Rodent prevention in your attic is essential to protecting the attic’s contents and eliminating health risks associated with rodents, such as mites, fleas/ticks, and their toxic waste products. Once rodents are established in the attic, it’s challenging to eliminate them without professional rodent removal. Their attic hideaway also gives them full access to the rest […]
Both whole-house fans and attic fans are designed to minimize the amount you need to spend on conditioned air. When installed and maintained correctly, these forms of ventilation improve your home’s indoor comfort during the warm season, increase energy efficiency, and also improve indoor air quality by keeping interior spaces supplied with fresh air. Whole […]
Is your Bay Area home in need of some crawl space cleanup? We say that attics are frequently forgotten spaces, but crawl spaces probably top the list of home spaces nobody thinks about. For one thing, they’re typically hidden or tucked out of the way, but damp, dirty, or infested crawl spaces can create havoc […]
Like attics, garages often need to catch up on important updates that improve their energy efficiency and indoor air quality. While your garage may seem like an afterthought, an attached garage affects your living spaces in multiple ways and should be an important consideration whenever you update insulation or evaluate your whole-home energy and ventilation […]
We spend a lot of time educating clients about the importance of attic insulation, but exterior wall insulation is equally important. Most clients choose to update their wall insulation at the same time as their attic insulation to optimize whole-home comfort and energy efficiency. 5 Reasons Updating Wall Insulation Offers A Good Return On Investment […]
The roof of your home can be a weak link when it comes to energy efficiency and whole-home comfort. That’s where a radiant barrier comes into the picture. The Basics About Radiant Barriers Not every home benefits, so the more you know about radiant barriers and how they work, the better you’ll be able to […]
Home energy efficiency largely depends on the quality of critical home systems: roof, attic, HVAC, and the home’s envelope. Any issues in one of these systems have a notable effect on home comfort, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality. HVAC ducts are an integral part of the home’s HVAC system. However, because most ducts are […]
Take a peek into the average Bay Area attic, and you’re likely to see a big, empty space laden with cobwebs, dust, and some stored odds and ends. However, contrary to how it might appear, your house’s attic is essential to whole-home comfort, energy efficiency, and air quality. While homes with a flat roof don’t […]
There are several red flags indicating issues in the attic. Some of the most well-known are unusual rises in heating/cooling costs or excessive cycling of the HVAC system. Condensation in the attic is another sign that something is out of balance and needs to be repaired or replaced. Attic Condensation Is A Major Red Flag […]
Attic baffles are one part of an attic ventilation system. They’re used in combination with exterior soffit vents to ensure air flows freely between the insulation and the vents. This reduces the build-up of moisture and combination that negatively impacts whole-home comfort and energy efficiency. Attic Baffles Improve Air Flow & Energy Efficiency Also called […]
As the weather turns colder, you may notice some scratching sounds coming from the attic. Or, you may become aware of an unpleasant, urine-tinged smell in certain areas inside the home or when turning on the heater the first few times. These are signs that rodents are setting up shop in the attic for the […]
Solar heat gain is the leading source of your cooling bills, most of which transfers from the roof to the attic and into the home’s interior spaces. Radiant barriers installed in the attic reduce this heat gain, creating a more energy-efficient - and cost-efficient - home. Benefits Of Installing A Radiant Barrier In The Attic […]
Do you or someone in your household suffer from chronic, year-round allergies? Your attic could be the source. Neglected attics become a hotbed for all of the most common allergens, including mold and mildew spores, rodent fur and dander, dust, pollen, and other irritating particulates. If allergies are a constant source of irritation in your […]
Mold is a major red flag in any home, indicating a combination of existing and future issues. Your home's attic is notorious for harboring many types of attic mold because moisture issues in the attic go undetected without regular inspections. Attic Mold Is A Major Red Flag Mold found in the attic indicates one or […]
If your attic is large enough, it may feel an empty wasteland better served by transforming it into a functional living space. Bay Area attics often have plenty of room to create living spaces that are recreational or that become a source of income. How To Convert An Attic Into A Functional Living Space However, […]
In addition to supporting whole-home comfort and energy efficiency, attic ventilation significantly optimizes indoor air quality (IAQ). If you’re in the process of replacing your roof or replacing/updating attic insulation, use that opportunity to evaluate whether your attic is sufficiently ventilated and the many types of attic ventilation. Attic Ventilation: Categories & Options Sufficient attic […]
The term “thermal envelope” or a home envelope refers to the structural borders of your home and how they interact or support a trifecta of additional home systems - air sealing, insulation, and ventilation. These parts protect the temperature-controlled interior of the home. The goal is to keep warm air indoors during the winter and […]
Insulation is essential to whole-home comfort, and that’s typically linked to temperature regulation and energy efficiency. However, insulation also plays a role in reducing sound pollutants. That’s important here in the Bay Area, where houses and apartments are vulnerable to busy street noise and the ambient noise created by neighbors and their dogs. Upgrade Your […]
Adequate home insulation is essential to protecting the environment and reducing your home’s carbon footprint. According to the EPA, “The average household in a single-family home spends about 53 percent of its energy-related expenditures on heating and cooling.” The lion’s share of that energy comes from petroleum and coal. The more you do to reduce […]
One of the things we love most about our job as attic solutions and insulation professionals is our role as educators. From household to household and business to business, we spend our days sharing information about home energy efficiency and the essential players in the whole-home energy equation: insulation, ventilation, and air sealing. Whole-Home Ventilation […]