Sep 12, 2018 | CrawlSpace, Insulation
Even though the calendar says September, the thermometer still reads summer! Summer is the time of year when we see a surge in our energy costs and utility bills. As the temperatures increase outside, we spend more time inside. Kids are home from school all day running the air conditioner, using electronics and appliances, and leaving the lights on. There is also a bigger gap between the temperature outside and the temperature inside our homes – causing our air conditioning units to work harder to keep our homes cool. Summer is also a time to utilize swimming pools to have fun and cool off. Electric pool pumps, however, use a lot of energy. In fact, they can add an average of $80-90 per month to your energy bill if they run 24 hours a day. As the demand for energy increases and the supply of energy decreases, the market price of energy will inevitably go up. This helps explain why our energy bills are so high in the summer months.
So what can you do to help stay ahead of this surge in energy costs? Two options available are TAP insulation and Complete Crawlspace Enclosure.
TAP Insulation
TAP or thermal acoustical pest control insulation can help protect your home and your wallet from those increasing summer energy bills. TAP insulation:
- Is energy start rated and reduces the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home, which can lower your energy bills by 20-38%
- Is made of 87% recycled newsprint so you can insulate your home while saving landfill space
- Is treated with borates (a natural pest control product) to help control roaches, ants and other pests
- Is treated with a fire retardant that limits the spread of fire
- Allows you to keep more consistent temperatures inside your home year-round
Complete Crawlspace Enclosure
Complete crawlspace is an enclosed crawlspace solution that includes high quality vapor liner, taped seams, sealed foundation vents, and mechanical drying. Complete Crawlspace provides you with:
- A healthier living environment by preventing mold growth and wood rot
- Decreased humidity levels
- Pest control by completely closing off your crawlspace, eliminating an entry point for pests
- Decreased HVAC repair costs by decreasing the workload of the HVAC unit
- Decreased utility bills by up to 18% with increased energy efficiency in your home
Northwest wants to make sure your house is running as efficiently as possible. Click for your Free TAP Insulation estimate or your Free Complete Crawlspace estimate or by giving us a call.
Jan 5, 2018 | CrawlSpace, Going Green, Insulation, Pest Control
Even though we’re well into the winter season, it’s never too late to weatherproof your home. These easy fixes will not only seal up your home and keep it nice and warm, they will also help save you some money on your energy bills this year. Check out these simple winter weatherproofing tips so you’ll be prepared just in case the groundhog DOES see his shadow this year!
Windows And Doors
Check your doors and windows to make sure they are in good repair. Insulate your doors and windows with weatherstripping. Use transparent weather sealant tape for any areas where the weatherstripping will be applied directly to the door or window. This tape can also be used to temporarily seal any cracked windows until you can permanently replace them. Use door sweeps on the bottoms of exterior doors to keep cold air from coming in. You can install them with nails or with adhesive.
Attics And Crawlspaces
Attics and crawlspaces are notoriously cold areas of your home. Thermal accoustical pest control (TAP) insulation is an energy star rated attic insulation that provides several benefits to your home. TAP eases the burden on your heating and cooling systems, making them more efficient and keeping the temperature in your home more consistent throughout the year. TAP also leads to a 20-38% savings on your energy bills AND protects your home against pests including roaches and ants. Finally, TAP is treated with a fire retardant that limits the spread of fire in your home.
Complete CrawlSpace enclosure is another way to weatherproof your home. Enclosing your crawlspace with Complete CrawlSpace increases energy efficiency, prevents mold growth, and completely closes off your crawlspace to pests. This can also save you up to 18% on your energy bills each year.
Garages
Most garages aren’t insulated which makes them very chilly spaces in the winter. Install weather sealing strips on the bottom of your garage door. These strips not only keep out cold air but also keep out rain and pests as well.
Outlets And Switches
Outlets and switches on the exterior walls of your home can be a big source of cold air. One solution is to install foam outlet and switch sealers. These can be installed by simply turning off the power, removing the outlet or switch cover, applying the foam sealers, and reinstalling the covers.
Floors
Hardwood and tile floors can be especially cold in the winter. Curtains and rugs can make a big difference when it comes to heating your home. if you have drafty windows, hang some heavy curtains to keep the cold air out. Use area rugs on hardwood floors and in bathrooms with tile floors to help keep them warm.
Air Conditioning
Air conditioning units in walls and windows give a direct path for cold air into your home. One solution is to install a heavy duty polyethylene and vinyl cover that fits around the outside of the unit. You can also wrap the inside grill with plastic sheeting and double sided tape. Consider installing a programmable thermostat which will automate your interior temperature. This can save you up to $200 per year in heating and cooling costs.
Hot Water Heater
Insulate your hot water heater with a water heater insulating blanket. This saves energy by reducing heat that is lost through the sides of the hot water heater by 25-40%. This reduction in heat loss can also lead to savings on your energy bills.
Dec 29, 2017 | Pest Control
Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to start looking ahead to the New Year. Like most of us, you’re probably going into 2018 with a renewed sense of motivation. What is your New Year’s resolution? Will you try to lose weight? Will you try to spend less time online and more time outside? Will you finally finish that project you’ve wanted to start but never had the time? Whatever you decide, make sure pest control makes it to the top of your list. Here are 5 easy tips to make your home pest free for the New Year!
- Clean It: Make cleaning a part of your daily routine. Remove built up grease from your kitchen and appliances. Clean up crumbs and spills from those hard to reach places. Sweep and vacuum your floors regularly. Try to clean up crumbs and spills immediately. Keep food (including pet food) stored in sealed containers and don’t leave them out overnight. Organize clutter, especially in areas you don’t frequent very often like your attic, garage, and basement. If possible, store items in plastic containers rather than cardboard. Store your firewood at least 20 feet from your home and elevate it 5 feet off the ground.
- Fix It: Check your windows and doors for cracks and holes in both the seals and the screens. Fill holes and repair or replace screens. Replace weatherstripping if needed. Check along your foundation and fill holes with caulk or cover them with screens. Install screens over chimney vents and openings.
- Dry It: Check the inside and outside of your home including your crawlspace for standing water. Check for leaky pipes, drips, and stagnant water which all attract pests and can cause mold and mildew. Repair any leaky pipes and remove any standing water. Consider enclosing your crawlspace under your home.
- Inspect It: Check wires, walls, and insulation for signs of pests such as gnaw marks. Replace any damaged wires and chewed insulation. Consider TAP insulation which not only provides better energy efficiency but also provides pest control. Carefully inspect any packages you bring home or take out of storage for signs of pests (rodent droppings, chew marks, etc). Inspect your luggage when returning from travels. Consider an annual termite inspection for your home.
- Prevent It: It is less expensive to have scheduled preventative pest control services than waiting to call for services after you have a problem. Scheduled preventative services can not only provide you with year round preventative treatments but can also identify signs of a potential problem before it gets out of hand. Schedule preventative services with a professional pest control company.
Dec 8, 2017 | Community News, Insulation
At Northwest Exterminating, part of our motto is “Customers First,” so we thought what better way to put the customer first than to equip you with some of the top attic insulators in the Atlanta area (not including ourselves, of course!). With the cold weather coming and the hot summer months only a short time away, it is best to consider your options sooner rather than later. See some of the businesses in the Atlanta area that could be great options for your next project:
- Beldon: Beldon has been trusted in the Atlanta area for many years and have countless reviews for the services that they provide.
- Smart Space: Smart Space’s focus is how to make your home the most energy efficient. They offer comprehensive reviews of your home to determine exactly what you need, include attic insulation options.
- Home Team Pest Defense: Much like Northwest Exterminating, Home Team offers TAP Insulation for your attic that can also rid your attic of pests. They service Atlanta and the surrounding area!
- Arbor Insulation Solutions: Arbor Insulation Solutions offer a variety of insulation options and have great information on their website about the different types of insulation, how much you need and more.
Insulation can be the first step to saving money on your energy bills every month. There is a lot of information to consider when deciding to insulate your attic, but each of the websites above offer insight into what you may need! We also found a great resource through Energy Star, as you’ll want to confirm that the products used for your insulation are Energy Star rated.
One other item you may want to consider is having your home TAP insulated! For more information about TAP insulation and its wide array of benefits, check out a few helpful resources:
Don’t forget about other resources like Home Advisor, Angie’s List, Google Reviews and social media reviews to see what people are saying about the businesses you are considering! Try phrases like “TAP Insulation” or “attic insulation in Atlanta” in your search to find your perfect match in attic insulation.
Want to learn more about how Northwest Exterminating could help insulate your home AND rid of pests? Give us a call at (888) 466-7849 or click the button below!
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Nov 30, 2017 | Going Green, Insulation, Pest Control
Have you ever wished you could keep your house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer? Have you ever looked at your electricity bill and wished you could lower your payment? Have you wondered if there was something more you could do to keep pests out of your home? What if there was a product out there that could do all of these things and more? TAP (Thermal Acoustical Pest Control) insulation is energy star-rated attic insulation made of 87% recycled newsprint. TAP insulation all of the following benefits for your home:
THERMAL:
TAP insulation is like a “blanket for your home.” The fibers in the insulation are dense enough to prevent air flow but still light enough that they can trap heat. This is especially beneficial during the winter months when the air flow from your home is the strongest and you need your insulation to work the best. This also allows you to keep more consistent temperatures in your home throughout all four seasons.
ACOUSTICAL:
TAP insulation has small air pockets in its interconnected fibers that decrease the amount of sound that is transmitted from fiber to fiber. This decreases the amount of sound that flows through the ceiling, reducing the noise you hear from outside your home.
PEST CONTROL:
TAP insulation controls roaches, ants, and other pests. TAP fibers are treated with borate which then sticks to insects as they crawl through the insulation. Once the borate is ingested by the insect, it disrupts the pest’s digestive system and causes it to starve. Borates have a low toxicity for mammals which makes the risk minimal for humans and pets.
FINANCIAL:
Studies show that TAP insulation can save you up to 30% on your annual energy bills. TAP reduces the air flow that leaves your house, helps keep your temperature consistent throughout the year, and makes your HVAC system run more efficiently, all helping to reduce the cost of your energy bills. The Department of Energy website has a calculator that can show you your potential savings on your current energy bill.
SAFETY:
TAP insulation is treated with a fire retardant that helps to limit the spread of fire in your home.
ENVIRONMENTAL:
TAP insulation is environmentally responsible as it is made from 87.5% post-consumer content and is also Energy Star rated. This not only saves landfill space but also helps conserve the energy used in your home, making it more green.
