Fall is here and summer heat is dissipating. Finally, you can get outside without sweating through your shirt or getting bitten by summer mosquitoes. However, just because you’re just turning off your AC doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be thinking about the colder months. As we move into the fall, it’s important to check on your insulation to stay ahead of winter energy bills and seasonal pests like rodents, stinkbugs, cockroaches, and more that could make your attic their home. If you’re not sure when your home was last insulated, Western Pest Services has a couple great reasons to think about upgrading it.
Save Energy to Save Money
This one is a no brainer. Good insulation will keep your home cooler in hot months and warmer in cold months. Even though you’re relying on your HVAC less now that the summer heat has dissipated, it’s not a bad idea to get ahead of winter energy bills. Insulating before cold weather strikes will reduce your energy usage by making it easier to heat your home. Not only does fresh insulation keep out the cold, but it also keeps in the heat. So, once you’ve turned up the temperature on your thermostat, the inside of your home will lose that heat more slowly than it would if your insulation were old or inadequate. The opposite is true when you need to cool things down. When the weather eventually warms up, good insulation seals out heat and keeps cooler air inside, so you’re protected through changing seasons. We’re all trying to save money now everywhere we can, and new insulation is a great investment to lower your energy bills all year long.
Save Your Home & Your Health
Our Insulation plans don’t just protect you from changing temperatures – they help control pests too. One of the most frequent ways pests get in is through insufficient or old insulation. If you can’t remember when you had insulation installed, it may be time to take a look in your attic. But be careful! Infested or previously infested insulation can contain pest urine and droppings that spread nasty bacteria into the air. That bacteria can make you sick, induce an asthma attack, and just plain smell terrible. A pest control professional can do that inspection for you if you have asthma or just don’t want to take in those smells.
If you or your pest control professional find you don’t have enough insulation or what you do have has been ruined by pests, it’s easy to add more but make sure infested or dirty insulation is removed first. This is crucial to do before the winter months when rodents and bugs are looking to get out of the cold by getting in your attic. You should have should have 8 to 19 inches of dry, fresh-looking insulation for proper coverage. Exposed joists in your attic or sparse or wet looking insulation are signs that you need to add more immediately. Other signs of unhealthy insulation are fluctuating temperatures in your home, condensation or leaks, and drafty rooms. While you can measure and replace insulation yourself with a common measuring tape and store-bought insulation, we recommend calling a professional for a proper and safe inspection. Some insulation, like our ThermoZone® Attic Insulation, is treated with natural borates that help control pests like ants, centipedes, cockroaches, crickets, millipedes, silverfish, stink bugs, and termites – and will actually freshen the air. So you can breathe easy knowing your home, and your health, are protected.
Save the Planet
Another reason to consider updating your insulation is the positive effect it has on the planet. Saving energy doesn’t just save you dollars. It cuts your carbon footprint too. Our ThermoZone® attic insulation is also a blown-in cellulose made from recycled materials. So, when you feel warm in your home this winter, you can feel good knowing you’re insulated with eco-friendly materials.
If you’re thinking about getting ahead of winter weather, cost savings, pest protection, and eco-friendliness are all powerful benefits to consider. Contact Western today to evaluate your insulation.