Feel that chill in the air? It’s just the beginning of the winter season, which means pretty soon, we’ll all be turning up the dial on our HVAC thermostats and getting cozy in warm layers. But it doesn’t matter how heavy your sweater is if your home is poorly insulated.
If you spent last year trying to stay comfortable despite a drafty home or the bitter chill took its toll on your home energy costs, you may not be looking forward to the cold. But just because the weather outside is frightful doesn’t mean your home energy bills can’t be delightfully low this season. At J&J Roofing in Roseville, our team of residential roofing contractors works hard to help Michigan homeowners keep their homes comfortable and minimize their energy costs. In this post, we’ll talk about how we can help you keep your energy bills manageable this year until the warm weather returns in the spring.
How Did Your Home Perform Last Year?
If you’re looking to reduce your home’s energy expenses, it’s a good idea to start by looking backward. Consider how well your home’s HVAC system was able to keep up with the cold last year. Did you find yourself having to run your system harder to keep your home more comfortable? Was your monthly energy bill much harder than expected? If you said yes to either of these questions, it may be time to update the insulation in your home’s attic.
Here are a few more signs your insulation needs updating:
Ice Dams
When your home is adequately insulated, the heat rises into the attic and escapes through the vents, but if you are dealing with outdated insulation, the warm air stays in place and heats the top of the roof. This can cause the snow to melt, and as the water runs down the sides, it can refreeze, resulting in an ice dam. These dams are a major concern because if they slide off the roof, they can damage your home or when they melt the water can pool and cause leaking.
Uneven Temperatures or Drafts
If you are walking into your living room and it's freezing, but your kitchen feels like a sauna, this is a warning sign that something may be off with your insulation. Typically, a well-insulated home should be free of drafts, and there should be an even distribution of heat, so if you're finding weak points, you may need to schedule an inspection.
High-Energy Bills
High energy bills can come from many different sources, including other people's usage and cracks around doors and windows, but another common source to consider is the condition of your insulation. If you have found any proof of infestations, live in an older home, or are experiencing mold or mildew issues, it may be time to consider calling a professional.
Frozen Pipes
Another indicator your insulation needs upgrading is if your pies are freezing. Proper insulation is in place to keep your home protected from the cold weather, but if it is outdated or no longer functioning, a burst pipe can wind up costing thousands of dollars in damages.
Most Homes Are Poorly Insulated
You may be surprised to learn that the vast majority of homes are under-insulated in some way. Besides updating the insulation in your home’s attic, we can also update your basement, ceiling, walls, crawl spaces, floors, ducts, and even garages. We offer several insulation options to choose from.
Polyurethane spray foam is one of the most popular insulation options available and comes in the denser closed-cell as well as open-cell varieties. We also offer fiberglass and cellulose insulation. We can perform a walk-through of your home and help you decide which rooms need the most attention and which insulation is right for your needs and budget.
How Does Your Roofing System Contribute to Your Home Energy-Efficiency?
The condition of your roof can also help contribute to higher energy efficiency levels in your home and keep your costs lower. Ensuring proper ventilation will help increase the performance, by creating a balance between the intake and exhaust vents. And when you have regularly scheduled roofing inspections and repairs completed, this will help enhance its durability and keep your home protected through all the seasons.
Contact Our Detroit Home Insulation and Roofing Repair Contractors Today
Lowering your home’s energy costs is about more than just the annual expense. It’s also far better for the environment and could be the key to keeping your family comfortable this winter. Whether you need to address insulation problems or roofing repair needs, we can help.
Our Michigan residential roofing contractors at J&J Roofing can help you with roofing installation and repair, insulation updates, and gutter guard installation, To get your estimate, call our team at 586-445-6455 or contact us to learn more about our insulation solutions.