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Insulation Check Up for Seasons Change

The seasons change and that means it’s time to check the insulation levels in the house. Insulation is important whether it is to keep the cold or heat, in or out.

Lower Your Utility Bills
Proper insulation will keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Installing some insulation in your home will improve the performance of the air conditioner and furnace. This will help you to save you money on your utility bills throughout the year.

Quieter
Insulation absorbs noise and the sounds of household appliances.

Increase Energy Efficiency
The type of home you have will dictate the type of insulation you need, and where you need it. You will need to use higher R-value insulation, such as spray foams, on exterior walls and in cathedral ceilings to get more insulation with less thickness. Make sure you are using formaldehyde-free products to maintain a healthy environment.

Do You Have Enough Insulation?
To find out if you have enough attic insulation, measure the thickness of the insulation. If it is than R-30 (11 inches of fiberglass or rock wool or 8 inches of cellulose) you should probably add more. If the attic is properly sealed and you have enough insulation, but the house still feels drafty and cold in the winter or too hot in the summer, then you may need to add insulation to the exterior walls. This is more expensive and will require a contractor.

Insulate Additional Areas
Install attic barriers such as wind baffles along the entire attic eave to help ensure proper airflow from the soffit to the attic. Ventilation helps with moisture control and reducing summer cooling bills, but do not ventilate your attic if you have insulation on the underside of the roof. To avoid a fire hazard, be careful how close you place insulation next to a recessed light fixture – unless it is IC (insulation contact) rated. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for insulation and wear protective gear when installing insulation. You may also need to add insulation to the crawl space or basement. Check with a contractor for recommendations. If you are handy, you can save yourself a bundle of money by installing the insulation yourself.