New Cross Fish
HVAC Service, Installation And Repair

Blown In Attic insulation

During the summer, infiltration of outdoor heat into the home can cause the air conditioner to work harder, resulting in higher electricity bills. To ensure your home is ready to beat the heat, you should increase your insulation.

What Is Attic Insulation

Temperatures are beginning to climb, leaving some homeowners searching for ways to keep their houses cool and energy costs down. For many people, the solution is simple—improved attic insulation. The non-insulated houses are hotter in summers and colder in winters. Reason? Well, the heat transfers through the attic walls that eventually result in boosting the temperature of the house which makes it hot and humid. At the same time, the heat tends to escape through the attic in winters which leads to the house turn cold in winters.

Insulation is referred with the term R-value. As the R-value of the house will increase, it will reflect the effectiveness of the insulation system. It also relates to the reduced electricity, gas, and water bills. Plus, it also boosts the lifetime of the heating and cooling equipment installed in the house. Whatever money you spend on the initial insulation is repaid within 12-15 months. Moreover, this also provides protection to the attic walls. A well-protected house will not only give you comfort but will also increase the resale value of the property.

Why Is Attic Insulation Important?

Your home’s insulation provides several benefits including moisture and humidity control, ensuring proper ventilation and most importantly for your air conditioning system—heat flow resistance. The more heat flow resistance your insulation provides, the less work your air conditioning system will have to do, and the lower your heating and cooling expenses will be.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for 50-70 percent of the energy used in the average American home, but with improved attic insulation, homeowners can save up to 20 percent on utility costs.

How much insulation does my home need?

The amount of insulating material you will need depends on your climate, type of heating and cooling system and part of the house you are insulating. Insulation is rated in terms of thermal resistance (R-value) which tells you how resistant to heat flow it is. Higher R-values mean greater insulating power.

How Do I Know If My Home Has Proper Insulation?

There are several indicators that your home may need additional attic insulation, but here are a few common signs to watch out for:
Because energy codes have gotten progressively stricter throughout the years, older homes tend to be poorly insulated. If your home is more than 20 years old, you should have it inspected—even if you have not noticed any of these signs of poor insulation.
If you find that some rooms in your home are colder or hotter than others, and those rooms are well ventilated, then the problem is likely poor insulation.
There can be a variety of outside factors that result in a surge in your energy bill from month to month, but if you see a huge increase in the last few years, your insulation may no longer be at optimal levels.