With winter on the way, it’s important to do everything you can now to reduce your heating costs when the colder temperatures strike. A cost-effective insulation strategy will help you do just that without having to sacrifice any of the comfort you’re used to.
Insulation helps prevent heat from transferring in and out of your home and should be installed in your basement, crawlspaces, walls, ceilings and attic. The U.S. Department of Energy has official recommendations for how much insulation you should use depending on where you live. You can use this map to determine what’s right for our location. The R-values they refer to measure how effectively the insulation blocks heat transfer.
Every home is different and has different insulation needs. Here are the four most popular types of insulation and the scenarios they’re ideal for:
- Roll and batts (aka blankets): This is the most popular type of insulation and the kind that comes to most people’s minds when insulation is brought up. Made from various mineral fibers, it’s appropriate for many situations including insulating ducts, rim joists and wall studs.
- Rigid foam insulation: More expensive than blankets but similar in application, this takes up much less space. Its concentrated strength makes it ideal for areas that don’t have much space for insulation.
- Loose-fill insulation: This is ideal for hard-to-access spaces because it has to be blown in using special equipment.
- Foam-in-place insulation: This also has to be blown in but efficiently keeps drafts from entering your home.
Ventilation in spaces where you have insulation is also important as it can help prevent moisture from accumulating, which may cause a number of problems. Make sure insulation does not block spots that are supposed to create ventilation such as the soffits in your attic.
For help devising a cost-effective insulation strategy that’s ideal for your home, contact Donald P. Dick Air Conditioningtoday. We will help you stay warm and energy efficient all winter long. We have proudly served the San Joaquin Valley for almost 40 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers 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.
Donald P Dick Air Conditioning services the greater Fresno area in California. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!
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