Winter is finally over! Say goodbye to wool hats and big bulky coats and hello to daffodils and sunglasses! Finally, you can get outside without running to your car as fast as you can. However, just because you’re turning off your heat doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be thinking about the colder months. As we move into the spring, it’s important to check on your insulation to stay ahead of summer energy bills and pests like rodents, squirrels, cockroaches, and more that could make your attic their home. If you’re not sure when your home was last insulated, OPC 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 heat less now that the winter chill has dissipated, it’s never a bad idea to get ahead of energy bills. The right insulation will reduce your energy usage by making it easier to heat or cool your home. Not only does fresh insulation keep out the heat, but it also keeps in the cooler air. So, once you’ve turned up the air conditioning, the inside of your home will lose that cool air more slowly than it would if your insulation were old or inadequate. The opposite is true when you need to heat things up. When winter inevitably comes back, good insulation seals out the cold and keeps the warmer 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 way to lower your energy bills all year long.
Save Your Home & Your Health
Insulation from OPC doesn’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 – and should be done by a professional. You should then 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 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 attic insulation is also a blown-in cellulose made from recycled materials. So, when you feel cool in your house this spring or warm in your home this winter, you can always feel good knowing you’re insulated with eco-friendly materials.
If you’re thinking about getting ahead of the changing weather, cost savings, pest protection, and eco-friendliness are all powerful benefits to consider. Contact OPC today to evaluate your insulation.
