Concerned About Heating Costs this Winter? There is Something You Can Do About it!

In early fall there are many people who play a game. You may have seen people post about it on Facebook or talk about it at the office. The game is “how long can we wait until we turn on the heat.” Really, there seems to be no winners in this game. Here in New Jersey there have been some years that people have lasted, albeit with many sweaters and blankets, into the beginning of November before they crank on the heat. This year, with temperatures in October plunging into the 30’s on more than one occasion, most residents have already lost the game.

In our area it is inevitable that the heat will have to go on and you will have to pay for it. With energy prices going up, many, if not most people, are worried about the cost of heating their home this winter. Did you know that there are steps you can take to make your home more efficient, cut down on your chances of getting mold, and make your home more comfortable? Many people assume that changing out old windows or replacing drafty doors are the only steps they can take to improve their home’s efficiency, but they would be wrong. There is something else, that if done right, will help your home’s efficiency, make your home more comfortable, and will not disrupt your life as much as replacing windows and doors. It may seem so simple that many people over-look it, but proper attic insulation can make a huge difference!

Heating and cooling your home is expensive! Approximately 50% of a home’s energy costs are from HVAC usage. Many of us have insufficient insulation in our attic. Although in years past we may have rolled out that fluffy pink fiberglass stuff all over the attic, understanding of heat transfer and technology have changed. We now know that blown-in cellulose insulation is the perfect choice for reinforcing the barrier between your home's attic and other rooms. Cellulose insulation can raise the insulation R-value to recommended conditions needed for your attic.

A great advantage of blown-in cellulose insulation is you do not have to remove your old insulation before the cellulose insulation is installed. Not only does this save you time, you don’t have to worry about your old insulation being brought through your house. It also means that totally insulating your attic will take significantly less time than other options.

But be careful, not all cellulose is processed the same way. Which is why we use TruSoft blown-in cellulose insulation that has been treated with non-toxic borate. Borate will not only help with the fire safety rating of your cellulose, it makes the cellulose incredibly resistant to both mold and pests. By choosing Cowleys for your insulation you can reduce your heating and cooling costs, reduce the chance of mold and pests, and increase your fire protection.