footprint and water costs. Installing low flow devices is a simple way to solve this problem.

Modern showerheads are constructed to deliver no more than 2.5 gallons of water per minute (GPM), while showerheads in older homes sometimes use as much as 5 GPM. Replacing your current showerhead (old or new) with a low flow model is a great way to reduce water consumption without sacrificing comfort. The technology in these low flow devices is such that there is no air mixing with the water, which allows the water-efficient showerhead to deliver a satisfying spray. In addition, these water savers often come with multiple spray options. Furthermore, energy savings and a reduction in water heating costs can be expected, as with less water used for showering also equals less hot water used in the home.

Surprising, the average faucet installed in a modern home uses between 2.2 to 2.5 gallons of water per minute. This is very close to the amount of water used by modern showerheads! Low flow faucet aerators use 0.5 to 1.5 gallons of water per minute. These low flow devices significantly reduce the amount of water that goes down the drain at the sink as well as the amount of hot water used here. While consumption at the sink may not seem like much, consider that if each home in the US installed water saving faucet aerators, the nation could save over 60 billion gallons of water every year.

Do your water bills tend to go up in the spring and summer seasons? During the hotter months of the year, water consumption from the average home in the United States nearly doubles. This is mainly due to the increase in water being used outdoors. There are many ways to keep your [...]]]>

Outdoor Water Conservation

Do your water bills tend to go up in the spring and summer seasons? During the hotter months of the year, water consumption from the average home in the United States nearly doubles. This is mainly due to the increase in water being used outdoors. There are many ways to keep your lawn beautiful, your plants healthy, and your car clean without wasting water. Practicing outdoor water conservation not only makes you feel good about helping the environment, but lowers water and sewer bills too.

Measuring water levels is a great way to save water outdoors. While it is important to provide water to plants, equally important is ensuring that they receive the right amount. Overwatering occurs when too much water is used, and is the most common cause of plant deaths. A soil moisture meter allows you to keep track of the water levels in the soil of your plants so you know when to provide them with water, and how much. Place the meter into the ground, and watch as it provides soil levels using an analog-style interface. Another outdoor water measuring instrument is a rain gauge. The cone end is placed into the ground to measure rainfall. Knowing how much rainfall has been received makes it easier to adjust the lawn sprinklers.

Take outdoor water conservation a step further by using a tool and a resource. A great conservation tool is a spray nozzle has 6 different settings so you can choose a suitable spray option. For example, the water pressure you might need to water the plants in a garden would be different from the amount of pressure necessary to wash a car. Using a conservation nozzle allows only a certain amount of water to be released while still providing ideal water pressure. A great resource for outdoor water conservation is a water conservation wheel. It is full of tips and ideas that will help you save water both outdoors and indoors.

As you can see, reducing water consumption outside is done by simply regulating water usage. Outdoor water conservation, especially during the warmer months of the year, leads to less money being spent on water and sewer bills. Having to spend less on bills during summer just might make the season a little more fun.

Applying spray foam insulation to ceilings and walls is one of the best ways to insulate the rooms that act as a passageway for drafts and outside air during extreme weather months; rooms such as the attic and basement. Sealing up the cracks and gaps in these rooms with spray foam [...]]]>

Touch N Seal Foam

Applying spray foam insulation to ceilings and walls is one of the best ways to insulate the rooms that act as a passageway for drafts and outside air during extreme weather months; rooms such as the attic and basement. Sealing up the cracks and gaps in these rooms with spray foam insulation helps reduce the amount of energy used to heat and cool the home, as well as the amount of money spent on doing so. Closed cell and open cell Touch N Seal foam are two types of spray foam insulation that can be used for insulating these rooms.

Closed cell Touch N Seal foam gets its name because the foam cells are packed together and closed. The strength and density of this foam allow it to be resistant to water absorption. Additional important details about closed cell foam include:

• Expansion: up to 30 times when applied at 1” thick
• Density: 1.75 +/- 0.2 pounds per cubic feet
• R-Value: 7.12 per inch

In contrast, the cells in open cell foam are not closed completely or packed close together, and this type of foam readily absorbs water. Keep in mind these important details about open cell foam when deciding which type you need:

• Expansion: 100 times the liquid volume
• Density: 0.4 to 0.5 pounds per cubic feet
• R-Value: 3.5 per inch

Closed cell and open cell Touch N Seal foam are different in a number of ways. While open cell foam typically costs less, the strength, density, and higher R-Value of closed cell foam makes it the more advantageous of the two.