How to Choose the Right Insulation Company for Your Home
Insulation’s not the sexiest topic in the world, but if you care about comfort, energy bills, or not freezing your tail off in February, it matters—a lot. But here’s the kicker: good insulation is only as good as the folks putting it in.
Pick the right crew, and you’ll stay cozy for decades. Pick the wrong one, and you’re left with drafty rooms, lumpy attic fill, and a bill that hurts more than the cold.
Here’s how to tell the pros from the pretenders—straight from a team that’s been doing this for nearly 50 years on the Connecticut shoreline.
1. Look for Experience (Not Just a Truck and a Ladder)
Insulation isn’t paint. You can’t just slap it up and hope for the best. Every home has quirks—especially the older colonials and beach houses around here.
You want a team that understands building science, not just how to blow fluff into an attic.
Ask:
- How long have they been doing just insulation?
- Do they actually specialize, or is this just another checkbox service?
- Do they know how coastal homes breathe, leak, and shift?
At Nealon, this is our bread and butter. We’ve been insulating Connecticut homes since 1977—longer than some companies have been alive. We know what works here because we've seen it all: storm surge crawlspaces, sagging batts, and 100-year-old rafters that don’t follow the rules.
2. Ask What Materials They Use (and Why)
Insulation isn’t a one-size-fits-all job. A good company won’t just give you one option—they’ll walk you through what’s best for your house.
Here’s the short version:
- Cellulose: Our go-to. It’s recycled, dense, good at sealing air leaks, and holds up in messy New England weather.
- Fiberglass: Cheap. Works okay if installed right, but that’s a big “if.”
- Spray Foam: Great air seal, but pricey and not so easy to undo if something goes sideways.
Bottom line: if the company can’t explain the pros and cons in plain English, you probably don’t want them jamming materials in your walls.
3. Make Sure They’re Licensed, Insured, and Legit
This seems obvious, but you'd be surprised. If they can’t show you a license or proof of insurance, show them the door.
Ask for:
- Their Connecticut contractor license
- Proof of liability insurance
- Workers’ comp coverage
Because let’s be real—if someone falls through your attic ceiling and they’re not insured, you could end up holding the bag. No thanks.
4. Check the Receipts (a.k.a. Reviews)
Real companies leave a paper trail—and I don’t mean the invoice.
Look at:
- Google reviews (read the bad ones too)
- Their BBB profile
- Testimonials from real customers
We’re proud of our track record, but we always tell folks: don’t take our word for it. Ask around. Chances are we’ve worked on your neighbor’s house, or your cousin’s place in Guilford.
5. Ask About Energy Rebates
If you’re in Connecticut, EnergizeCT offers rebates to help cover the cost of insulation. But here’s the catch—you need a certified contractor to qualify.
We’re part of the EnergizeCT Insulation Installers Network, which means we know how to get you the biggest bang for your buck. We even help handle the paperwork, because who’s got time for that?
6. Get a Proper Estimate (Not Just a Guess)
A pro doesn’t quote you over the phone without seeing your house. They show up, check everything out, and walk you through the plan.
You should expect:
- A free inspection
- A detailed breakdown of costs
- Clear expectations around savings and comfort
If a company’s vague or pushy, that’s a red flag. You want honest advice, not someone trying to hit their sales quota.
7. Pay Attention to How They Treat You
Do they call back? Show up on time? Take their shoes off when they come in?
The best companies treat your home like it’s their own—and they back up their work with a warranty.
At Nealon, we don’t do hard sells or ghost you after the install. We stick around. Because the work we do is supposed to last for decades—and so is the relationship.
Why Homeowners in Connecticut Trust Nealon Insulation
Here’s what you get when you work with us:
✅ 48 years of experience
✅ Specialists in cellulose and spray foam insulation
✅ Certified with EnergizeCT to help you save money
✅ A crew that shows up, cleans up, and does the job right
✅ Local to the shoreline—and proud of it
If you're ready to insulate smarter and skip the runaround, we’d love to chat. Start with a free quote right here:
👉 Give the team that's been trusted since 1977 to insulate homes across the state of Connecticut!
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How Much Money Will I Really Save by Upgrading my Insulation?
Let’s be honest—insulation isn’t sexy. It’s not something you show off to your neighbors. It’s not your renovated Kitchen with marble finishing or a beautiful new stone deck with a built in grill and smoker.
Let’s be honest—insulation isn’t sexy. It’s not something you show off to your neighbors. It’s not your renovated Kitchen with marble finishing or a beautiful new stone deck with a built in grill and smoker.
No one’s coming over to crack open beers and admire the craftsmanship… “Wow, check out that R-49 blown cellulose! There’s no lumps or anything!”
But… if you own a home in Connecticut, insulation might be the most boring way to save yourself the most money. You won’t get oooh’s and aaah’s but you will get lower energy bills, a more comfortable home, and fewer fights over the thermostat.
But I know what you’re now asking yourself… how much can I really save? How long does insulation take to pay for itself?
🥁🥁🥁
The Short Answer: 2 to 5 Years…
The Even Shorter Answer: It depends! But it does works
But definitely don’t take my word for it. What do I know, I’ve only been doing this for 40 years… And I’ve been told I’m biased or something…
Let’s see what the Research Says
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Energize CT, insulation and air sealing will shave 15–30% off your heating and cooling bills. In Connecticut, where winters are long and heating oil is basically liquid gold, that adds up!
- The average Connecticut household spends around $2,000 per year on heating and cooling combined (source: EIA.gov).
- So let’s do some quick math!
- If you saved 20% on your heating and cooling bills that’s $400/year back in your pocket.
- If your insulation project costs around ~$2,000 that’s about a 5 year payback
- If you save closer to 30%...that’s less than a three and a half year payback
- After that it’s just continuous money in your pocket for the next 25-30 years until you need another upgrade
But like I said before… it depends!
Not to brag or anything but we’ve upgraded homes in which the payback period was fewer than 2 years!
Add in Connecticut’s Home Energy Solutions program, and it gets better. The program can often cover up to 75% of the cost through rebates and incentives.
Facts, Myths, and We-Just-Don’t-Know
There’s a lot of information floating around out there...let’s break it down.
✅ Facts
- Insulation reduces energy bills.
- This is backed by the DOE, ENERGY STAR, and pretty much anyone who’s upgraded their insulation and compared their before and after their utility bill afterward.
- This is backed by the DOE, ENERGY STAR, and pretty much anyone who’s upgraded their insulation and compared their before and after their utility bill afterward.
- Air sealing matters. A lot.
- Think of it like this: insulation is your sweater. Air sealing is zipping up your jacket. Both are good. Together, they’re great.
- Think of it like this: insulation is your sweater. Air sealing is zipping up your jacket. Both are good. Together, they’re great.
- Rebates are available.
- Older homes in CT are often wildly under-insulated.
- Especially if they were built before 1980. Some wall cavities are literally empty.
- Especially if they were built before 1980. Some wall cavities are literally empty.
❌ Myths
- “Insulation only helps me in the winter.”
- Nope. It helps in summer too by keeping heat out and ensuring more efficient AC use. Ever been in an attic in July? If so, you get it.
- Nope. It helps in summer too by keeping heat out and ensuring more efficient AC use. Ever been in an attic in July? If so, you get it.
- “If I have insulation, I’m good.”
- Maybe. But maybe not. A lot of homes have insulation that’s:
- Just not enough
- Poorly installed
- Degraded over time
- Maybe. But maybe not. A lot of homes have insulation that’s:
- “It’s too expensive to be worth it.”
- With rebates and long-term savings, insulation’s one of the few home upgrades that pays for itself—and then keeps paying.
- With rebates and long-term savings, insulation’s one of the few home upgrades that pays for itself—and then keeps paying.
🤷♂️ We Just Don’t Know
- Exactly how fast your home will pay it back.
- We need to see the place. Every home is different. We’ll look at square footage, current insulation levels, energy bills, and then we can estimate savings and rebates.
- We need to see the place. Every home is different. We’ll look at square footage, current insulation levels, energy bills, and then we can estimate savings and rebates.
- How much longer Connecticut winters will get.
- Between polar vortexes and mild Decembers, who knows. But insulation helps regardless.
- Between polar vortexes and mild Decembers, who knows. But insulation helps regardless.
- Why builders didn’t insulate better in the '60s and '70s.
- Your guess is as good as ours. Maybe they just loved single-pane windows and cold feet.
- Your guess is as good as ours. Maybe they just loved single-pane windows and cold feet.
Final Thoughts
Insulation’s not flashy. It’s not fun to talk about at parties (...actually it is for us). But in terms of bang-for-your-buck, it’s one of the best home improvements you can invest in.
Here’s what you get:
- Real savings
- Real comfort
- A more efficient, quieter, and healthier home
If you’re in Connecticut, you’ve got access to generous incentives. We’ll even help you apply for them. So if your house is cold, drafty, or your energy bills are making you sweat—get in touch.
👉 Get in touch with Nealon Insulation. We’ll take a look, give you honest feedback, and let you know if it makes sense. No pressure. No BS. Just real talk, real results, and real insulation.
Why Does Insulation Lower Your Energy Bill?
Let’s start with this: insulation isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s one of the most cost-effective ways to cut down on your energy bills year-round. Whether you’re battling a New England nor’easter or a brutal summer heatwave, your insulation is doing the quiet, thankless job of keeping conditioned air where it belongs: inside your home.
Let’s start with this: insulation isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s one of the most cost-effective ways to cut down on your energy bills year-round. Whether you’re battling a New England nor’easter or a brutal summer heatwave, your insulation is doing the quiet, thankless job of keeping conditioned air where it belongs: inside your home.
But how does it actually save you money? Let’s break it down.
1. Insulation Slows Down Heat Transfer
Heat moves in and out of your house constantly—through walls, ceilings, floors, and anywhere it finds a weak spot. This process is called heat transfer, and without good insulation, your home is bleeding energy like a sieve. In winter, warm air escapes. In summer, heat pours in. Insulation acts like a barrier, slowing that process down so your HVAC system doesn’t have to work overtime to keep up.
Less work for your furnace or AC = less energy used = lower utility bills.
2. Insulation Keeps Temperatures Stable
Ever notice how some rooms feel freezing while others are sweltering? That’s usually a sign of poor insulation or air leaks. Ideally, rooms in the same house shouldn’t differ by more than 2–3°F. If you're seeing 5 degrees or more between rooms, it’s a red flag—your home likely has insulation gaps or airflow issues.
When you insulate properly—especially your attic, walls, and basement—you even out those swings and stop playing thermostat whack-a-mole. Want to layer your savings? Combine good insulation with simple, low-cost hacks to stay warm in winter—like these 10 free or cheap ways to stay warm.
3. It Reduces HVAC Runtime
Your heating and cooling systems cycle on and off all day. But the better your home holds its temperature, the less often those systems need to run. Over time, this adds up to serious savings—not just on energy, but also on maintenance and equipment lifespan. Well-insulated homes put less wear and tear on HVAC units, meaning fewer breakdowns and a longer system life.
4. It's a One-Time Investment That Pays Off For Years
Insulation isn’t a band-aid fix—it’s a long-term upgrade. Whether you’re using spray foam, batts, or blown-in cellulose, you’re making a one-time investment that keeps paying you back every month.
And if you’re looking to insulate finished walls without tearing everything apart, we’ve got a method for that too. It’s called drill and plug, and it lets us dense-pack cellulose insulation from the outside of your home—sealing up energy loss while leaving everything looking untouched. It’s one of our go-to moves for older homes with empty wall cavities.
The Bottom Line
If your energy bills are creeping higher and your home still doesn’t feel comfortable, your insulation might be the culprit. Fixing it won’t just make your house cozier—it’ll put money back in your pocket every single month.
Want to see what better insulation could do for your home?
👉 Get in touch with Nealon Insulation. We’ll take a look, give it to you straight, and help you lower your bills the smart way.
Why Is Air Sealing Important?
Most people think insulation is the whole game when it comes to making a home energy-efficient. It’s a big part, sure—but if your house is leaking air like a drafty old barn, insulation alone isn’t going to cut it. That’s where air sealing comes in.
Most people think insulation is the whole game when it comes to making a home energy-efficient. It’s a big part, sure—but if your house is leaking air like a drafty old barn, insulation alone isn’t going to cut it. That’s where air sealing comes in.
Think of insulation like a warm winter coat. Now imagine that coat has the zipper wide open and the wind’s whipping through. Not so cozy, right? Air sealing is the zipper. It keeps the conditioned air inside where it belongs—and the outside air out.
What Is Air Sealing?
Air sealing is the process of closing up all the tiny gaps, cracks, and holes in your home’s building envelope. These leaks might be around windows, doors, plumbing penetrations, attic hatches, recessed lights, or even your foundation. You don’t see them—but your energy bill sure feels them.
If you’ve ever walked into a room and it feels 10 degrees colder than the rest of the house, chances are you’ve got air leaks. Same goes for musty smells, moisture problems, or wild swings in your heating and cooling bills.
Why Air Sealing Matters
💸 Lower Energy Bills
Air leaks are one of the biggest causes of energy loss in the average home. Heated or cooled air escapes through those gaps, and your HVAC system has to work harder (and burn more money) to keep up. Air sealing can cut heating and cooling costs by up to 20% in some homes.
Want to understand how heat actually escapes your house? Check out our blog on How Does My Home Lose or Gain Heat?
🌡️ More Consistent Temperatures
Ever notice that one room is always too hot in the summer or freezing in the winter? Air leaks are usually to blame. When you seal those gaps, airflow becomes controlled and consistent—no more temperature rollercoasters from room to room.
It’s especially important in the attic—one of the biggest culprits for leaks.
Our blog on blown-in insulation can help you identify the right insulation for your attic.
💧 Moisture Control
Air leaks don’t just move air—they move moisture. In the winter, warm indoor air rises and escapes through cracks in the attic. That moisture-laden air hits cold surfaces and condenses, which can lead to mold, mildew, and rot. Air sealing helps keep moisture where it belongs—and keeps your home healthier.
🧊 Works Hand-in-Hand with Insulation
Insulation slows down the transfer of heat, but it can’t stop moving air. That’s why insulation without air sealing is like buying an expensive cooler with the lid cracked open. You need both.
If your home feels drafty or your bills are creeping up, it could be a sign your insulation isn’t pulling its weight either. Here’s How to Tell If Your Home Is Under-Insulated
What’s the Air Sealing Process Actually Like?
Glad you asked.
Before we blow in any cellulose, we suit up and hunt down the leaks. Because once you’ve got 14 inches of fluffy insulation in the attic, going back to plug those gaps is like diving into a ball pit with a caulk gun—only sweatier and way less fun. Unless you enjoy spelunking through cellulose, seal it first.
🔧 What We Use
Our go-to is polyurethane insulating foam applied with a standard foam gun. It expands to fill cracks, cures fast, and sticks like a champ. Around wiring, pipes, light fixtures, and top plates? That’s where it shines.
And in basements—especially along the sill plate—we break out the big guns: rodent-resistant foam. This stuff is dense, durable, and keeps out everything from cold drafts to overly curious critters.
🔍 Where We Look
In the Attic:
- Gaps between drywall and top plates
- Around recessed lights and light fixtures
- Plumbing stacks
- HVAC duct penetrations
- Chimney chases
- Attic hatches
In the Basement or Crawlspace:
- All along the perimeter sill and rim joists
- Plumbing, electrical, and dryer vent exits
- Gaps where concrete meets wood framing
These are the usual suspects. Seal them up and you’re halfway to a tighter, more efficient home.
Ready to Seal Up Your Home?
At Nealon Insulation, we don’t just stuff walls with insulation and call it a day. We take a full-building approach, starting with air sealing the key trouble spots. It’s one of the best bang-for-your-buck upgrades you can make to improve comfort, cut energy bills, and keep your home protected year-round.
👉 Contact Nealon Insulation to schedule an energy assessment and see where your home is leaking energy. We’ll get you zipped up tight.
Let's Work Together
Ready to transform your home into an energy-efficient haven? Schedule your free energy assessment today and experience the Nealon difference for yourself.