The summer months are filled with fun — warmer weather and festive holidays like the Fourth of July. But as the seasons change, the temperatures cool, and the thermostat gets cranked up to keep your house warm. This also means that you see increased energy bills.
The U.S. Department of Energy reports that 49% of a home’s energy bill is spent on heating and cooling. And one of the main reasons your energy bills might spike during winter is that your home isn’t adequately insulated.
This article will discuss the importance of proper home insulation.
Home insulation provides resistance to heat flow and lowers your heating and cooling costs. It can be made up of many different types of materials, including fiberglass, polystyrene, and mineral wool, and applied using spray-in foam, loose-fill, or rolls of batting. The right type of insulation will depend on your home and its needs.
The way insulation works is typically straightforward. It traps tiny pockets of air to slow the movement of heat into the house during summer and out of the house in the winter. The “R-value” is a measurement used to determine how well your insulation works. The higher the number, the better your insulation resists heat transfer and is energy efficient.
Data from the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) shows that over 90% of single-family homes in the United States are under-insulated. This means there’s a high chance that your house needs insulation work, and homes built before 1960 are highly vulnerable.
One of the best ways to determine if your insulation is at the standard is by evaluating your existing insulation, focusing on its type and thickness. You’ll then want to compare its R-value to the U.S. Department of Energy’s recommendations for your area.
You can do this by looking at any unfinished walls or ceilings in your home to see if they are insulated, and also remove electrical outlet covers to feel around the surrounding wall cavity.
It’s also important to know the signs of poor home insulation. These include:
If you don’t know how to look for these signs yourself, you can call a professional home energy auditor to come and conduct a home inspection and insulation check.
When it comes to installing insulation, you’ll want to place it in the space between and over the floor joists to protect the living areas below. It should also be placed in all exterior walls, walls between the home and unheated spaces (such as an attached garage), and floors above unheated spaces (like crawlspaces). You’ll also want to seal off any drafts around the windows and door frames or your dryer vent or fireplace.
Whether you're concerned with reducing energy bills, improving home comfort, protecting your home, or enhancing indoor air quality, upgrading your insulation is a wise investment.
At St. Louis Insulation, we're dedicated to providing premium comfort and energy efficiency
services for St. Louis area homeowners––especially those with older homes. Don't wait until your current insulation fails to book your insulation consultation. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.