It may finally be summer here in Utica and Rome, NY, but that doesn’t mean your indoor comfort worries are over. We meet a lot of local homeowners who battle hot upstairs rooms and excess indoor humidity.
Did you know the cause behind these summer comfort issues is likely what made your home cold in the winter? We’re talking, of course, about a lack of insulation.
How Insulation Works in the Summer
Many homeowners in the Utica and Rome areas understand that insulation keeps much-needed heat indoors in the winter; but many are surprised to learn that insulation also keeps unwanted heat out in the summer. Insulation acts as a protective heat barrier for your home in summer, preventing unwanted heat from entering your living spaces. Think of it as a “koozie” that keeps your home cool.
Some of the most important places in your home to insulate for summer comfort are the attic and exterior walls. Basement or crawlspace insulation can also help stabilize indoor temperatures and control indoor humidity. If your home has insufficient insulation or is missing insulation in these key areas, you can expect your home to feel uncomfortably hot and humid in the summer.
Don’t Forget to Seal Air Leaks
If you’re considering updating the insulation in your home for greater summer (and winter) comfort, keep in mind that you’ll also need to have an expert pinpoint and seal any air leaks as well. Air leaks are tiny holes, cracks, and gaps that allow air to travel freely — not just throughout your home but also into and out of your home. Even if your home is well insulated, if there are air leaks in areas like the attic floor and your exterior walls, indoor temperatures are going to continue to fluctuate!
Find Out Where You Need Insulation & Air Sealing
It’s not always easy to determine where your home has air leaks or is lacking important insulation. After all, you can’t exactly look through your walls! That’s where a home energy assessment by Fred F. Collis & Sons comes in. During your energy assessment, a fully trained and certified home expert will visually inspect your home for any issues. Then, they will conduct a more in-depth energy audit using infrared equipment to detect where air leaks and insulation gaps are.
After your home energy assessment, your home expert will show you where problem areas are and which upgrades will make your home more comfortable in the summer (and consequently, the winter as well!) We often recommend sealing air leaks with spray foam, insulating walls with blown-in cellulose insulation, and upgrading attic and basement or crawlspace insulation. Together, these insulation upgrades provide benefits like:
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Cooler home in the summer
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Warmer home in the winter
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Enhanced overall indoor comfort
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Less need to run heating & cooling systems
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Greater home energy efficiency
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Lower energy bills
Whatever your home insulation needs, the insulation experts at Fred F. Collis & Sons can help you tackle them. Whether you need to upgrade your attic insulation with blown-in cellulose insulation, want to add insulation to finished walls, or think it may be time for updated crawlspace insulation, we have you covered!
