Will Vinyl Siding Save Me AC Money?

Wow, there is a loaded question if I have ever read one.  So you have been approached to add vinyl siding to your home. Let’s take it even farther you are considering some type of new siding for your home.  You want to know if it will save money on your energy bills, Right?

At first the answer must be a great big maybe.  The R value of your existing home must be known and how drafty your home is.  A well sealed and well insulated home will use less electricity than one that is not well sealed and well insulated.

Many older homes would benefit from added insulation regardless of the new siding used. Putting the insulation inside the wall cavity is the best way to do it and is more than likely the most expensive way to do it.

Many companies use a three-quarter to one inch thick foam insulation under the siding. Yes, this will increase the R value of your walls and if the home is not unusually drafty that will lower your utility bills.  But what you have to understand it will be a percentage of your bill and we aren’t talking 50% or even 33%.  At best the savings will be in the 10% range.  The siding material itself will have little effect on the insulating properties. 

If you are siding a home that is completely uninsulated the savings might reach 15%.  Keep in mind that the normal culprit to heat loss and gain is through the roof and ceiling insulation or lack there-of. 

Typically older houses were built with poor levels of insulation. As insulation ages, it compresses, becoming less effective at preventing heat transfer. Dust and moisture also contribute to the aging process in insulation. For areas with extreme heat like Phoenix, it is cost-effective to increase the insulation up to R-42.

With proper insulating materials here are the thicknesses vs the normal R values.
3 inches = R-9 
6 inches = R-19 
10 inches = R-30 
13 inches = R-42

Blowing in a foot of fresh new insulation in your attic may be the cost effective insulation you could possibly do.

If you have single pane windows you may get more insulation factor by changing windows vs re-siding your home’s walls.  The materials of your walls and the size of the window need to be factored into this decision.

Tune-ups and maintenance on your air conditioner is an excellent way to reduce you cost of operation without resorting to rebuilding your home.  A new more efficient Air Conditioner (measured by the SEER rating) is another cost effective consideration.

Presented by;
Aaron’s Mechanical Service
623-388-4436
info@aaronsmechanicalservice.com
http://aaronsmechanicalservice.com