Colder weather is on the way here in South Central Texas, so now’s the time to get your home ready. During colder months, a lack of insulation can allow warm air from your heating system to leak out and colder air from outdoors to get into your home. (In summer, insufficient insulation can lead to a reversal of this problem, with cold air leaking from the home and warm air seeping in.) With this blog, we aim to help homeowners better understand the types of insulation available for their homes in anticipation of coming winter weather.

Blanket Insulation

Blanket insulation—which is also called batt insulation or roll insulation—is usually made of fiberglass, plastic, mineral wool or natural fibers. This kind of insulation is used in unfinished spaces, such as attics. Blanket insulation is also a good choice for walls and foundations.

Loose Fill or Blown-In Insulation

Loose-fill insulation, also known as blown-in insulation, may be made of fiberglass, natural fibers or mineral wool. This insulation type is a good choice for hard-to-reach areas and for adding extra insulation to a space that needs additional protection against leaks of inside air and intrusion of outside air. Loose-fill insulation can be blown into cavities, such as finished and exterior walls.

Rigid Foam Insulation

Rigid foam insulation is a good choice for unfinished areas. This type of insulation has a low bulk. It can be used on walls, floors and foundations. It’s also a good choice for low-slope roofs.

Sprayed Foam Insulation

Sprayed foam insulation is a smart way to insulate existing enclosed walls and new wall cavities. It also works well in small, hard-to-reach areas. It can be used on unfinished attic floors, irregularly shaped areas and areas that have obstructions, such as around plumbing vents, flues and chimneys.

Insulation Requirements for South Central Texas

Cuero, Cibolo, Geronimo, Gonzales, Hickory Forest, La Vernia, McQueeney, New Berlin, New Braunfels, Stockdale, Schertz, York Creek, Seguin and other areas in or around GVEC’s service territory are located in Zone 2 of the Department of Energy’s recommended R values. These ratings take into account our area’s year-round climate, meaning they are well adapted for both winter and summertime weather in South Central Texas. The DOE recommends that home insulation in our region should have R-13 to R-15 values for walls, R-13 to R-25 values for floors, R-22 to R-38 values for cathedral ceilings and R-30 to R-60 for attics.

Over 50 Years Serving Guadalupe Valley HVAC Needs

Since 1968, GVEC has been a trusted provider of heating and air conditioning repair, maintenance, installation and replacement services throughout the Guadalupe Valley and surrounding areas. If you’re needing insulation in some part of your home to get better prepared for winter or think you might give us a call at 877.466.5506. We also offer a free home energy audit for GVEC members that will help uncover any areas in your home that might benefit from extra insulating. But our free energy audit doesn’t stop there. We’ll conduct a thorough inspection of your home’s energy usage. Afterward, our energy solutions specialist will review the audit’s findings, detailing with your home’s energy-usage strengths and weaknesses and areas needing improvement.

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