When the weather turns cold, many homeowners start making preparations. When they begin to experience chilly drafts in their home, then they start thinking about their insulation. However, proper insulation is important not only during the cold winter, but also during the heat of summer. It can provide an effective barrier against outdoor temperatures. During the winter, it helps keep cold air from entering your home. When summer comes, it can help keep the heat out.
Of course, it’s not hard to forget about your home’s insulation. This is especially true because insulation is hidden in the attic or behind walls. You know the old adage, “out of sight, out of mind”. It’s much more than a catch phrase in this situation. An attic that has been properly insulated will ensure that the home’s cooling system is protected. It does this by minimizing the amount of wear and tear that is placed on the HVAC equipment. AC and heater equipment work harder when insulation is insufficient. With good insulation, your A/C certainly won’t have to do as much cooling. Spring is a great time to assess the amount of insulation in your attic. Make sure that there is enough to keep it cool during the long hot summer months.
When your attic isn’t properly insulated, you’re just wasting money. You might question why insulate a part of your home that is not used or is only used for storage. The answer is quite simple. Proper ventilation and sufficient insulation are key factors in controlling temperature and moisture levels in your home. This is true regardless of the season.
Heating and cooling your home generally account for approximately half of the energy used in your home. Heated and cooled air escapes through your attic. Therefore, you need to make sure that your attic is properly insulated. You need to check the condition of your insulation. Make sure you have the correct R-Value for your area. If necessary, upgrade accordingly. In many homes, the amount of heated or air conditioned air that escapes through the attic can be as high as 20%. When you upgrade or add to your attic’s insulation, it can help reduce energy costs.
If you want to know if you have sufficient insulation in your attic, you’ll need to check your current insulation for its R-Value. The R-Vale is a measurement of the insulation’s ability to resist heat transfer. You can go up into your attic and check your insulation’s R-Value yourself. However, heating and cooling professionals, who work with insulation on a daily basis, will be able to easily determine this for you. The R-Value of your insulation can decrease if the insulation is old, sparse or even missing in some places.
You should have insulation in your attic with a minimum R-Value rating of 30. If your attic has insulation that is blown-in, then it needs to be a minimum of 8.5 inches covering the floor of your attic. R-Value is a cumulative measure. Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable to install new insulation right over your existing insulation. When you add new insulation, make sure that you also reinforce the insulation around windows, attic doors, and any other openings.
At the same time that you are evaluating your current insulation, be sure to inspect your home’s ductwork. Consider wrapping your ducts when they are not wrapped with insulation. This helps with reducing loss from your air conditioner and heating system.
When you perform these simple measures, you’ll be able to significantly reduce your home’s energy bills during both the summer as well as the winter. Additionally, you’ll get even more benefit from taking these steps because your HVAC system will not have to work so hard. This can help ensure maximum life expectancy from your equipment. This is another excellent way to save money. Of course, it can also reduce unnecessary repairs. If you’re ready to go above these measures, schedule an annual air conditioning tune up for your HVAC system. This is an important part of air conditioner maintenance.
When you need air conditioning services or heating services, be sure to call the professionals at Ace-Robbins. Our HVAC contractors are certified and therefore, have the skills that are required to make your home more energy efficient and comfortable. Be sure to give us a call today to discuss your home heating or cooling needs with one of our specialists.
We service Dallas PA 18612, Duryea PA 18642, Kingston PA 18704, Lehman PA 18627, Luzerne PA 18709, Pittston PA 18640, Plymouth PA 18651, Shavertown PA 18708, Wilkes Barre PA 18701, Wyoming PA 18644, and surrounding areas.
Contact us today or give us a call at (570) 836-3232 if you have any questions.
