Americans spend a lot of money on energy to ensure comfortable living, especially during the cold of winter and heat of summer. To get the most out of the money you spend on heating and cooling, it is important to have sufficient insulation. This will help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer during the cold winter. Here are some tips to get you started but keep in mind that for best results, an energy evaluation is recommended.Â
The majority of energy waste in homes is due to insufficient insulation and air leakage. The good news is that there are steps you can take to properly insulate your home and therefore save money. The first step is to assess where you have adequate insulation, and where you could use more or better insulation. The places most often checked are the attic, walls, basement and under the floor.
The natural next question is “what kind of insulation should I buy?” The answer, of course, is that it depends on a number of different factors, including how much insulation you will need, how accessible the location where you’re putting it, and the availability and price of the insulation itself. If you remember nothing else about buying insulation, remember this, the higher the R-value you purchase, the more effective the insulation will be. The R-value of insulation is calculated by its thickness, density and makeup.
There are various different product types to choose from when selecting insulation. There are blankets, which are usually made from mineral fibers and can be installed by a do-it-yourselfer. Blown-in loose-fill is also an option; this is when loose cellulose, fiberglass or rock wool fibers are professionally blown into areas where they’re needed. Polyisocyanurate and polyurethane foam insulation are mixed and then applied by a professional. Lastly, rigid insulation is created from plastic foam or fibrous materials.
For more expert advice on installation and all your heating and cooling needs, please contact us at Ernst Heating & Cooling. We have proudly been serving the St. Louis region since 1951 and would love to assist you with all your home comfort needs.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Hamel, Alton, Glen Carbon, Highland, Greenville, and Troy, Illinois and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.Â
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