View SpecialsBy ensuring proper home insulation, you’re able to stay comfortable all year long and save anywhere from 10 to 50 percent on your heating and cooling costs. The actual amount you save is dependent on where you live, what type of HVAC unit you have, and how much insulation you install.
Insulation Tips and Key Facts About Heat
Heat is attracted to cold areas, even more so on Dallas’ hot summer days.
Insulation R-value indicates the amount of time that insulation is able to resist heat. For example, R-13 resists heat for 13 hours.
Attic insulation should have higher heat resistances to handle rising heat.
Floor insulation should have the next highest R-value in order to avoid heat transfer between levels of your home.
Wall insulation requires the lowest insulation resistance: a minimum of R-5.
How to Determine the Home Insulation You Need
The first step in determining the insulation your home needs is to research the recommended amount of insulation for your community. Then, subtract the R-value of the insulation that’s already in your home. Use Home Energy Saver’s online energy audit tool for help.
Now, you must decide how you want to insulate. If you have an attic, you have the option of adding insulation to the floor, on top of what’s already there, or installing the insulation against your roof. The latter method is especially effective if cooling and heating ducts pass through your attic or if you live in a humid climate (like Dallas) and want to eliminate a musty attic odor.
Of your material choices, a blanket-type one is easiest to work with, but loose-fill cellulose and fiberglass seal crevices more effectively. Foam polyurethane sprayed on the top of your roof also works by molding to the rafters and helping to block water vapor.
When insulating your main floors, try to add extra insulation to your stud bays. Here, polyurethane foam insulates twice as well as loose-fill fiberglass, cellulose or rock wool. However, if your existing insulation is of another type, it’s not cost-effective to go with this foam, as it’s not meant to be used in conjunction with other types of insulation.
It’s also important to note that wall insulation costs roughly a third less than floor insulation. And, speaking of costs, what does such an operation run a homeowner?
The Cost of Home Insulation
Here are the standard costs to review:
- $1.25per square foot for loose fiberglass, cellulose or rock wool
- $4.40 per square foot for polyurethane foam
- $1 per square foot to have a professional blow in material
- $1,500 to upgrade an attic from R-11 to R-49 if you hire a professional
- Save about $600 by doing the upgrade on your own
Money-Saving Insulation Tips
Considering the cost to keep cool in Dallas, it always helps to know how to reduce your utility expenses. Here are five tips for keeping your money in your pocket:
- Seal air leaks before installing insulation so it’s more effective.
- Within reason, the more insulation you add, the more money you save on utility costs.
- Insulate your attic yourself to cut costs by 60 percent.
- Don’t forget about your basement: It loses up to 30 percent of your energy.
- Leverage federal tax credits and save up to $500 on the cost of materials.
If you’re interested in learning more about keeping your family comfortable in the heat of summer, click here to download a free copy of Your Ultimate Home Comfort Checklist. Or, contact the On Time Experts today to speak with your very own Comfort Consultant.
Call: 469-336-3435
