Proper insulation can keep heating bills from soaring
Insulation plays an important role in keeping your house cool in summer and warm in winter. But because of its passive nature, it’s easy to forget that it needs to be maintained from time to time. As you move into the coldest part of winter, don’t overlook the role of insulation in preserving the heat you’re spending so much money to pump into your house.
According to the EPA’s Energy Star program, adequate insulation is one of the most cost-saving projects you can undertake. Proper insulation and weatherstripping can reduce your heating costs by 20 percent. Two-thirds of homes in the United States don’t have proper insulation.
Large ice dams on the roof or large icicles hanging from the overhang of your house are an early sign that your insulation isn’t performing properly. Icicles and ice dams form because heat is escaping your house through the ceiling, melting snow and ice, which then refreezes on the roof or overhangs.
The attic is often a culprit in the insulation problem — if you can see the studs, it’s not insulated enough. But don’t underestimate how much you might be losing in your walls, either. A professional home energy audit can help determine where you’re losing heat.
Insulation is not a DIY job; many factors affect what goes into where and how insulation needs to be installed. When you hire an insulation professional, ask what professional certifications they hold. You can also look into a preferred or participating contractor for your home energy provider. A qualified contractor will know what energy rebates you can take advantage of for the type of insulation you use.
A typical insulation project will cost $1,500 yo $5,000, depending on the size and age of your house and how much old insulation needs to be replaced.
Insulation comes in many forms. The most common type is fiberglass, which is the least expensive and easiest to install. Spray foam insulation is effective in enclosed walls, new wall cavities and unfinished attic floors. Cellulose insulation is a loose-fill material made from recycled paper. It’s environmentally friendly, but it needs to be replaced every five years because it absorbs moisture over time.
Insulation is measured by R-value, which indicates both its durability and effectiveness of guarding against heat penetration. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation. For most attics, Energy Star recommends an R-value of R-38, which offers about 12 to 15 inches of padding. An R-value of 49 may be recommended
Your windows represent one of the biggest sources of energy loss during the winter. In fact, adding insulating window film can help retain up to 55 percent of your home’s heat during the winter.
But you want to do more than just duct-tape plastic over your windows. Your best bet is to purchase window film and a window insulation kit, which shouldn’t cost you more than $30. Installing it involves stretching the plastic over the window, then using a hair dryer to shrink and seal the plastic around the edges, rendering it airtight against leaks.
This quick fix can save energy and money, but if you’re losing a lot of heat through your windows, consider hiring a professional window replacement company to permanently solve the problem.