For many of us, insulation in your home is usually associated with home heating.
But proper insulation also works to keep your home cool in the summer. A well-insulated home keeps the cooled air from your air conditioning system inside your home. The A/C doesn’t have to work as hard, or as often, to keep your home cool and comfortable. That lowers your energy costs and reduces wear and tear on your air conditioning system.
Adding insulation to your attic not only makes your home more energy-efficient, it’s also a great investment as you may recoup 80% (or more!) of your investment when it comes to adding to your home’s value.
We’ve put together some important information for you as you look into this more.
Your first thought when it comes to insulation is likely the fiberglass insulation that comes in rolls at the home improvement store. But there are many different kinds of insulation. Your choices include rigid foam, loose blown-in insulation, spray foam, and structural insulated panels. Some kinds of insulation can be an easy DIY installation, while others may need to be professionally installed. Read this guide from the U.S. Department of Energy to get more details.
The R-value of your insulation measures the resistance of heat flow through the insulation. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation is. The R-value you need depends on where you live, as this map from the Department of Energy shows. Here in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and southern Maine, you’ll need to add insulation with an R-value of between R38 and R49 if you already have 3 to 4 inches of insulation in the attic. If your attic is uninsulated, the R-value of the insulation you install should be between R49 and R60.
P. Gagnon & Son has home heating, cooling, and comfort equipment that can help you reduce your energy costs. Contact us today to find out more. We offer FREE estimates on new equipment!