InsulationA category from your Ciel audit report
Insulation is the least glamorous upgrade you'll ever love
No one shows off their attic insulation. But no single improvement does more for how your home feels: warmer floors in January, a cooler upstairs in July, quieter rooms, and heating and cooling costs that finally make sense. If your home was built before modern energy codes, it almost certainly has less insulation than it should.
Signs your insulation is falling short
- Second floor rooms that are hot in summer and cold in winter
- Ice dams forming along your roof edge
- Floors that are cold to the touch all winter
- Rooms above garages or additions that never match the rest of the house
- A heating system that runs constantly on cold nights
Where we insulate, and how
Attics
The highest impact area in most homes, because rising heat escapes through an under insulated attic ceiling all winter and radiates down through it all summer. We air seal the attic floor first, then bring insulation to modern standards, an R value of R-60 for our climate zone per the IECC 2021 energy code, using blown in cellulose or fiberglass.
Walls
Using the dense pack method, we fill enclosed wall cavities with insulation through small, patched openings, no demolition required. It transforms drafty exterior walls while keeping the character of an older home intact.
Basements, crawlspaces, and rim joists
The gaps where your home's frame meets its foundation are a leak point in nearly every older home. Sealing and insulating them stops cold floors at the source.
Air sealing comes first, always
Insulation slows heat transfer, but it does not stop air movement. That is why every Ciel Power insulation project begins with air sealing, closing the gaps and penetrations that let air flow around and through insulation. Sealing first is the difference between insulation that performs on paper and insulation that performs in your house, and it is why the utility program requires both together.
Incentives make this the easiest yes in home improvement
Insulation and air sealing are core measures of the Whole Home Energy Solutions program: up to $7,500 in cash back incentives and up to $25,000 in 0% financing through your utility. Insulation projects also reliably move the savings model, which is what earns the larger rebates. Your audit report shows your exact numbers before you commit.
Installed by the team your utility recognizes
Ciel Power is a BPI GoldStar contractor, a four time ENERGY STAR Contractor of the Year, and a PSE&G Top 10 Contractor for Whole Home Energy Solutions. Every insulation project is verified with before and after blower door testing, so you see the improvement in numbers, not just on the thermostat.
Frequently asked questions
Which insulation material is best?
It depends on the location and the job. Blown in cellulose excels in attics and dense packed walls; fiberglass and spray foam each have their place. Your proposal will explain what we recommend where, and why.
How much insulation does my attic need?
For our climate zone, current standards call for R-60 in the attic, roughly 16 to 18 inches of blown insulation. Most older New Jersey homes we visit have a third of that or less.
Can you insulate my walls without tearing them open?
Yes. Dense packing fills existing wall cavities through small openings that we patch afterward. It is the standard approach for finished homes.
Will this really lower my bills?
Air sealing and insulation reduce the workload on your heating and cooling systems, and the program's energy model projects your specific savings before you commit. We will show you the numbers rather than make promises.
Why does the utility program require air sealing with insulation?
Insulation slows heat transfer, but it does not stop air movement. Sealing the gaps first is what lets the insulation perform the way it should, so the Whole Home Energy Solutions program pairs the two measures together.
How do I get started?
With a $99 home energy audit. It measures your home's air leakage with a blower door, checks your existing insulation with infrared imaging, and produces the energy model that determines your rebate.
Find out what your attic is costing you
Start with a $99 home energy audit. Infrared imaging and blower door testing show exactly where your insulation falls short, and the fee is credited toward your project.