Each dollar you spend on home insulation pays for itself many times over in reduced energy bills and more comfort. Insulation slows the transfer of heat, a phenomenon that happens continuously. Heat always travels to colder temperatures and insulation slows the transfer regardless of the season. But is your home insulated adequately in the following areas?
Attic
Because attics receive constant exposure to the outdoors, it's important pay special attention to this area. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recommends that homes in our region have levels from 16 to 20 inches in the attic to reduce thermal transfer. Fiberglass batt and loose fill are affordable products that many homeowners find they can install themselves to cut year-round energy bills.
Exterior Walls
The amount of home insulation in exterior walls depends in large part on the thickness of the wall cavity. Although it's more difficult to add insulation to walls, professionals can easily blow in loose fill or expanding foam to increase the amount, then seal the entry holes. However, if your budget forces a trade-off, it's best to install attic insulation first, then deal with the exterior walls.
Basements and Crawl Spaces
Insulating the exterior walls and ceiling in a basement or a crawl space can help your entire home stay more comfortable throughout the year. Because these walls have more exposure to moisture as snow, rain or runoff, you may need to either seal them or use special vapor retardants before adding the insulation. Adding ceiling insulation to floor joists will keep floors warmer and help cut heating costs.
Ductwork
Uninsulated ductwork causes a good deal of thermal transfer from the conditioned air moving through it to the spaces through which the ducts run, unless they're located in interior wall cavities. For maximum energy efficiency, ducts that run through the attic or basement should have adequate insulation. HVAC contractors can seal the ducts and wrap insulation over them to cut year-round conditioning losses by a measurable amount.
The pros at Griffith Energy Services, Inc. can help you with home insulation, along with cutting conditioning bills. We've provided HVAC services for homeowners in the Baltimore region for more than 100 years.
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