A properly insulated home can make or break your comfort levels in Fishers and it can also make or break your budget. Home insulation plays a big role in what you’re spending on heating and cooling costs. Upgrading the insulation in your home offers an excellent return on your investment in both the long and short term, making it a fantastic choice for any homeowner.
What is Home Insulation and How Does it Work?
There are many types of home insulation, but all of them are products that are created to reduce the transfer of heat into and out of the home by trapping tiny pockets of air to slow down the movement of heat.
Heat Flow
Heat flow, as the name might suggest, is the flow of heat into and out of the home. While heat flow happens virtually everywhere, some of the common areas of the home for excessive heat flow are:
- Basements
- Floors
- Ceilings
- Attics
- Windows
- Doors
R-Value
The R-value of insulation is a standardized measurement that is used to measure the insulation by describing how well the insulation system resists heat flow. Insulation that has a higher R-value has better heat flow resistance which means it’s higher quality insulation.
How Do I Know If I Need New Insulation?
To state facts, it’s statistically likely that anyone reading this either needs new insulation or upgraded insulation. The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association estimates that around 90% of single-family homes in the United States are under-insulated. Almost all homes have some form of insulation, but the older a home is the more likely the insulation in the home isn’t adequate. While Fishers residents benefit from the fact that the median age of a home in Fishers is only 18 years, so their homes likely had appropriate insulation when they were built, it’s important to remember that insulation degradation can begin after around 15 years and insulation should be replaced every 20-30 years. That means that the majority of homes in Fishers are coming up on needing some kind of insulation replacement or upgrade.
Money Saving Benefits of New Insulation
While it may seem like a bummer that your home likely needs new insulation, you can rest easy knowing that it’s a worthwhile investment that can save you money over time.
Heating and Cooling Costs
The US Department of Energy estimates that close to half of a home’s energy bills will be spent on heating and cooling the home, and the Environmental Protection Agency reports that the average homeowner can save up to 15% on those expenses by adding insulation to heat flow vulnerable areas of the home like:
- Basements
- Attics
- Crawlspaces
- Rim Joists
HVAC Maintenance
Not only will you find yourself spending extra money on your heating and cooling costs with a poorly insulated home, but you’ll find that your HVAC system will have to work overtime to keep your home comfortable. This excessive running of the system will take a big toll on the HVAC system itself which will lead to excessive maintenance needs and early replacement.
Return on Investment
Studies show that Fishers residents can expect to receive an excellent return on investment when they install new insulation in their homes – it’s estimated that homeowners can expect to break even on their investment when they sell their homes. New insulation also has the added benefit of eligibility for tax incentives that can lead to even greater savings.
Should You Upgrade Your Insulation?
Having your insulation inspected is always a good idea even if you aren’t sure that you need new insulation. Re-insulating your Fishers’ home is an effective method of lowering your heating and cooling costs, reducing energy waste, and keeping your home more comfortable. If you think your home needs new insulation, call 3 Kings Roofing and Construction in Fishers, today, to see how we can help!
