Archive for the ‘attic insulation’ Category
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
Having a garage attached to your home is highly convenient for many homeowners. It eliminates long trips from the garage to the house transporting groceries or other purchases. It eliminates the mad dash into the home from the car when there is pouring rain, and there are probably many more uses for attached garages that homeowners across Chicagoland enjoy. However, your attached garage could be the reason why you are having trouble making your home more energy efficient and green friendly. Luckily, Four Seasons can eliminate this energy waster with a few simple improvements and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg!
Not Built Air Tight
When your home was built, it was created to be as airtight as possible. Several layers of insulation were put in place and cracks were sealed, but the garage was not built this way. The garage may have some insulation in the external walls, but the garage door and attic are often left open to the elements. Taking this into consideration along with the fact that the seals around the doors are probably not airtight, you can see how the temperature outside will be very similar to that inside the garage. This becomes a problem when it is able to creep into the main area of the home. We often find that many homes don’t even have adequate insulation in the wall that is shared with the garage. This leads to lower temperatures in the home during the winter time that the furnace must make up for. If your home was better sealed against the effects of the temperature in the garage, you could save tons of energy! (more…)
Tags: air leaks, air tight, attached garage, Des Plaines, energy efficiency, Four Seasons, garage, garage door, Go Green, Heating, home improvements, IL, Insulation, Riverside, save money, weather stripping, winter
Posted in Go Green, Heating, Home Services, attic insulation | Comments Off
Monday, October 10th, 2011
Do you feel like you are at the mercy of your energy company every winter? Do you have to sacrifice comfort in order to save a few bucks every month when those utility bills arrive? Do you want to change all that this winter? Odds are the answer is a resounding “YES!” Well there is a way to do so, and Four Seasons can help. Many advice sites will tell you to set back the thermostat a few degrees to save a few dollars and yes this will help, but if you make changes to other areas of your home, you can keep the furnace at the temperature you find most comfortable and not have to worry about the cost. Making other green home improvements outside of the HVAC system is one of the specialties of our Home Services department, and they have a number of ways to help you offset your heating costs this winter.
Small Changes to Help Offset Heating Costs:
- Attic Insulation: Attic insulation will help you keep more of the heat that your furnace creates inside the home and will prevent the chilly air in the attic from cooling down your upper floors.
- Window Sealing: Window sealing will keep out pesky drafts that send you running to the thermostat to raise the temperature in the home. (more…)
Tags: attic insulation, Chicago, electricity, Elmhurst, energy cost, Four Seasons, Heating, IL, low flow faucet, McHenry, Melrose Park, Savings, temperature, thermostat, utility bills, window sealing
Posted in Boiler, Furnace, Heating, Home Services, Savings, Tips and Suggestions, attic insulation | Comments Off
Monday, September 5th, 2011
We have now entered the half of the year that is packed with holidays. Today is Labor Day and before we know it, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas will have all arrived as well. Many of us take the holiday season as a chance to redecorate the home in festive décor, and for most that usually means a trip to the attic to pull down boxes and boxes of decorations. While you’re up there, Four Seasons would like you to take a quick moment to have a look around. How does everything look? Is the insulation damp in area? Have you begun to notice dark spots forming in various places? Is the insulation level below the level of the joists? If so, your attic insulation may need some redecorating as well, and Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning is still your go to contractor.
Year Round Condensation Conundrum
Attics that are inadequately insulated have many problems, but today we are going to focus on the issue of condensation and the effects that it can have on your attic, your energy efficiency, and your home. Condensation can accumulate in a poorly insulated attic all year round. During the summer it can soak the insulation and cause mold growth and rot. During the winter, it turns to frost, and all year round this moisture diminishes your insulation’s r-value and therefore its efficiency. If left long enough, this water will eventually reach the level of your ceilings and cause unsightly staining. The insulation will need to be replaced and the ventilation problem corrected before you can ever hope to have a clean and energy efficient attic. (more…)
Tags: attic, ceiling, Chicago, condensation, Four Seasons, Fox Valley, Gilberts, holidays, IL, Insulation, leaks, mold, professional, repair, replacement, ventilation, water spots, Wheeling
Posted in Home Services, Tips and Suggestions, attic insulation | Comments Off
Thursday, May 12th, 2011
Have you noticed all of the talk about professional home energy audits? It seems like everyone from the power company to the government are telling us to go out and have our homes audited, but who really needs this service performed? Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning offers the citizens of Chicagoland this valuable service, but there are defiantly some people that need to have it done more than others.
The Difference between Old and New Homes
Older homes are typically in much greater need of an energy audit when compared to newer homes. Newer homes were often built for energy efficiency. The builders most likely placed adequate amounts of insulation within the walls, ceilings, and floors and the building techniques that they used created a virtually air tight home. However, if you home was built poorly or with cheap windows, doors, and HVAC appliances you could face the same problems that older homes do. (more…)
Tags: air leaks, Chicago, energy audit, energy efficiency, Hometown, HVAC, IL, Insulation, Justice, new home, old home, save money, South Holland
Posted in Home Services, Savings, attic insulation | Comments Off
Wednesday, April 13th, 2011
Over the years, some homeowners begin to notice that their homes are not cooled as well as they once were. They may have the air conditioner checked yearly for problems, and even though many times there is not an issue with the system, still the home remains warm when the air conditioner is running full power. Though the sizing of your air conditioner may be the source of the problem, there is another far more likely cause to this dilemma. It’s called heat gain, and there are several factors that could be contributing to this issue. Luckily, identifying the problem and solving the issue is easy enough, and Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning and Home Services can help you make the improvements needed to restore comfort to your home this summer season.
Sources of Heat Gain
- Window Inspection: Take a moment to inspect the windows in your home. Old, single paned or rotted windows could be the source of your heat gain problem. Windows carry an r-value just like insulation does, and if your windows have a very low r-value, you could be allowing the sun to heat up your home. A temporary fix would be to drape your windows in thick curtains during the day light hours. This will help keep out the heat, but upgrading your windows is the true fix you should strive towards. Four Seasons Home Services can help you choose and install new energy efficient windows this summer season. (more…)
Tags: air conditioner, Chicago, Cooling, doors, energy efficiency, Harvey, heat gain, home repair, Home Services, IL, Insulation, R-Value, replacement, Streamwood, summer, windows
Posted in Air conditioning, Tips and Suggestions, attic insulation | Comments Off
Monday, April 11th, 2011
Does it seem like your air conditioner works fine except when it gets real hot out side? If so, I have a few areas you can check that might help you to resolve this problem:
1. Change your furnace filter: The number one reason furnaces and air-conditioners don’t work up to the customers expectations is a dirty filter. Reduced air flow caused by a dirty furnace filter can add 10-25% to your electric bill. It can also shorten the life of your heating and cooling equipment.
2. Check your air-conditioners condensing unit: Your condenser should be on the side or behind your house. Is there a bunch grass or weeds growing around it? Does the coil look clean or is it covered with fuzz and dirt? Reduced air flow around and through the outside coil can cause the unit to run longer and not cool as quickly as it should.
3. Feel the Ceiling: You’re going to love this one! Feel your ceiling mid-afternoon on a day when the air-conditioner doesn’t seem to be keeping up. If your ceiling feels warm to the touch you probably don’t have enough insulation in your attic. Heat is building up in the attic space and seeping through into the livings spaces of your home. Think of the French fries at your local fast food place. You are the French fry and your ceiling is the heat lamp. Makes sense right!
(more…)
Tags: air conditioner, Air conditioners, attic insulation, Broadview, Chicago, Cooling, Dolton, energy bills, energy efficiency, Four Seasons, heating and cooling, IL, Orland Park, R-Value, save money
Posted in Air conditioning, Home Services, Tips and Suggestions, attic insulation | Comments Off
Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
At this time of year, many of us are beginning to appraise the condition of our homes. After the long winter months spent indoors and the cruel weather conditions outdoors, odds are your home is showing signs of wear and tear both inside and out. Creating that to-do list is frustrating enough, but actually finding the time to complete all of the projects on that list can becomes overwhelming for any homeowner. You could either dedicate every weekend from now until next winter to repairing your home, or you could call Four Seasons Home Services!
What is Four Seasons Home Services?
Four Seasons Home Services is the rapidly expanding home repair, duct cleaning, and insulation division of Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning. We had noticed that many of our heating and cooling customers were in need of advice concerning these other services, and decided to meet the demand. Now, instead of searching all over town for multiple contractors to complete the various jobs in your home, you can have Four Seasons take care of it all!
First-Class Quality Services
The same high quality standards that you have come to expect from Four Seasons can also be found when you employ the services of our home services servicemen. Four Seasons Home Services is your spring cleaning and home repair experts, and we will take the hassle out of caring for your home’s maintenance. Give us a chance today, and call Four Seasons for more details about Four Seasons Home Services.
Tags: Chicago, Crestwood, Duct Cleaning, Four Seasons, haeating and cooling, home care, home repair, Home Services, IL, Insulation, maintenance, Spring Cleaning, University Park
Posted in Home Services, attic insulation, customer service, maintenance | Comments Off
Monday, March 28th, 2011
With all of the cleaning and maintenance checks that you will be making of your home during spring cleaning, don’t forget to check the attic. This past winter we had some crazy weather and all of the snow and rain may have caused leaks or allowed water to get into your attic space in some way. For many, there isn’t much in the attic besides a little storage and some insulation material, so you may not think that a little water in the attic is big deal. However, here at Four Seasons we want you to know about 2 major problems that wet insulation can cause in your home if you don’t have it promptly removed and replaced.
Problem #1: Heat Barrier Damage
No matter what type of insulation material you have in your attic, water can damage them all both temporarily and permanently. Your insulation is what protects your home from heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. The material is resistant to the transfer of heat, and therefore allows for your heating and cooling systems to work efficiently keeping your home at a comfortable temperature. However, water has the opposite effect. (more…)
Tags: attic, blown-in fiberglass, Chicago, comfort, Downers Grove, energy efficiency, Four Seasons, IL, Insulation, insulation removal, leaks, Lemont, mold growth, R-Value, water
Posted in Health, Home Services, attic insulation | Comments Off
Monday, March 14th, 2011
When putting together your spring cleaning list, you may quickly becomes overwhelmed by the large number of items that need to be scrubbed, mopped, organized, and polished, and it may be tempting to leave a few items off the list just for the sake of your time and your sanity. However, Four Seasons has come up with a list of the top 8 areas of the home that must be on your spring cleaning list. For those that don’t have the extra time to get these jobs done, Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning and Four Seasons Home Services can complete these projects quickly and efficiently so you can get back to enjoying the new season.
The Top 8 Checklist:
1. The Air Conditioner: The air conditioner is going to be the unit that sustains comfort in your home for the next several months. Getting the system to operates efficiently and reliably requires a thorough professional cleaning and tune-up. At Four Seasons we offer a certified 20 + point cleaning that will get rid of the debris from winter and prepare your unit for the long hot summer ahead.
2. The Lawn and Yard: After being buried under several feet of snow for much of the season, your lawn and landscape are probably in desperate need of rejuvenation. The Four Seasons Home Services division has a crew of servicemen who can get your yard looking beautiful in no time at all. Get a jump on spring and have Four Seasons clean everything from your gutters to your deck. (more…)
Tags: air conditioner, attic, Chicago, cleaning, dryer vent, efficiency, Four Seasons, Home Services, Insulation, Joliet, maintenance, Matteson, New Lenox, organization, spring, summer, Tune Up
Posted in Air conditioning, Duct Cleaning, Home Services, Hot Water Heater, attic insulation, maintenance | Comments Off
Friday, March 4th, 2011
In a matter of weeks, many of us will be receiving our tax returns from the state and from the government. With all of the programs and credits that were offered this past year, you are probably expecting a pretty hefty check. Many people may already have an idea in mind for where they plan on spending their return. Whether you plan to splurge and spend your return on the latest electronics or if you simply want to put the money away to save, both are good ideas, but Four Seasons has another suggestion that you may want to consider. How about using that money to invest in your home? Making your home more energy efficient truly will make your tax return stretch further than you could have ever imagined, and Four Seasons can help you make it happen.
Smart Green Improvements:
- New Furnace and Air Conditioner: If the furnace and air conditioner are over ten years old, you could save big by upgrading your systems. When you have them installed by Four Seasons, our serviceman will show you exactly how you can get the most savings out of your new systems. From the high-tech programmable thermostat to the intricate operation of the new systems, you will be impressed by both the savings and the comfort created by your new heating and cooling units from Four Seasons. (more…)
Tags: air conditioner, attic insulation, Blue Island, Chicago, Flossmoor, Four Seasons, Furnace, green friendly, heating and cooling, IL, investment, La Grange, tax return
Posted in Air conditioning, Heating, Home Services, attic insulation | Comments Off
