In this heat, it can be difficult to imagine cooler temperatures. But autumn is on its way. Are you ready for fall? As you’re probably aware, improving the insulation in your home can reduce your cooling costs during the summer. However, you can also take advantage of energy savings this fall and winter by checking your home’s insulation and adding or addressing it where necessary.
Heat transfer happens when two regions, for example your house and the outdoors, have different temperatures. Insulation slows the process of heat transferring indoors (or outdoors in the winter), helping to preserve your indoor comfort. Since heating and cooling account for 38 percent of energy costs, inadequate insulation and air leaks account for the greatest energy loss. If you need to replace or add to your insulation, you should know what to buy. The U.S. Department of Energy assigns an R-value, which indicates a preferred thickness of insulation depending on where you live. In Yuma, it’s R-38, or 16 inches of insulation, for maximum energy efficiency.
There are several different types of insulation, including these common varieties:
- fiberglass
- cellulose
- rock fill
All have their respective strengths and weaknesses, and can be good choices depending on the situation. Foam insulation is another option. However, open-cell foams tend to have a lower R-value, so closed-cell foams are preferred in our area where a lot of thermal resistance is required during our intense summers. The good news is that you have a lot of flexibility. You can place loose fill on top of whatever insulation you already have. The only caveat is that if you plan to place fiberglass on top of loose fill, you should make sure it has no paper or foil backing. And if you do choose to add loose fill, a popular choice these days, it may be best to hire a professional to ensure the job is done correctly.
Whenever you’re looking for expert advice about anything related to the comfort of your home, please contact us at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company. We have been serving the Yuma area since 1952.
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Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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