You don’t want to waste energy keeping your home comfortable. Once air has been heated or cooled, it’s important to try to keep that air in your home for as long as possible for energy efficiency.
One of the best ways to keep conditioned air in your home is to add insulation. With so many types of insulation available, though, it can be difficult to know which type is right for your home. To help you keep your home energy efficient, here are some tips from GVEC Home® regarding choosing and installing insulation.
Main Variables: Location and Cost
Ultimately, there are two main factors that determine what type of insulation is right for your home: location and budget. The location is important because different types of insulation are appropriate for different areas in your home.
For example, if you are planning on installing insulation in your attic, you can choose between cellulose, fiberglass and spray foam insulation. On the other hand, if you want to install insulation in a completed wall, you can choose between spray foam and blown-in cellulose.
Cost is the other main factor in determining which type of insulation you choose. To return to the attic insulation example, the two most popular types are fiberglass and spray foam.
While spray foam insulation tends to result in a more energy-efficient installation, it is also more expensive because of the higher cost of materials and the increased labor required to put it in place. Whichever type of insulation you choose, though, you can be sure that GVEC Home will make it affordable for you.
How Much to Use
The insulating ability is measured in the R-value of the insulation as a whole. For attic insulation, an R-value of at least R-38 is recommended. Spray foam insulation will far exceed this value with a standard installation. On the other hand, the R-value of fiberglass insulation is determined by its depth.
To achieve R-38 with fiberglass insulation, you may need to add from 10 to 14 inches of insulation, depending on what other types of insulation you already have in place. This measurement of insulation is fairly consistent across the other areas in your home.
We Take Pride in Our Work
At GVEC Home, we work hard to make your home comfortable through insulation installation and through the proper upkeep and repair of your HVAC system. We can also perform a home energy audit to determine any areas of weakness that are wasting energy and costing you money. This commitment to your comfort is why we also offer products such as ductless systems and smart thermostats. Call us today at 877.466.5506 for more info about our services.
