As an Ohio homeowner, you probably already know that insulation is important, but do you know why? Insulation plays a big role in helping you keep your home environment comfortable while also helping you save energy and minimize your monthly heating and cooling bills. Below, we’ll talk a little bit more about insulation and why you need to ensure that you have proper insulation in your Southern Ohio home.
What is Insulation? And How Does It Work?
Your home insulation acts as a barrier to heat flow in your home. This material helps you keep your home more comfortable throughout the year. No matter what type of insulation you use, all materials work the same way. Insulation traps tiny air pockets that slow the movement of heat out of the house in the winter, helping keep your home environment warmer, and it slows the movement of heat into the house during the summer when you are trying to keep your home cooler.
Insulation is rated based on its R-value, which depends on how effective your insulation is at slowing this movement of heat. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation is and the better it will be at helping you lower your energy bills. However, insulation must be installed correctly if you want to reap the full benefits of its R-value, and thus enjoy energy efficiency. Poorly installed insulation can actually make your energy efficiency worse, so it’s important that you hire a professional to ensure that your insulation is installed properly. An insulation professional can also provide guidance on which types of materials are best used to insulate your home based on your home comfort needs and budget.
Where to Insulate in Your Home
Now that you know how insulation works and why it’s vital to energy efficiency, let’s discuss where in your home needs to be insulated for maximum impact. The common areas that the U.S. Department of Energy recommends for insulation are:
- Attic – unfinished attic spaces, attic access door, finished attic rooms, ceilings and cold spaces above attic
- Exterior walls – walls between living spaces, foundation walls above ground level, foundation walls in heated basements
- Floors above cold spaces – vented crawl spaces, unheated garages, slab floors built directly on the ground
- Replacement or Storm windows – caulk and seal cracks and gaps around all windows and doors
- Air Ducts – insulate the air ducts in your home that are in unconditioned spaces
As mentioned before, it’s important that you hire a professional to install any insulation in your home if you want to make sure that your home is properly insulated and you are able to enjoy the full benefits of energy efficiency.
Cincinnati Air Duct Sealing
Not sure if your air ducts are sealed properly? The experienced HVAC team at Hader Solutions provides quality Cincinnati air duct sealing using Aeroseal. Call today to find out how air duct sealing can help you save more money, improve air quality, and optimize your home comfort: (513) 612-9201.
