Home Much Difference Can Proper Insulation Make?

Insulating some areas of your home are easier and more cost-effective than others. A home energy audit can help you determine which areas you should insulate first.

Start at the Top: Attic Insulation
The attic is usually easiest to insulate for a single family home, and it’s also where a lot of energy enters and leaves the building.

Types of Attics:
No floor: to add more insulation, place new, un-faced batt insulation perpendicular to existing insulation to cover the joists.

Attic floor: Remove floor before adding insulation. According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, 12 inches of insulation will be cost effective in most climates. Precaution: be careful not to step through the uncovered space into the ceiling below.

Finished attic with cathedral ceiling: Requires removing the roof, installing rigid material, then re-roofing. A contractor should do this and the labor and materials costs may be expensive. Attic insulation in this case may not be as cost effective as other weatherization measures.

No Attic: You can install insulation on the underside of the roof system rather than the floor. Hire a skilled contractor if you choose this option.

Outside In: Insulating Walls
Adding wall insulation is more complex than adding attic insulation, and typically require the skills of a professional contractor. Your home’s walls account for the greatest area of the building’s exterior, so adding wall insulation can be more costly. Consult a home energy auditor or contractor to see if wall insulation is cost-effective for your home.

Types of Walls:
Finished: Loose-fill insulation is a good choice for existing finished walls, as installation does not disturb the existing wall much. Unfinished interior walls: If you’re installing a home addition, you can easily add blanket or batt insulation between the framing studs. Exterior walls: If you’re replacing your home’s exterior siding, consider having a contractor install rigid board insulation.

Bottom Lines: Foundation, Basement & Crawlspace
Up to 20% of the heat in your home may escape through an un-insulated foundation. Insulating around the edge of a slab-on-grade foundation can pay for itself in energy savings within 5 to 10 years. Consider insulating finished or unfinished basements, and crawlspaces as well.

How Much Is Enough?The amount of insulation to install depends on your climate, type of insulation, home construction parameters, fuel type, and energy efficiency goals. Use the U.S.Department of Energy’s (DOE) ZIP-Code Insulation Program and R-value Recommendations to guide you. Or, to get the most accurate recommendation, hire a professional to perform an energy audit on your home.

Helping you save money is our mission. We don’t do insulation, but we can help with AC repair. Give Aaron’s Mechanical Service a call at 623-388-4436 for the right advice on your AC Unit!

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Aaron’s Mechanical Services
623-388-4436
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