With hot summers and often brutally cold winters, proper insulation can be integral to the comfort levels in your Minneapolis home. Comfort isn’t the only thing that appropriate insulation affects, though. Did you know that upgrading your insulation can not only give you a great return on investment for the value it adds to your home but save you money on your month to month heating and cooling bills as well?
What is Home Insulation and How Does it Work?
Home insulation is made to reduce the transfer of heat into and out of the home. It does this by trapping tiny pockets of air to slow down the movement of heat. There are two important factors that should be considered when looking at insulation: heat flow and R-value.
Heat Flow
As the name would suggest, heat flow is the flow of heat into and out of the home. Heat flow happens virtually everywhere, but there are several places where it is more common, including:
- Basements
- Windows
- Ceilings
- Floors
- Attics
R-Value
The R-value is, very simply, the measurement of heat flow resistance. This is a standardized value that is used to rate insulation and describes how well a particular insulation system resists heat flow. A higher R-value indicates better heat flow resistance.
Do You Need New Insulation?
Did you know that the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association estimates that around 90% of single-family homes in the United States are under-insulated? Imagine the heat loss that could mean during a bitterly cold Minneapolis winter! While most homes have some form of insulation, the vast majority do not have enough insulation or a high enough R-value in their existing insulation. The older your home is, the less likely it is to be adequately insulated.
New Insulation Can Save You Money
When you consider that around 90% of homes in the United States are under-insulated, there’s a good chance that your home falls in that category. It’s worth having your home inspected by an insulation professional like Prominent Construction in Minneapolis to assess the level of insulation in your home and the ways upgrading your insulation could save you money.
Heating and Cooling Costs
The US Department of Energy estimates that nearly 50% of a home’s energy bills will be spent on heating and cooling the home, and the Environmental Protection Agency states that homeowners can save, on average, up to 15% of the costs by adding or upgrading insulation in vulnerable areas of the home. Some of the most common areas of the home that are chronically under-insulated and can help save money are:
- Attics
- Crawl Spaces
- Rim Joists
- Basements
HVAC Maintenance
Poor insulation means that your HVAC system will have to work double time to heat and cool your home. This obviously increases your energy bills, but it also takes a toll on the HVAC system itself with excessive wear and tear. When your HVAC system is working overtime to maintain a comfortable temperature for the home it will wear out faster which will require regular repairs and earlier replacement.
Return on Investment
An added benefit of upgrading the insulation in your home is the excellent return on investment that it offers. New or upgraded insulation can make Minneapolis homeowners eligible for various tax incentives, and, studies suggest that homeowners can expect to at least break even on an investment in new insulation when they sell their homes.
Is it Time to Upgrade Your Insulation?
It’s always a good idea to have your insulation inspected if you haven’t upgraded or replaced it in recent memory. Re-insulating your Minneapolis home is an effective way to reduce energy waste and lower your heating and cooling bills while making your home more comfortable for you and your family. If you think your Minneapolis home could use new insulation, call Prominent Construction, today, to schedule a free estimate.
