Homeowners often don’t think about whether the insulation in their homes is sufficient until temperatures start to drop and chilly drafts suddenly appear. Proper insulation, however, is essential in summer as well as winter. It provides a barrier to exterior temperatures. In the winter, it prevents cold air from infiltrating your home. In the summer, it keeps heat out.
It’s easy to forget about insulation because it’s hidden behind walls or up in the attic. Out of sight, out of mind is more than just a catch phrase here. An attic that is properly insulated will place less wear and tear on your home’s central air conditioner. It won’t have to run as often. Spring is the ideal time to assess whether your attic has sufficient insulation to keep you properly cooled during the hot summer months ahead.
Why Insulate The Attic?
If your attic has little or no insulation, you’re throwing money away. You may ask, though, “why you should insulate an area of your home that no one uses or is for storage purposes only?”. Proper ventilation and insulation in your attic plays a key role in controlling the moisture and temperature levels in your home, no matter what time of year it is.
Heating and cooling usually accounts for about half of your home’s energy bill. Most heating and cooling loss occurs through your attic. So, it makes sense to install insulation if none currently exists. You can also check the condition and R-Value of what is already there and upgrade accordingly. For many homes, as much as 20% of your heated or cooled air can escape through the attic. Adding to or upgrading your attic’s insulation will help tighten your home’s building envelope and reduce energy costs.
Check The R-Value Of Existing Insulation
The best way to determine whether your attic has sufficient insulation is to check the R-Value of your current insulation. The R-Value measures the material’s ability to resist the transfer of heat. You can check the R-Value yourself. However, professionals work with these material’s daily and can easily determine how resistant your insulation is. R-Values also decrease when insulation is sparse, old, or even missing.
Your attic should have insulation with a minimum R-Value of 30. If you have blown-in insulation, there needs to be at least 8.5 inches of material covering the attic floor. R-Value is cumulative. Therefore, you can install new insulation over existing material. At the same time, make sure to reinforce insulation around attic doors, windows, and other openings.
While you are evaluating your insulation, take a look at your home’s ductwork. If the ductwork runs through the attic and is not wrapped in insulation, consider wrapping the ductwork to further aid your HVAC system.
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By performing these measures, you’ll significantly reduce your energy bills in the summer and in the winter. You’ll also get an additional benefit out of doing this. Because your system won’t have to work as hard, it will last longer. This saves you even more money. It prevents unnecessary repairs. To go above and beyond, make sure that you schedule your annual air conditioning tune-up. This is a vital component to air conditioner maintenance.
Princeton Heating & Air Conditioning has been serving the residents of New Jersey since the 1960s. We have been in the industry, providing excellent heating and cooling services. We also offer additional services outside of HVAC, including heating oil delivery and much more. Be sure to give us a call to schedule an appointment. Our certified contractors can find affordable ways to reduce your home’s cooling costs. We also can do this while making your home feel much more comfortable.
We service Englishtown NJ 07726, Freehold NJ 07728, Helmetta NJ 08828, Marlboro NJ 07746, Monroe Township NJ 08831, Morganville NJ 07751, Perrineville NJ 08535, Spotswood NJ 08884, Tennent NJ 07763, Wickatunk NJ 07765, and surrounding towns in New Jersey.
Contact us now at (800) 253-9001 to find out more!