How Does Spray Foam Work?

How Is Spray Foam Insulation Made?

This is a very popular question that most homeowners and business owners alike have when the initial thought of using spray foam insulation in the Myrtle Beach, SC area come to mind as a Energy Saving Alternative.  What I intend to do in this post is educate everyone a little bit on how Spray Foam Insulation Works, and why it saves not only Myrtle Beach, SC residents money on energy, but all over the Coast of NC, SC, and GA.  You'll hear me talk a lot about these areas as these are the main areas I worked when I was in the Spray Foam Insulation business.  So Lets Explain a little bit about how spray foam insulation is made.

Spray Foam insulation is made by combining 2 chemicals, pushed together with air, which react to form the foam:

1. Part A: A Isocyanate or Isocyonine Product
2. Part B: A Poly Based Resin, usually specifically designed for the part A Chemical.
3. Air: One of the most important parts of the spray foam process.
4. Heat: Heated by two powerful heaters on the proportioning unit, in hot climates like Myrtle Beach, SC the heaters may actually cool the chemicals in extreme heat conditions, without the proper heat requirements, you will not get good foam.

With the two chemicals pumped into the proportioning unit, they are heated up to the proper temperature to achieve proper spray foam insulation, once heated they are pushed thru 2 seperated hoses wrapped with a heater cord into the spray foam gun.  The gun is powered by an air line which forces the chemicals into the gun's mixing chamber, where they begin the chemical reaction which makes spray foam.  The process happens so fast that the two chemicals are pushed out mixed in almost a paint like looking substances.  Within 10 seconds on Open Cell Foam the paste or paint like substance will expand 100 times of itself within this 10 second time lapse.  Closed Cell foam will expand, but not as much, and generally takes 30-40 seconds to expand to full width, Closed Cell Foam is generally applied in two layers to meet the building code requirements for spray foam insulation in Myrtle Beach, SC and Coastal NC and SC areas. This expansion is a part of what makes spray foam insulation work so well at saving energy, as this creates the best seal you can get when it comes to insulation.

How Do Spray Foam Contractors Make This Work?

Spray Foam Insulation Contractors have specialized equipment, and when I mean specialize, only one equipment maker on the market, and only there parts fit them on repairs.  This is a huge investment for a spray foam insulation contractor, so you can tell a good one by the cleanlinest and respect they treat their equipment rig.  Plus all chemicals MUST be heated to at least 120-150 degrees for Open Cell, and I recommend 100-120 degrees for closed cell, however, closed cell foam is very tricky, and you should only use a contractor that has references for closed cell application.  Spray Foam Equipment Rigs cost a lot of money, with a fully stocked rig running $80,000 on the low end, to an avg. cost of $120,000.  Below is a general list of what a good spray foam rig should have on it:

• Industrial Size Generator - The backbone of the rig, without it nothing else works.  Should produce enough electricity to power the other equipment and then some.
• Proper Proportioning Unit - A proportionate unit that is specifically designed for proportioning the Part A and Part B chemicals.  This is crucial as well, it doesn't have to be new, as so much as well maintained and able to handle the air pressure and heat requirements the chemicals demand to create proper spray foam insulation.
• Well Maintained Hoses - the chemicals stay seperated, being pumped thru two seperate hoses, wrapped with a heater cord.  These are the only hoses that are made for spray foam insulation now, if you see anything different, your contractor is way out of date..
• Hose "Whip" - Sometimes you will see spray foam contractors that use a "whip" on the end of there hoses before going into the gun.  A "whip" is made of the same material as the hose, but can give the chemicals a last boost of heat, to help insure proper foam.  These are generally seen more in colder weather conditions
• Spray Foam Guns - Most serious spray foam contractors have more than one spray foam gun because the chemicals react soon as they touch, and tend to "cross-over" easily in extreme weather, so to keep the production going, they have a back-up ready to go.  Some even have more than 2 guns.  Graco models are the top of the line, however there is another maker of a spray foam gun, but not favorably liked by spray foam installers.  The Graco Fusion is personally the best gun I have seen on the market, however their Probler 2 is a popular gun as well.
• PPE or Personal Protection Equipment: A good spray foam contractor puts Safety number one, Sprayers should wear a protective suit, heavy duty gloves, and a forced air mask or respirator designed specifically for spray foam.  Helpers should have a respirator, goggles, and nitrile or heavy duty gloves when handling chemicals or entering into the construction area when spray foam insulation is installed.  As said before, Part A and Part B react immediately upon touching, this can also happen in your lungs, so Safety is a Must when in comes to spray foam insulation in the Myrtle Beach, SC, NC and SC areas, or any other part of the country. 
• Ladders, Scaffolding, aerial equipment, etc. - Spray foam contractors generally carry any type of necessary equipment to get to hard to reach places. 
• Masking Material - Some spray foam insulation contractors seperate their crew into teams, and have a prep team ahead of the sprayers.  But there should always be plastic and tape on the spray foam rig because good spray foam insulation contractors care about their customers personal belongings, merchandise, and homes.
• Gun Cleaning Tools - Specialized Tools designed to clean the spray foam guns.
• Fuel - A good spray foam contractor will keep spare fuel on site to make sure generator never runs out of fuel.
• Trailer or Box Truck - Last but not least, you can tell a true professional spray foam contractor by there truck or trailer, if they come in with the generator, and proportioning unit and materials all on seperate trucks, you might wanna find another spray foam contractor.

Many Spray Foam Contractors have all kinds of other ends and outs on their rigs, but this is a general list of must have things.  If anything from the list is missing, you might wanna consider a new spray foam contractor.   I hope this has been an informative blog post on How Spray Foam Insulation is actually made, and feel free to post any questions to my comments.  As you can see from all the specialized equipment, it cost a lot for a spray foam contractor to stay in business.  This is also what makes spray foam insulation a little more costly than traditional fiberglass or blown insulation, however a good contractor can keep cost low and offer you a competitive price at installing spray foam insulation in your home.  The Part A and Part B chemicals are also very costly, however this is the portion of the install that you can use for tax credits or deductions for using energy saving products.  The good news is a lot more chemical manufacturers are making these chemicals used to make spray foam insulation, so the cost have steadily been on the down swing, making it more affordable, and definitely paying for itself in 3-5 years generally.  If you would like more information on spray foam insulation in Myrtle Beach, SC or SC and NC in general, then give Dan a call at: 706-951-0158

Guava Cheese

There is no chesse in this guava cheese.  I have read about guava cheese in some novels. At that time I did not have any idea about what it is. Later, through blogging, I understood its a kind of fudge like sweet made out of guava. I am so fond of guavas. I love to eat to bite into the fruit and I don't prefer to slice them and eat. During my college days, we used to be given fruits daily. Guavas was also given. In my last year, one of classmate, Sandhya shifted to a room near to mine. Knowing my love for this fruit, whenever it is given, she used to invariably come and check if hers is bigger than mine and will exchange it. Even today, whenever I eat guava, those memories keep coming back.

Coming to the recipe, it doesn't call for many ingredients. The main ingredients are guava and sugar. But it is very time consuming. I adapted the recipe from here. Hop there to see the step-by step pictures. I decided to do it microwave thinking it will get done quickly with minimum effort. After around 25 minutes, it did not look like thickening any sooner. So I completed it over stove top. I did not get the red color as in the original recipe. So decided to add some color else it was a pale yellow.

You need

Guava pulp - 1 cup heaped ( Used 3 guavas)
Sugar - 3/4 cup
Lemon juice - 1 tspn
Butter - 2 tspn
Food color (optional) - 3 drops of red+ 1 drop of blue

Method

Preparing the pulp

I used 3 big ripe guavas. Make slit on four sides of the guava. Don't make the slit very deep. Pressure cook the three guavas with a cup of water.  When the guavas cool, cut open them. Scoop the seeds along with some pulp. Keep the seeds separately. Take the pulp into a separate bowl. Strain the seeds along with the cooked water to extract the pulp sticking to the seeds. Use a sieve or a cheese cloth for this. Take all the pulp in a mixer jar and puree it. Add sugar also and blend well.

Take the pureed pulp in a heavy bottomed vessel and cook on a low flame. Half way through the cooking, add lime juice. It helps in setting the cheese faster. When it starts thickening, add butter. Adding butter gives a sheen to the cheese. When the mix comes together and leaves the sides of the vessel, transfer to a greased plate. Spread even. When it is warm, mark slices.

I cooked for around half an hour in the MW. But since it wasn't setting, I thought it is better to cook on stove top so that I know when to stop. I cooked for another 10 minutes on the stove and it was set. If you take a spoon of the mix and it is rollable with your finger, then you can stop. The cheese should be soft, yet firm.

Home Sewer Line and Drain Disaster Prevention

Don't Let Obstruction Lead to Destruction!

Blocked sewer lines and drains can wreak havoc with any home, causing the bath, sink or toilet to back up and fill with waste water and sewage. That's if you're lucky. A really bad blockage can cause your tub, sink or toilet to overflow, ruining floors, rugs and carpets and creating a highly unsanitary situation for all members of your household.

Major drain and sewer line backups and problems are not for the faint of heart. When they occur, you almost always need to call a professional drain cleaning or sewer line company like Horizon Servcices...especially if the blockage is particularly tenacious and a long time in the making.

Build up of scale and rusting, years of accumulated gunk and waste, even invasive plant roots are the major causes of blocked drains and sewer lines. The good news is that with proper usage and maintenance, most drain and sewer line disasters are unnecessary and avoidable. A few sensible precautions can prevent most drain and sewer line blockages from ever occurring.

Just like your car, your home's plumbing and drainage system needs some level of basic regular maintenance to keep it functioning properly. As well as regular checks by yourself, a professional plumbing or drain cleaning specialist should be called in each year to snake your drain lines and keep them clear.

Do-it-yourselfers can often clear minor blockages to sinks, tubs and toilets with a plunger. But the kind of blockage that leads to a back-up situation usually requires much more aggressive means. Special chemicals like acids and other corrosive products can effectively clean drains and clear sewer lines...but they can be very dangerous and destructive to your body, your clothing, your floors and surfaces, even your pipes. Be extremely careful when pouring these corrosive chemicals down drains. Before you try the chemical route, call a drain cleaning or sewer line specialist. Most have tools and techniques ranging from snaking devices to high-powered hydro-jetting that can safely clear almost any obstruction. Companies like Horizon Services even employ state-of-the-art cameras that can identify the cause and pinpoint the exact location of the blockage. Chemicals are used only as a last resort.

Major toilet and tub back-ups will often give you warning signs. Like a volcano or a geyser, toilets and tubs will often make gurgling, bubbling and belching noises several days before they erupt. If your toilets and tubs start doing this, call a drain cleaning or sewer line specialist immediately...they'll clear the obstruction BEFORE you have a messier situation on your hands.

If sewage does start backing up into toilets, sinks and showers, call a drain cleaning or sewer line professional immediately. After making the call, use bleach and water to sanitize any areas that have been affected.

Of course, an ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure. Here are some simple things you should do to prevent any of these drain and sewer line disasters from occurring in the first place:

• Make sure that a strainer is in place in your kitchen sink to stop large, cloggable waste products from getting into pipes, drains and lines.
• Never pour cooking oil or grease down the drain.
• Don’t use too much toilet paper (the main cause of toilets blocking up).
• Don't flush ANYTHING down the toilet besides toilet paper and human waste. This includes tissues, paper towels, baby wipes, sanitary products, cotton balls and hair. Even seemingly harmless products like soap, shampoot and hair gel. All these things can coagulate and block drains and sewer lines.
• Pour boiling water, or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, down drains regularly to help to keep them clear.
  
  

Related Drain and Sewer Line Information from Horizon Services...

• Horizon Drain Cleaning Services
• Horizon Sewer Line Replacement and Repair Services
• Make Sure You're Covered for Sewer Backups
• Keep Your Home Free from Mold and Mildew
• How To Properly Use a Plunger to Unclog a Toilet, Sink or Tub