Professional Insulation, HVAC and other services
The RPM Groups official logo. Locally owned and operated, The RPM Groups provides prime Home Services in North America.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here you’ll find answers to the questions we get asked the most about our services and many other topics.

Our services include Attic Insulation, Mold Remediation and Mold Prevention. We also provide basic maintenance such as Gutter Guard sales and installation,Window/Door installation, and more. We provide the highest quality of service while focusing on attention to detail as well as safety.

We’re closely monitoring the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) to ensure we do all we can to help to keep both you and our workers happy and safe.

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Our Services
Furnace & AC Sales and Installation:

It depends. If you are someone who is generally successful with DIY home improvement projects, then you may have the ability to take on a project of this magnitude and importance (for your home’s health).

 

However, if you are someone who is generally NOT successful with DIY home improvement projects, then this is definitely not the time to be bold and “give it a shot.”

 

Your roof is vital to the health of your home’s structure and internal condition. To botch repairs or wing a full replacement can lead to serious damages.

 

Even more, you will end up spending both the time and money in performing the DIY roof project and then spend more time and money later on when you need to hire a professional to do it right.

Attic Insulation:

Insulation is measured in R-values and the higher the R-value, the more resistant it is to heat flow (and therefore the more efficient it is.) In order to know how much insulation you need to add, you should first determine the R-value of the insulation currently in your attic.

Determine the type of insulation in your attic. The most common types are cellulose, loose-fill fiberglass, and fiberglass batt (pictured above).

 

Measure the depth of your insulation in several places and take an average.

 

Multiply that number by the R-value per inch for the type of insulation you have. Cellulose is about R3.5, loose-fill fiberglass is R2.5, and fiberglass batt is R3.5

 

This will give you your attic insulation’s current R-value. For example, if there is an average of 4 inches of cellulose insulation throughout your attic, your current R-value is about R14.

Department of Energy Recommended for Ontario:

 

Zone 1 and Zone 2: R-Value recommended from R60 to R80.

Making the decision to do-it-yourself or hire a professional can be difficult. Remember to consider how much time you have to devote to the project.

 

An experienced professional will save you time and the need to acquire large equipment and insulation.

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Now that you have determined how much insulation you need and if you will be doing the installation yourself, the next step is to decide on the type of insulation you will install.

Below are the three most common attic insulation types for DIY projects:

 

  • Cellulose: Cellulose attic insulation is made from recycled wood fibers (like newspapers). It is a loose-fill type of insulation. Unlike fiberglass, it will not irritate your skin, throat or eyes. It has a higher R-  value per inch than fiberglass loose-fill but also tends to settle more.

  • Loose-fill fiberglass: Loose-fill fiberglass typically has a lower R-value than both fiberglass batt and cellulose. However, it can be easier to install than fiberglass batt and does not settle as much as   cellulose. Fiberglass can be very irritating to your skin, eyes and throat.

  • Fiberglass bat: Fiberglass batt comes in rolls or short rectangles. These batts fit nicely between wood studs but are more difficult to maneuver around things like chimneys, vents and light fixtures.   Also, fiberglass can be very irritating.

 

Once you have answered these three questions, you are now ready to install or purchase Attic Insulation for your home.

Attic Mold Remediation:

It depends. If you are someone who is generally successful with DIY home improvement projects, then you may have the ability to take on a project of this magnitude and importance (for your home’s health).

 

However, if you are someone who is generally NOT successful with DIY home improvement projects, then this is definitely not the time to be bold and “give it a shot.”

 

Your roof is vital to the health of your home’s structure and internal condition. To botch repairs or wing a full replacement can lead to serious damages.

 

Even more, you will end up spending both the time and money in performing the DIY roof project and then spend more time and money later on when you need to hire a professional to do it right.

Mold grows in attics due to four main reasons:

  • Warmer temperatures.

  • High humidity, condensation, or major water intrusion from a roof leak.

  • Improper ventilation, no ventilation, or blocked vents.

  • Lots of food (insulation, wood, dust, stored household items).

Common signs of attic mold

  • Water stains on your ceiling which could be caused by a new or old leak but any water staining should be investigated.

  • Water dripping from smoke detectors, light fixtures, bathroom exhaust fans, and ceiling fans. This is a sure sign that the attic has a level of moisture that needs to be addressed. Mold growth is highly likely.

  • Wet insulation in the attic. Yes, attic mold loves wet insulation. In fact, it often times take only 12 hours for certain types of insulation to start growing mold. This is why mold resistant insulation is so important in an attic.(see benefits of cellulose insulation).

  • Dark black staining on wood surfaces in the attic. If you see dark brown or black areas on the wood, chances are you have mold in the attic.

  • Attic feels very hot or stuffy. When attics are properly ventilated, they should have the feel of a gentle (but warmish) breeze. When an attic is stuffy, that indicates you have a ventilation problem, which often results in mold problems.

  • A musty smell in the attic. Sure, mold can smell like a lot of things but an attic with mold will always have a pretty musty type odor.

  • Frost buildup on the underside of the roofing material in winter. When it is cold enough outside, water moisture in an attic with improper ventilation can freeze on the underside of your roof. This can be easy to spot, by the time you see it mold may have already begun to grow.

Have an expert Spray/Fog your attic with Mold Control solution. When conditions promote mold growth in the attic, a antimicrobial film “opens”, exposing the active ingredients to kill off fungus and bacteria. As moisture decreases, the surface film then reseals, locking the mold eliminating ingredients back in. Antimicrobial Technology is used to prevent mold in spaces like the attic.

 

  • Skylights, chimneys, attic windows and any portion of the attic/roof where dissimilar materials join each other (including flashings). These places are hotbeds for potential moisture intrusion.

  • Condensation underneath a vapor barrier if one is installed.

  • Leaks coming from and around attic plumbing stacks.

  • Soffit vents. Make sure they are free of insulation, bird nests, and other debris that could be blocking them and preventing proper air flow.

  • Discolored insulation. This is a sign of leaking air as insulation acts as a filter, becoming discolored in areas of air infiltration. Leaking areas can typically be caulked from within the attic to prevent warm, moist interior air from entering the (cold) attic where it may condense and create elevated moisture conditions conducive to mold growth.

  • Dryer exhaust vents, kitchen exhaust fans and bathroom exhaust fans are designed to pump moisture out of your home. Make sure that they are vented to the outside of your home and not in the attic. Also plumbing stacks in the attic can be a source of condensation, which can lead to attic mold growth. Each appliance and vent should have it’s own dedicated port to transport the hot air outside. However, because dryer vents require periodic cleaning, you’ll want to easily access the inside of the pipe to remove any lint build up, therefore, your dryer vent should have a removable section of pipe in the attic area.

  • Discoloration of insulation and wood (e.g. rafters, sheathing, joists, attic side of fascia boards, etc.).

  • Wet areas in roof valleys (where two roofs join at an angle), which are highly susceptible to roof leaks.
  • Prevent ice dams: Ice Dams occur when water can’t drain properly from the roof, freezes, and backs up into the home through the attic. The stagnant water causes attic mold growth.
  • Clean your gutters regularly: As you’re cleaning the gutters, look for leaks and misaligned pipes and make sure the downspouts carry water at least 10 feet away from the house’s foundation.

  • Make sure insulation is properly installed: Insulation should prevent warmer air from penetrating into the colder attic, which will cause condensation and moisture build up. But like I mentioned above, don’t over insulate either.

  • Install an attic vent fan: This is extra insurance against potential future elevated moisture conditions because the fan will turn on when/if elevated moisture conditions present. This is a popular solar powered attic fan.

  • Inspect your attic twice a year: This is the best way to ensure that a leak doesn’t go unnoticed for too long and mold has not taken root.

  • Raised shingles: When shingles become brittle and dry they are subject to nails pushing the shingles upward and exposing the interior joists and other structures of the interior roof. High winds can also push old and damaged shingles upward allowing rain into your attic.
Mold Prevention:

Insulation is measured in R-values and the higher the R-value, the more resistant it is to heat flow (and therefore the more efficient it is.) In order to know how much insulation you need to add, you should first determine the R-value of the insulation currently in your attic.

Gutter Guards:

SMART SCREEN guards have been on the market for many years. we have sold millions upon millions of feet. They can take large volumes of water, yet prevent leaves, needles and other debris from entering. We also stand by our product with a warranty

There is no such thing as a maintenance-free gutter guard. If a representative from any gutter guard company in the world makes such a claim, second guess. Your gutters are the defense against water damage. Above all, RPM’s job is to protect your home from having clogged gutters and to prevent you from having to clean the muck from the interior. Mostly, the product will self-shed with the wind, but on some homes, you may need to easily brush the debris off from the surface.

SMART SCREEN guards help to prevent the gutter from filling up with snow and ice and becoming extremely heavy. We use a guard product constructed with an under structure 4x stronger than any other guard on the market. This creates an ability to significantly increase the strength of your gutter system, allowing it to withstand the weight of the snow and ice.

If a home is experiencing ice damming, it is typically the result of poor attic insulation. A home with asphalt shingles will have ice dams even without gutters. It is important to properly insulate the home before looking at your guards. If you have insulated the attic space and are still experiencing ice damming, we offer a heated gutter option to help deal with the challenges of ice damming. Contact RPM for a free attic inspection to top up your attic insulation.

 

 

Book an assessment TODAY!

Our guards are available for both 4″ and 5″ gutters.

The SMART SCREEN guard we use are designed to overlap, preventing the gaps found in some alternative guards products. The front of the guard is zip screwed into the lip of the gutter and the back is zip screwed to the fascia of the house under the drip edge. This prevents water from dripping behind the gutter.

Mosquito Fogging:

Fogging is the application of our Permethrin solution to an area to reduce adult mosquito populations. It involves cold or ultra-low volume (ULV) foggers. The careful calibration of the insecticide flow-rate on the ULV foggers, plus droplet size analysis helps to ensure accurate application rates and optimum droplet size for controlling adult mosquitoes and ticks.

We use Permethrin. Permethrin is an insecticide in the pyrethroid family. Pyrethroids are synthetic chemicals that act like natural extracts from the chrysanthemum flower. This synthetic product is used in tick shampoos and dogs tick control collars.

 

It is approved by the PMRA (pest management Regulatory Agency) department of Health Canada. Our teams follow all the laws and guidelines set by Environment Canada. Our Technicians are trained and apply it properly according to label specification. This product assures you a huge reduction in the mosquito population. It will kill the existing mosquitoes. RPM just asks the customer to stay off the lawn for at least 1 hour.

 

Once it dries up completely safe for humans and pets. We provide season-long protection from May until October (weather permitting). We spray the trees 12 feet high and 12 ft deep(if possible), foliage, hedges, deck, under the deck, cedar or wooden fences. It is completely safe for kids and pets after 30 minutes of application.

Yes. The new solution does not cause disease, harm or death to mammals, fish, livestock, birds, frogs, bees, lake shore amphibians, reptiles, shellfish or poultry.

No service can offer 100% protection from every mosquito and tick. As you can imagine, a mosquito from a neighboring property can wander into your yard and bite you before landing on the treated foliage. However, you’ll find that the presence of mosquitoes and ticks is enormously reduced.

The short answer is yes, mosquito foggers do work. Foggers work by putting out a small amount of insecticide that is designed to kill airborne mosquitoes. While fogging is considered an extremely effective means of killing mosquitos, however it is not a 100% fix for the problem. This is why we will return every 21 days to retreat to insure you are benefitting for the entire summer.

Yes. We have special event spraying available for everything from a back yard birthday party to a large wedding reception. Special event treatments are provided prior to your event and will remain effective even if it rains.

In addition to controlling mosquitos as described, our fogging delivers the added benefit of repelling flies, wasps, ticks and other annoying insects.

* For more information regarding Permethrin please visit the Permethrin Insect Repellent website

 

 

Rpm Home Services logo. RPM provides High Quality Insulation and Attic Mold Removal Services.
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COVID-19 and health measures

Our entire Ottawa Home Services team is committed to the health and safety of our customers and hope to continue to provide efficient work regardless of the circumstances.  

Our teams are required to check and record temperature every day.

 

We complete a comprehensive survey each morning to screen anyone with any potential contact to COVID-19.

 

We discuss and train on maintaining social distancing daily.

Our teams where masks when speaking with clients.

Yes we are are, we do take precautions dealing with clients (add from paragraph before).

 

Our teams are required to check and record temperature every day.

Billing, Licensing & Insurance

We take cash, cheque, and credit/debit cards as payment. After registering your debit or credit card details, members can instantly and securely send money. Its safe, free and easy to use and only takes a few minutes to sign up.

Yes, we offer financing for up to $100.000 in monthly installments.

RPM @ Home Team Ltd has partnered with Financeit to offer fast, easy financing for your purchase. We offer:

  • Pay it off any time without penalty.
  • Amortization periods up to 180 months for a low monthly payment. 8.99% to 12.99% interest rate*.
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Check our financing page for more information.

RPM is fully insured for both workers compensation and general liability coverage. What this means to you is that you will never be responsible for any liability for claims in the event of an accident on your project. We will be happy to provide certificates of insurance for you.

RPM Home Services is fully insured by WSIB Ontario
Experience & Company info

Yes. We believe in our service, our products and our value to earn you business.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, Check and Financing.

 

Financeit banner - Pay for your purchase at RPM @ Home Team Ltd in monthly installments.

Yes, we require for you to be at home.

Yes, of course. We always leave our work spaces clean.

We will work through most weather unless its dangerous for our teams.

Proud RPM worker stands besides the RPM truck after a hard day of work