Your home’s insulation is probably not something you think about on a regular basis. However, when it’s time for an upgrade or a replacement of your insulation, it’s something you’ll definitely feel either physically or financially.
In this article, we will go over how you can not only make your home more physically comfortable during any season, but how this insulation fix can also make your home much more energy-efficient.
What Is Insulation?
Insulation is a material that is installed in parts of your home to help keep your home’s temperature steady. No matter what type of insulation material you choose for your home — fiberglass, polystyrene, spray-in, loose-fill — it has one job: to reduce how much heat is transferred into or out of your home.
Insulation traps tiny pockets of air in order to slow down the movement of heat out of your house in the winter and summer. If insulation is installed correctly, you can measure how much your insulation is resisting the transfer of heat.
Signs You Need Your Insulation Replaced
Insulation is not necessarily on a strict timetable, where you know you will need to replace it after so many years. Instead, you’ll notice a few signs in the way your home is feeling or running. If you notice any of the following in your home, it might be time to look into replacing your insulation.
-
Temperature Changes Between Rooms
If all things are working as they should and your insulation is still in top shape, there should be little if any variation in the temperature from room to room in your house. However, if there’s a noticeable difference between rooms, it’s a good indication that your home needs to be reinsulated.
-
Cold Drafts
Despite what watching scary movies may have taught you, feeling cold drafts in your house isn’t a sign of the supernatural. Instead, when you feel that cool breeze, chances are you are experiencing a lack of insulation around gaps in doors and window frames. Sealing off these gaps with insulation should take care of them.
-
Heating and Cooling Systems Running Constantly
Do you notice that your AC or heating system is constantly running? Is there a drastic change in your indoor temperature quickly after turning your HVAC system off? If you said yes to either of these, chances are that your insulation isn’t working efficiently as it’s designed to regulate a balanced temperature in your home no matter what the weather outside.
-
Increased Energy Costs
This one will hit you right where it hurts — the wallet. Increased energy costs are a surefire way to gauge the efficiency of your home’s insulation. Most companies offer monthly comparisons of usage and costs, which will give you an easy way to check if your cost is increasing. If you’re using your heating and cooling system more than you usually do, it’s usually so that it can maintain the temperature of your home. This is a good sign that your insulation is due for a replacement.
What Type of Insulation Is Best?
Every type of insulation will have its “R-Value Per Inch” clearly marked. This measurement means the resistance to heat transfer that that particular insulation provides. If you’re insulating a tight space such as a wall cavity, it’s important to have a high R-Value so that you get the most bang for your buck. If you have a bigger space to fill, such as an attic or under flooring, you can use a lower R-Value since you can have thicker layers.
Not sure how much insulation you should be using? Use the U.S. Department of Energy’s website to see their recommendations based on your geographic location and its climate.
How Insulation Can Help Lower Your Energy Costs
Don’t think of upgrading or replacing your insulation as an added expense. Think of it as an investment. New insulation will not only increase the comfort of your home in all seasons, but it will also save you money in the long run. With your heating and cooling system running normally and not having to work overtime, you will save on energy expenses. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the average homeowner could save as much as 15% on energy costs. Homeowners in colder climates could see as much as 20% savings.
Are you ready to start saving money on your monthly energy bill but not sure where to start? Our team at Dependable Home Services has you covered. Contact one of our experts today to discuss your insulation needs so that we can help get you on the road to energy efficiency in no time.