Category: air sealing

Better Insulation, Better Health: The Health Perks of a Well-Insulated Maryland Home

When constructing a new home in Maryland, the significance of properly insulating your home cannot be overstated. Beyond the usual focus…

Close up of faceless builders with clipboard and blueprint.When constructing a new home in Maryland, the significance of properly insulating your home cannot be overstated. Beyond the usual focus on energy efficiency, a well-insulated and air sealed home home contributes significantly to the health and wellness of your family. In this blog post, we explore the various ways in which quality insulation and air sealing go beyond energy savings and directly impact your family’s well-being.

Improved Indoor Air Quality Brings a Breath of Fresh Air

Proper insulation, combined with air sealing, serves as a formidable barrier against external elements, blocking the entry of pollen, mold spores, and other allergens through your ceilings, walls, and floors. This is great news for you and your loved ones with breathing problems because this not only reduces asthma and allergy triggers but also leads to less wheezing, sneezing, and respiratory distress. Also, by preventing moisture buildup and inhibiting mold and mildew growth, insulation and air sealing protect your friends and family with respiratory issues like COPD or emphysema from particles that can aggravate lung diseases.

For the best indoor air quality, consider using spray foam insulation, the only type of insulation to both insulate and air seal in one step. Choosing to install proper insulation and seal air leaks in your new home not only improves your indoor air quality but provides reassurance that you and your loved ones will breathe easier.

Greater Temperature Regulation Creates a Cozier Home

Cozy woman drinking from a warm mug while enjoying a winter sunrise from indoors.Insulated walls act as efficient thermal barriers, preventing harsh outdoor temperatures from penetrating your indoor living spaces and provide you with a comfortable haven throughout the year. This is particularly crucial in Maryland, where our frigid winters and hot, humid summers are the norm. Regulated indoor temperatures are a huge boon for your loved ones more vulnerable to extreme temperature fluctuations, such as babies, small children, and the elderly. Insulation shields them from the extreme cold and heat that can strain their cardiovascular and immune systems.

Plus, with less energy lost, there is lower energy output required for your heating and cooling systems to maintain a cozy environment. This means with less stress on your HVAC system, there will be less stress on your wallet, thanks to lower energy bills.

Less Noise Pollution Provides Peace of Mind

In addition to temperature regulation, insulation also plays a significant role in reducing noise pollution. Insulation batts and dense-packed loose insulation absorb vibrations, creating a peaceful indoor environment free from the disturbances of loud traffic, construction work, or noisy neighbors. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? This not only enhances your quality of life but also alleviates sources of stress that can disrupt your sleep patterns and cognitive functioning. We can all appreciate a good night’s sleep! Fiberglass batts, mineral wool, and spray foam are excellent insulation choices for reducing the sound pollution in your new home.

Added Protection from Toxins to Keep Your Family Safe

Quality insulation, along with air sealing, goes beyond temperature and noise control; they actively seal cracks and crevices, preventing vehicle fumes and industrial emissions from leaking inside your new home. They also reduce the chances of dust or contaminated soil gases from entering your living spaces. By limiting exposure to volatile organic compounds from outdoor furnishings, insulation becomes a shield against outdoor toxins, further contributing to the improved indoor air quality of your new home.

Enjoy a Comfortable and Healthy Home with Proper Insulation

Open wall cavities showing freshly installed fiberglass insulation.It’s clear the benefits of proper home insulation and air sealing extend far beyond regulating heating and cooling. They directly translate into cleaner indoor air, more stable temperatures, less noise disturbances, and a shield against outdoor toxins. Investing in quality insulation is an investment in your family’s comfort and well-being within the confines of your attractive new Maryland home.

As you embark on building your dream home, consider the long-term impact of proper insulation – not just on your energy bills but on the health and happiness of your loved ones. Don’t let poor insulation dampen the joys of your new home. Choose the right type of insulation, ensure proper air sealing, and relish in the countless advantages that extend far beyond an energy efficient living space. At DeVere Insulation we focus on expert insulation services for new homes built in the Baltimore area while our Home Performance division offers additional insulation services for existing homes. Contact us today to get started on creating an energy efficient home to be proud of.

Four Easy Steps to Better Insulation in a New Maryland Home

When undergoing new construction there’s a solution that will maximize your new home or business project’s energy…

Updated April 2024

Professional Insulation Contractor in Baltimore, MDMaryland offers its residents a delightful mix of urban sophistication and natural beauty, but within this charm lies a challenge that every Maryland resident knows too well–the unpredictable weather. From scorching summers to chilly winters, the temperature swings can be discomforting, not to mention the toll they take on your wallet through high energy bills. But don’t worry, when undergoing new construction there’s a solution that will maximize your new home or business project’s energy efficiency and keep future owners’ energy expenses under control: proper insulation.

We’ve compiled four straightforward steps you can take to ensure your new construction project is insulated properly from the start.

Sealing the Cracks: Battling Air Leaks

Often, newly constructed homes and businesses are full of sneaky air leaks around many areas including windows, doors, and attic hatches. These small gaps are major culprits of energy loss, but thankfully there’s a simple remedy. With a bit of caulking, weatherstripping, or can foam insulation, you can air seal those gaps tight, banishing the drafts and keeping heating and cooling where it belongs–inside the building.

Elevating the Attic: The Key to Temperature Control

The attic, often overlooked but oh-so-important, holds the key to maintaining a comfortable living environment year-round. In winter, it’s a prime spot for heat loss, while in summer, it becomes a magnet for unwanted heat gain. The solution? Attic insulation. Whether choosing the timeless classic fiberglass batts or opting for the efficiency of spray foam insulation, investing in your building project’s attic insulation during construction will pay dividends many times over for future residents in both comfort and energy savings.

Fortifying the Walls: Battling the Elements

Depending on the construction of your home or business project, your walls may need some extra TLC in the form of insulation. Loose fill cellulose or fiberglass insulation are popular choices for existing walls, offering effective protection against heat loss and ensuring a snug living or working space regardless of the weather outside. Wall insulation also helps with lessening exterior sounds, giving occupants a more peaceful interior.

Seeking Professional Guidance: When to Call in the Experts

Contractor wearing a hardhat, holding a clipboard, and looking up at the home construction project behind him.When it comes to properly insulating your new construction project, it’s always wisest to trust the job to the expertise of a professional. A reputable, licensed insulation contractor in Maryland, such as DeVere Insulation, can assess your building project’s specific needs and recommend the most effective insulation solutions, ensuring that your investment in new home insulation pays off for years to come.

Plus, an insulation professional will be well versed in Maryland’s energy codes and required insulation levels for new homes and businesses. Maryland’s energy code calls for the following amounts of insulation to be installed in buildings:

Ceilings: R-49
Walls: R-21
Floors: R-30
Basement Walls: R-13

These numbers can be confusing but remember, R-value represents insulation’s thermal resistance value, and the required R-value is the amount of insulation needed for our climate zone. When choosing a professional, it’s important to find one that pays special attention to not just meeting these energy codes, but also optimizing your new home or business building project’s energy efficiency.

The Rewards of Insulation: Beyond Comfort and Savings

The benefits of properly insulating your new home or business construction project extend far beyond mere comfort and savings on energy bills. By ensuring your project’s installed insulation is adequate from the start, future owners will not only enjoy a more comfortable working or living environment year-round, but it will also increase the structure’s energy efficiency and boost its overall value. Help future owners say goodbye to pesky drafts, high energy bills, and temperature fluctuations–and hello to a home or business that’s as cozy as it is cost-effective.

Transform Your New Home or Business Building Project with DeVere Insulation

Close up of faceless builders with clipboard and blueprint.Are you ready to ensure future owners are moving into a comfortable, energy-efficient home or business? Maryland’s weather may be unpredictable, but with the right insulation solutions in place, you can take control over your new home or business building project’s comfort and energy efficiency.

Our guide provides a solid starting point, but for personalized insulation recommendations tailored to your new construction’s specific needs, contact us today to consult with our team of insulation experts at DeVere Insulation. With our wide range of insulation materials and decades of experience in air sealing and insulation, we’ve grown to become Maryland’s largest and most trusted independent insulation contractor. You can count on us to help you unlock the full potential of your new home or business building project while keeping future energy bills in check.

Five Steps to Save Money and Energy

As cool fall temperatures move in and winter isn’t far behind, energy efficiency becomes top of mind for many homeowners.

Fall Projects

Energy efficiency is important year round. As cool fall temperatures move in and winter isn’t far behind, energy efficiency becomes top of mind for many homeowners. Here are a few steps to take to make your home more comfortable and more energy efficient this year:

  • Upgrade Your Insulation
    When temperatures drop outside, you can stay warm and keep your energy bills low with proper insulation. Attics are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to winter energy loss, so prep yours for winter by upgrading your insulation now. And don’t forget about air sealing your attic, too!
  • Air Seal
    Air sealing around windows and door frames can help prevent heat from escaping. Sealing these openings is one of the least expensive maintenance jobs you can do — and it’s an easy DIY project! Air sealing your attic is an important energy upgrade — we can help by air sealing and upgrading your insulation at the same time.
  • Inspect Your Roof
    Make sure the roof is in good shape. Inspect for missing and loose shingles. Look for trouble spots now instead of in a few months when ice, rain, snow, and wind create even more problems.
  • Reverse Your Ceiling Fan
    This is so easy — and so many homeowners forget to do this! Changing the direction of your ceiling fan to create an upward draft redistributes warm air from the ceiling back down into your living area. Before you do this, dust the blades.

 

These few steps can help your energy bills and make your home more comfortable. Ready go get started? We can help. Contact today for a free insulation estimate.

Why Indoor Air Quality Matters and How to Improve It

Did you know that the air inside your home may have the biggest impact on your health? When we think of air quality…

Improve Indoor Air Quality from DeVere Insulation in Baltimore, MD

Did you know that the air inside your home may have the biggest impact on your health? When we think of air quality, we most often think of outdoor air. Indoor air may have an even bigger impact. One estimate indicates the average person receives 72 percent of their chemical exposure at home (via The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/USEPA).

Many things can affect indoor air quality. This can include the materials used in furniture manufacturing, building products in your home, the items you use for home cleaning, and more. Here are some ways you can improve you home’s air quality:

Air sealing – keeping out external pollutants helps maintain your home’s indoor environment. When external pollutants are kept out, your indoor air can be properly tested and maintained. Spray foam insulation effectively seals air leaks and insulates in one step.

Choose low-emitting cleaning products – look for cleaning products, air fresheners, etc. that are made with natural ingredients or are low-emitting products. This will remove/reduce one factor that impacts indoor air quality.

Ventilate your home – After your home is air sealed, having a proper mechanical ventilation system will help remove indoor air pollutants.

Contact our office to learn about how spray foam insulation can help keep out external pollutants, help maintain your home’s indoor air quality, and help reduce your energy bills. We are happy to provide a free estimate.

Why to Air Seal Your New Home Today

It’s the time of year when builders and homeowners are finalizing new home construction and remodeling plans.

Air Seal Top Plates

It’s the time of year when builders and homeowners are finalizing new home construction and remodeling plans. How much of a priority is air sealing and energy efficiency when planning your new home or remodeling project?

Investing in air sealing and other energy efficiency measures has huge payoff for homeowners and builders.

  • Increased comfort. Owning a home is one of the biggest investments an individual can make. With this level of financial commitment, homeowners are keenly aware of “problems” with their home — temperature inconsistencies, mechanical performance, etc. — that can affect comfort or create concerns. Sealing air leaks helps increase comfort inside the home, creating peace of mind for the homeowner and a happier customer for the builder.
  • Improved indoor air quality. When a home is not air sealed, pollutants, moisture and pollen can enter through penetration points in the home’s envelope (points that naturally exist as part of the construction process). Sealing air leaks helps keep pollutants out of the home. This is especially important to homeowners who have asthma or allergy issues, or have a family member who does.
  • Air sealing easiest during construction! While it is possible to seal air leaks in an existing home, it is much easier to seal air leaks during construction when walls and other cavities are open. Why put off air sealing when it can be done today?
  • Increased home value. Studies show energy efficient homes sell at a price premium – as much as 4% above the national average. This means a homeowner benefits at the time of sale from investing in air sealing and other energy upgrades. The builder also benefits from being positioned as a contractor who builds energy efficient homes.
  • Tax credits and financing options. There is financial assistance available for energy efficient investments through tax credits or rebates, and through energy-efficient financing (including an energy efficient mortgage/EEM). Check with your lender for more information.

 

Interested in learning about air sealing your new home or remodeling project? Our team can recommend the right solution for your project. Contact our office today!