Don't Believe Everything You Hear About Home Insulation

Don’t Believe Everything You Hear About Home Insulation

Jul 23, 2015

Insulating your home is one of the most effective ways to lower energy consumption and keep utility bills under control. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misinformation out there that can make it difficult to know exactly how to insulate a home properly. Here we’ll clear up a few of the most common insulation misconceptions you might hear.

Insulating in Warmer Climates Isn’t a Big Deal

Heat naturally migrates to a colder area, so in Florida’s warm climate, it’s trying to flow indoors for most of the year. Insulating the walls, foundation and attic floor helps control that flow of energy. In the warmer months, it can keep heat outside and cut cooling costs by up to 25 percent. During the cooler winter months, insulation helps keep the warmth inside a home and reduces heating costs.

Insulating the Attic Causes Energy Losses Elsewhere

Properly insulating the attic won’t downgrade energy efficiency in other areas that aren’t insulated, like around the windows or through the exterior envelope. To get the full benefit of adding R-value in the attic, insulate the entire house to the levels recommended by the Department of Energy. In our region, that means installing R-13 in the walls and R-49 in the attic.

Adding Insulation Can Solve Air Leaks

Insulation doesn’t stop air infiltration through the home’s envelope, although some types are more effective at slowing it down than others. To see an improvement in efficiency and save on energy costs with insulating, it’s vital to first locate and seal air leaks around doors, windows and shell penetrations, and between the attic and living area.

Only New Homes Can Be Properly Insulated

Today, insulating products are available that work well for older homes that weren’t properly insulated during construction. Blown cellulose and spray-foam are two options that are ideal for upgrading the efficiency of an existing home without the need for interior alterations.

For expert help separating fact from fiction regarding insulation and how it can improve energy efficiency and comfort in your Orlando home, contact Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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