Home Insulation Benefits and Tips

Having proper home insulation and a well looked after HVAC system will allow for a perfectly comfortable home environment and keep your utility bills to a minimum.

In the past, Canadians had to get used to the terribly cold drafts they would experience in their homes all winter and summer long. Luckily, modern technology has eliminated this uncomfortable inconvenience for most people. New building techniques and improvements to home insulation have allowed Canadians to enjoy an elevated level of home comfort even in harsh climates. Even with an HVAC system that’s running properly, with improper home insulation you will not have the comfort you’re looking for. That’s why we’re here to tell you what you need to know about home insulation and how you can improve the insulation in your own household.

What is the purpose of home insulation?

Your home insulation acts as a barrier which protects your home from letting in the cold or hot air from the outdoors. You will find insulation in your home’s basement, attic, walls, and other places which border the outdoors. Home insulation slows down the process of heat transfer. During the summertime it slows heat from entering the building, while in the winter it prevents heat from exiting the building. House insulation helps to regulate the temperature in your home, which means that your furnace and AC won’t have to work too hard to achieve the results you want.

More important information about home insulation

There is not just one type of home insulation. The various types of house insulation either use different materials or varying methods of insulating. To understand the different types of home insulation it’s important to know about insulation’s R-value. R-value is a term for rating insulation’s ability to reduce the rate of heat loss. The higher the R-value of a particular insulation the better it is at preventing heat loss. Let’s take a look at some of these insulation methods and their benefits:

• Spray foam has become a popular form of home insulation due to its ease of use. Spray foam has a higher R-value than fiberglass and is also resistant to mold.
• Fiberglass is one of the most popular types of insulation found in homes. This type of insulation uses glass fibres which are placed by hand or blown into a place by a trained professional.
• Mineral fibre is very similar to fiberglass, but has a lower R-value. The benefits of mineral fibre over fiberglass are that it is more fire resistant and provides sound proofing for the space that it occupies.
• Rigid foam is a form of insulation typically used in the foundation of homes. It can be found in sheets. It has a very high R-value, but is complicated to install.
• Cellulose is a loose-fill material which is often seen in attics. This material is sprayed into the space that it occupies as it can conform to its surroundings. It is a relatively inexpensive form of insulation and still maintains an R-value slightly lower than that of fiberglass.

 

Why you should insulate your home properly

Having the right type of home insulation installed by a professional will yield numerous benefits for your home and your family. Proper insulation will extend the life of your home and will keep it in better shape over the years. Your family will feel more comfortable in their home as a properly insulated space will have no noticeable drafts. A properly insulated home means a comfortable living environment for you and your family. To add on, with the prevention of heat loss that comes from proper insulation, you will be spending less on heating and cooling your home.

Get A Quote

 

If you have any further questions regarding house insulation or any of your other HVAC needs, don’t hesitate to contact DeMark Home Ontario today. We offer a free installation done by our highly trained and experienced technicians. You’re saving more when you rent your HVAC equipment from DeMark Home Ontario. We offer the lowest rental rates on the market and provide our customers with professional and reliable service. Give us a call at 1 (855) 998-2998 or fill out our online request form and we will be happy to assist you.

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Water Heater Warning Signs For Replacement

Water heaters, like all other appliances, need to be replaced once they reach the end of their lifespan, look out for these water heater warning signs to know when it’s time for a replacement.

Having hot water in our homes is often something we take for granted. Whether it’s to wash the dishes, take a shower, cook, clean, or whatever else it may be, hot water is involved in your day to day life at home. Using your water heater every single day for many years puts a strain on the appliance and over time you will notice that it is not working as it once did. Though water heaters tend to last over ten years, it’s important to know the water heater warning signs which indicate that yours is in need of replacement.

Your water heater is too old

Just like the food in your fridge, water heaters have their own expiration date. At some point down your water heater’s life it will be time for a replacement. These machines become strained and damaged over time as they age just like all other machinery. Water heaters start to operate differently when they’re old and damaged, and you will notice this change in operation. In most cases this starts to happen after the eight to ten year mark. Although, the life expectancy of water heaters does vary. Gas powered water heaters have a lifespan of between ten to twelve years. If you start to notice that your water heater is operating worse with its old age then this is a sure warning sign that a replacement is necessary. If your water heater is over ten years old then it is surely in need of a replacement.

If you are unsure of how old your water heater is then you can take a look at the serial number on the unit to find out. The first letter in the serial number represents the month that it was manufactured and the two numbers that follow correspond with the year it was manufactured.

Click here to learn more about reading your water heater serial number and how to use it to find the age of your water heater.

Loud noises coming from your water heater

There are a couple of reasons as to why you may be hearing noises coming from your tank and both are clear water heater warning signs for replacement.

If there is a buildup of sediment in your tank then you will start hearing noises coming from the tank. Sediment buildup will lead to leaks in the water heater if not taken care of. Sediment can be removed from the water heater by draining the tank on a yearly basis to remove the buildup.

It is possible that even after draining the water tank that the noise you are hearing is still persistent. This would mean that the water heater is on the brink of cracking or leaking which calls for an immediate replacement.

Rusty water in your home

Almost all water heaters are made out of steel. Although steel is a durable material, it is susceptible to rust. One of the easiest water heater warning signs to spot is rusty water. As the steel in the tank ages and begins to corrode, rust will start to appear in the tank and will make its way into the water in your home. Corroded steel will cause for leaks in your water heater, so it surely leads to bad news and potentially expensive repairs if not handled correctly.

It is sometimes a problem trying to figure out the source of the rusty water as it is not always the water heater at fault. Rusty water could be an indication of corrosion in the pipes leading to the faucet. No matter what the case may be, if you spot rust in your water then a water heater replacement is necessary. There is unfortunately no way to repair a corroded water tank.

Not enough hot water in your home

We use hot water for many daily activities in our home and we expect our water heater to provide us with the hot water that we need. If you’re not getting enough hot water in your home then this could be caused by:

• A broken heating element
• An improperly set thermostat
• An undersized water heater

An undersized water heater is the only serious problem out of these three as the other two can be easily fixed. If your water heater is too small for your home, then the only solution is to install a larger water heater.

Puddles of water around the water tank

If there are puddles of water around your water heater then you should know that a leak is present. Such leaks can lead to damage being done to your home and are clear signs that a replacement is necessary. When this problem goes unnoticed or untreated then you can expect for damage to be done to the furniture in your home or even for mold to appear in the surrounding area. Leaks in the water tank can be caused by:

• Improper connections or fittings to the tank which should be screwed on tighter or adjusted. A leak will occur when connections are loose and allow for water to seep through.
• The metal in the tank expanding due to constant exposure to heating cycles. Heating cycles sometimes cause a crack in the tank when the metal expands and allows for water to leak out through the cracks.
• A problem pertaining to the water tank itself which means that it needs to be replaced

We know that a broken down water heater is the last thing you need in your home. You can avoid that problem entirely by being aware of these water heater warning signs for replacement and have your water heater problem solved before it’s too late. If you let a faulty water heater continue running for too long you can end up with horrible leakage in your home and plenty of property damage expenses to go along with it. Be the smart homeowner and be aware of the signs of a water heater problem before it gets out of control.

If you have any further questions regarding water heater warning signs or any of your other HVAC needs, don’t hesitate to contact DeMark Home Ontario today. We offer a free installation done by our highly trained and experienced technicians. You’re saving more when you rent your water heater from DeMark Home Ontario. We offer the lowest rental rates on the market and provide our customers with professional and reliable service.

Get A Quote

 

If you’re considering an upgrade to a new high efficiency water heater for your home, DeMark Home Ontario is here to make the change as easy and convenient as possible. Give us a call at 647-847-2998 or fill out our online request form and we will be happy to assist you.

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get total piece of mind with our High Efficiency Furnace and Air Conditioner Rental Program.

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How to Reset Gas Furnace

When your gas furnace is experiencing problems and the pilot light is no longer on, learning how to reset gas furnace yourself will allow you to solve the issue without the need of a technician.

It’s not always necessary to make an appointment with an HVAC technician as many furnace problems can be solved on your own. The pilot light of your furnace going out is one of those problems where a technician is not always necessary. Save yourself some money by becoming familiar with your furnace and learning how to reset it without the help of a professional. No tools are necessary to reset gas furnace as it is a very simple procedure. Follow the steps below and you may be able to have your gas furnace running smoothly once again:

• See if the pilot light has gone out. This could involve removing a cover to see if the flame is still burning or not.
• Set the thermostat to the lowest setting.
• Power down your furnace by switching it to off at the fuse box or circuit breaker.
• Shut off the furnace’s main gas line by using the handle on the main gas pipe leading into the furnace. The pilot gas supply should be left on.
• Now you can relight the pilot flame by holding up a lit match to the opening of the pilot flame jet.
• The main gas supply and the furnace’s power can now be turned back on.
• Find the reset button on the furnace. This button should be clearly labelled. Press and hold down on the reset button for thirty seconds.
• Raise the temperature on your thermostat to your usual room temperature. Your furnace should now re-ignite.

 

If following these steps does not result in your furnace working properly once again, turn off the furnace and call a professional HVAC technician to solve the issue.

Get A Quote

 

If you have any further questions about how to reset gas furnace or any of your other HVAC concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us at any time. Our highly trained and experienced technicians are more than prepared to assist you with any of your furnace problems. We provide efficient and quick furnace replacement done by our team of HVAC professionals. Give us a call at 647-847-2998 or fill out our online request form and we will be happy to assist you with your request.

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get total piece of mind with our High Efficiency Furnace and Air Conditioner Rental Program.

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