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Some valuable tips for winterizing your home before winter

August 15, 2017

For anyone living in Canada, it's never too early to think about winterizing the home. Beyond the potential improvements to comfort, many homeowners also want to improve energy efficiency in the home, and therefore reduce the costs of heating. And since the heating season in Canada spans from October to April, that’s more than a half-year of extra expenses that could be reduced.

Every effort in winterizing your home is worthwhile - the important thing is how to choose what to do. For most homeowners, the first thing that comes to mind is upgrading or retrofitting the existing insulation in the home. But there are a host of other things that can be addressed, all of which can make a difference. In general, winterizing your home before winterthe best outcomes are achieved by home energy experts.

In the majority of homes, air leakage in the building structure is the main contributor to higher-than-average energy bills (winter and summer). As such, one of the priorities when winterizing your home is to ensure airtightness throughout the building. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation recommends using the services of a qualified home energy specialist to do the work.

Winterizing your home - Tip 1

Installing effective air barriers in strategic parts of the home is probably one of the most cost effective upgrades that a homeowner can undertake. A home that is properly air sealed will prevent air leakage, and therefore prevent heat from escaping in winter entering in summer.

Winterizing your home - Tip 2

Without doubt, upgrading or replacing windows and doors makes a huge difference in energy efficiency. Needless to say, this is a big project, with a big budget, but with excellent long term return-on-investment. At the very least, air sealing and weatherizing the windows is a must.

Winterizing your home - Tip 3

Clearly, setting the winter thermostat at a sensible temperature will ensure lower utility costs. However, if the home is poorly sealed and poorly insulated, heat loss throughout the winter will most certainly waste energy. This is where effective air sealing retrofits can make a difference.

Winterizing your home - Tip 4

Inspecting the attic for air leaks, moisture pockets, and insulation integrity can set the stage for major improvements to existing attic insulation. Here, expertly installed spray foam insulation will provide an effective air and moisture barrier, and thermal insulation without compare.

Winterizing your home - Tip 5

In many homes, exterior walls can be effectively insulated for much improved energy efficiency. Retrofit “drill-and-fill” makes it possible to install higher performance insulation in existing walls (exterior and interior). Using loose fill insulation to fill the walls enhances R-Value dramatically.

With winter “around the corner”, homeowners can do a lot to improve home energy efficiency while enhancing home comfort. The professionals at Great Northern Insulation offer a very easy online tool - My EnergyXpert - to assess a home’s energy performance and isolate areas that need improvement. For more information, contact GNI directly at 1-800-265-1914 or visit the company website at www.gni.ca.

Western Ontario

935 Keyes Drive
Woodstock, Ontario
Canada N4V 1C3

Phone: 1-800-265-1914

Fax: (519) 539-7946
TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914

Muskoka, Haliburton, Northern Ontario

1027 Elwell Park Road
Gravenhurst, Ontario
Canada P1P 1R1

TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914

Central Ontario

29 Ferndale Industrial Drive
Barrie, Ontario
Canada L4N 9V5

TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914

Greater Toronto Area

2 Guided Court
Etobicoke, ON
M9V 4K6

TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914

GTA East

103 North Port Road
Port Perry, Ontario
Canada L9L 1B2

TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914

South Central Ontario

450 Industrial Dr,
Toronto (Milton), Ontario
Canada L9T 5A6

TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914

Eastern Ontario

1035 Moodie Dr #1,
Nepean, ON
K2R 1H4

TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914

Niagara Region

25 Lincoln Ave
St. Catharines, ON
L2P 2C7

TOLL FREE: 1-800-265-1914

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Homestars Best of 2021 Award

Best of 2021

HomeStars has ranked Great Northern Insulation as a company that goes above and beyond in every aspect of business for the year of 2021.

Homestars Best of 2022 Award

Best of 2022

HomeStars has ranked Great Northern Insulation as a company that goes above and beyond in every aspect of business for the year of 2022.

Lowes

GNI is the Authorized & Trusted Insulation and Air Sealing Installer for Lowe’s

Trusted for Over 40 Years

Over 40 Years in Business

At GNI, we service your project with the most experienced staff in the industry. Ongoing professional development is an obsession at GNI and we will not compromise at any level to bring to our customers the very best Installers, Sales Representatives, Customer Care Personnel, Field Superintendents, Estimating and Technical Support to your project.

100% Canadian

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Great Northern Insulation is recognized as Canada's largest full-service insulation contractor. GNI is 100% Canadian owned, proudly serving Ontario customers since 1980.

Foam Masters

Do it right the first time
- with foam mastersTM

January, 2021 regulatory phaseout of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with the introduction of WALLTITE CM01. Using hydrofluorolefins (HFOs) with lower global warming potential (GWP) compared to HFCs, WALLTITE CM01 is the next generation of spray foam insulation.

HEATLOK® SOYA HFO™ 

Huntsman HEATLOK® SOYA HFO™ 

Heatlok® Soya HFOTM leverages Honeywell’s latest Solstice® Liquid Blowing Agent technology. This new hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) blowing agent is the most environmentally conscious blowing agent produced to date, with a zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and a global warming potential (GWP) of 1, which is more than two orders of magnitude (99.9%) lower than HFCs used in this industry.

3M

3MTM products.
Quality + Performance = Savings

3MTM energy-saving products are designed to keep warm air in, and cold air out, while keeping energy bills down. Products optimize energy efficiency in buildings and homes; improve indoor environment for occupants; and effect the reduction of seasonal energy costs. 3M products are authorized for LEED credits (Leadership in Energy/Environmental Design).

Holmes and Holmes

Holmes and Holmes

 

Mike Holmes and his son Mike Jr. (MJ) convert MJ’s bachelor bungalow into a two-storey home for MJ and his girlfriend Lisa. Choosing the newest materials and build techniques, the father and son team follow Mike’s famous motto – “Make it right.” The show can be watched on HGTV and DIY Network.

Enbridge

Enbridge Incentives

The Home Efficiency Rebate Plus program offers up to $10,000 in home reno rebates – and Great Northern Insulation can pave the way.

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Great Northern Insulation proudly abides by a renovation-specific Code of Conduct set by RenoMark™.

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As Seen on Love It or List It

The GNI crew have been featured installing insulation on Love It or List It - have you seen our logo in an episode?

Climatizer Cellulose

Climatizer

CLIMATIZER PLUS cellulose insulation is manufactured from a minimum of 85% locally-sourced post-consumer recycled newsprint. Non-toxic additives are applied to the uniquely fiberized paper generating a building material with superior thermal and acoustic properties, as well as exceptional resistance to fire, moisture, mould and pests.

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