McHale’s Environmental Insulation, Inc. is a home energy specialist that installs cellulose, fiberglass, cotton, and radiant barrier insulation for residential and commercial clients throughout the Greater Bay Area. The company specializes in thermally and acoustically controlling building envelopes (attics, walls and floors), but it can also remove old insulation and provide free inspections of existing materials to determine if they’re still effective or need to be replaced.
Tom and Shelly McHale established McHale’s Environmental Insulation in 1978 to help Bay Area customers decrease their energy bills, reduce unwanted sound, and enjoy more comfortable and quiet living environments. President Daniel Hair took over the business in 2007 and brings more than 30 years of journeyman experience to every project.
McHale’s Environmental Insulation can help its customers qualify their homes for available utility rebates and incentives, which make the potential savings gained from the company’s services even greater, says Mr. Hair. Financing is also available for customers on qualified projects.
“We treat our customers with respect, and we strive to make them happy by providing quality products that will serve them for the entirety of their homes' life spans. Our goal is to provide courteous, professional service every time–people often tell us they're amazed with the level of service we offer and how quickly we respond to issues when they arise. The most effective advertising is a satisfied customer base, so we do all we can to make their experiences with us as positive as possible.”
When you’re thinking about having new insulation installed, it's smart to do your homework.
“There are a lot of different insulation materials on the market today,” says Daniel Hair, president of McHale’s Environmental Insulation Co., Inc. “Since there are many choices, you should research each one and be careful about the type of material you use.”
Some of the insulation materials available are:
• Fiberglass, a common and familiar insulation that comes in a blown-in or batting-type form.
• Ultra-touch cotton insulation, which is made from denim or blue jean products—an environmentally-friendly product.
• Rigid Board, for areas that have limited cavity depth to achieve a high r-value.
• Cellulose, a wood-based fiber that’s made mainly from recycled newsprint and cardboard that is treated with a fire retardant—another environmentally-friendly product that requires less energy to make. It’s also useful in blocking sound.
• Spray foams, which are mostly petroleum-based. Spray foams expand, so they don’t always work well in a retrofit or remodel application where the walls are intact.
• Reflective Insulation and Radiant Barrier to block radiant heat, used in conjunction with insulation.
When deciding who will do the work, it’s important to take into consideration the experience and reputation of a company. Choose a contractor who’s known for dependability, service and excellent customer relations. “Be conscious of the quality of work,” says Mr. Hair. “Make sure the contractor intends to follow all codes and guidelines for bringing the house up to current building standards.”
Always make sure anyone doing work in your home is licensed and insured. Ask for references and consider calling previous customers to ask if they were happy with the service and results of the job.
Generally, people are interested in saving money and helping the environment at the same time. One way to do this is by adding eco-friendly insulation to your home. McHale's Environmental Insulation Co., Inc. takes great pride in the expertise it brings to homeowners who want to improve their home's energy efficiency.
"We provide free, in-house energy saving inspections and estimates," says Daniel Hair, the company's president. "We come to your home and look at all the different areas that can be targeted for improved energy efficiency. We look at the attic. We determine whether or not there's insulation in the walls or under the floor. We take a look at the supply duct work and the weather stripping." After a thorough inspection, an expert from the company can recommend the best type of insulation to use.
McHale's Environmental Insulation Co., Inc. specializes in insulation work for existing homes. The company can inject the insulation (usually environmentally-friendly cellulose) through a small hole that completely fills cavities in the walls without having to open them. This is often done in conjunction with a remodeling project. When the removal of old insulation is deemed necessary during a project, the McHale's crew will safely remove it and dispose of it without leaving a mess.
For McHale's Environmental Insulation Company, providing quality service that earns customer satisfaction is a high priority. "We follow through with our customers from start to finish, and we guarantee they're 100 percent satisfied," says Mr. Hair. "We always like to touch base with the owner at the end of a job as well as the beginning–we do a walk-through to make sure everything went smoothly and they're happy with the results."
