Let’s face it – if you don’t have the proper amount of insulation in your home, you’re simply wasting lots of money on heating and cooling costs. But now that we got that out of the way, how much insulation do you actually need? Well, it depends on a number of factors including the environment around where your home is located as well as the construction of your home and a few other things.
How Does Insulation Work?
Put simply, insulation works to resist heat flow which will help lower your heating and cooling costs. Diving in a bit deeper, insulation works by slowing conductive heat flow (which is the way heat moves through materials). The type of insulation and the amount used determines the amount of heat gained and lost from your house.
What Is R-Value?
When trying to figure out how much insulation you need in your home, it’s vital to understand R-value. R-value is a measure of an insulating material’s resistance to conductive heat flow – in other words, the high the R-value, the more effective the insulation.
How Much Insulation Do I Need?
It all depends on your geographic location and the construction of your home. For instance, here in the Detroit metro area, insulation with a rating of R49 – R60 is recommended for an uninsulated attic, but if there is already 3-4 inches of existing insulation, you can get away with adding R38 – R49. In the floors, R25 – R30 is recommended.
Need help determining the type or amount of insulation you need to add to your home in order to save money on heating and cooling bills? Give the experts at Levine & Sons a call today! 1-888-538-4631.
