The days are getting shorter and the weather is getting cooler as we move through fall and get ever closer to the winter season. In addition to pulling on sweaters and switching out iced drinks for hot ones, this means that you’ll be running your home’s heating system more and more… and your energy bills will start to rise as well.
But a significant percentage of your total heating bill may not be directly due to how cold it is outside, but rather how much of the heat in your home is being lost to that cold weather.
Are you due for new home insulation?
Modern, high quality fiberglass insulation can last for more than 100 years. But if the insulation in your home is of a lower grade, was poorly installed, or is simply old, then your floors, walls, and ceiling may be allowing heat to escape. Also, if your home was built more than a couple decades ago, it likely has far less insulation than is installed in homes nowadays.
If one or more of the above possibilities is true for your home, that means that your home can’t efficiently contain heat, and is making your furnace run far more often than necessary. Adding more insulation or replacing it entirely will drastically reduce the rate at which heat radiates out of your home, and will reduce your heating costs (and your air conditioning costs during the summer as well).
However, keep in mind that simply stuffing some extra insulation in your ceiling and walls won’t deliver as much of an improvement as you would see if you had new insulation installed by a professional. HouseLogic.com, a website created by the National Association of Realtors, estimates that having a professional insulation installer handle the work will save you twice as much money as you would save if you did it yourself.
PG&E, SMUD, and the federal government provide rebates to homeowners who install new insulation.
If you have considered re-insulating your home, but you’ve been put off by cost, you should know that your local electric company, and even the federal government, can help you cover at least part of the bill. As you may or may not know, Gilmore participates in energy rebate programs offered by PG&E and SMUD. These energy companies offer rebates for a variety of energy-saving upgrades, including insulation installation.
PG&E’s insulation rebates include:
- Attic Insulation & Plane Air Sealing: $500
- Floor Insulation: $400
SMUD’s include:
- Attic Insulation: Up to $2,000
- Wall Insulation: Up to $1,000
- Crawl Insulation: Up to $500
To take advantage of these rebates, you need to have Gilmore (or another participating company) come out and perform a home upgrade evaluation.
There are other sources of financial assistance available as well. For instance, the federal government offers an insulation tax credit for 10% of the cost of the insulation products used by the installer, up to a total of $500.
If you’re considering upgrading your home’s insulation and reducing your wintertime energy bills, get in touch with the experts at Gilmore. We’ll perform a risk-free evaluation of your home and give you a price quote, and can also tell you what rebates you’re eligible for. To learn more, call Gilmore at 888-868-2316, or send us a message using our appointment request form. If you’re ready to start saving money, what are you waiting for? Get in touch today! With Gilmore, you can be assured of receiving the Red Carpet Care that our customers have enjoyed for nearly 40 years!
