Heat is one of the most powerful forces in the universe and it constantly moves to cooler temperatures. It’s the role of insulation to slow its progress. In the summer, heat moves through your home’s envelope to the cooler temperatures indoors, and without enough insulating materials, it moves rapidly.
In this region, the attic should be insulated to an R-value of 38 to 60, or 16 to 20 inches of fiberglass or cellulose. The “R” stands for resistance, and the number following it indicates how many hours the product resists heat transfer. Adequately insulated walls also help cut heat gain and loss indoors. Homes should have a wall R-value of at least 13, or three inches.
Troubleshooting
If your cooling and heating bills seem higher than they should be or you have uncomfortable rooms, the attic or walls may be inadequately insulated. Even if they appear to have adequate amounts, air gaps or water-damaged materials lower their ability to resist heat transfer.
Inspecting the attic will reveal the condition and quantity of the insulating products. Look for compressed or moldy areas of insulating materials. Loose insulation may shift over time, leaving some areas with less than others.
Taking a face plate off an electrical outlet on an exterior wall shows the amount and type of insulating product in the walls. Before removing the cover, turn off its circuit breaker to prevent electrical shocks.
Finding Solutions
Increasing the amount of insulation is a fairly straight-forward process that some homeowners do themselves. Walls are more difficult to retrofit, but professionals can blow loose fiberglass or cellulose inside, or use foam products that expand.
Foam costs more, but it has a higher R-value per inch than any other kind of insulating material, and it eliminates air gaps between the walls and the joists that contribute to thermal bridging, which is another way heat readily moves between the inside and outside.
Adequate insulation is key to maintaining an energy efficient home that costs less to cool and is consistently more comfortable year-round. To learn more, contact Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning, serving Lorain area homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area