When most homeowners think of insulation, they don’t realize that it is just as important in summer as it is for winter. If your insulation is insufficient, your energy bills are far higher than they need to be. Your home is also far less comfortable than it could be.
Call the local insulation experts at Ambient Edge at (702) 723-4704. We can help make your home more livable, cut your energy bills, and ensure your heated and air-conditioned air stays inside your house, instead of leaking away.
Insulation Can Lower Your Energy Bill
If you’re like the typical American homeowner, you pay more than $2,000 per year for your energy bills. More than half of each bill goes toward heating, cooling, and your water heater, according to the EnergyStar program.
Fortunately, these costs can also be incredibly easy and cost-effective to significantly cut. Furnaces and air conditioners are a must-have when you live in Las Vegas, so your home is likely working the HVAC system pretty hard.
HVAC systems are workhorses, designed for heavy usage with proper maintenance. However, if, when you turn on your air conditioner, the air you’re cooling leaks from your home, that’s a big waste. Likewise, when cold air seeps in from outside and you’re turning up the heat, your home is not staying comfortable or working for you.
The solution is often quite simple: More insulation and/or insulation better suited to specific locations in your home.
Insulation Installation Basics
Right now, you’re probably thinking, “I have insulation in my home, I don’t think insulation is my problem.” Insulation mats down and thins out over time. Also, different types of insulation are effective in different spaces in your home.
When you have cracks or air leaks in your home, such as in your attic, your insulation becomes less effective. Even more so if the leaks are allowing water in and the insulation has gotten wet.
Older insulation products also do not have the energy efficiency of many newer insulation products. While it’s unlikely your home needs entirely new insulation, you may need additional layers of it to truly realize home comfort.
All Homes Need Insulation, No Matter the Climate
Older homes in Las Vegas are often found to have little or no insulation. When builders began putting up residential areas in Las Vegas, some believed they didn’t have to insulate the homes because it’s a desert and insulation is only for very cold places. Now we know that insulation is just as much for keeping your home cool as it is for maintaining warmth.
Insulation has three jobs:
- Slow down heat traveling through light such as sunlight
- Slow the flow of heat (and cold) traveling through materials like your roof
- Lessen the surge of heat (and cold) that circulates through your home and rises through your roof
The entire process is called heat transfer. Without insulation, you’re left unprotected against heat circulation, the sun’s rays, cold wind, and worse.
When your home is properly sealed and has the correct amount of the proper type of insulation, it helps you keep the air-conditioned air in and the heat outdoors. It also keeps cold air out and warm air in, when you need that to happen.
And, while your HVAC system gets a reward for being a hard worker, you can actually give it a break when it doesn’t have to work quite so hard to cool and heat your home.
Finding the Correct Type of Insulation for Your Home
Insulation is measured in R-Values. The higher the R-Value, the better insulation it will provide.
Your Ambient Edge technician can make specific recommendations based on your home, but, in general, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends an R-Value of R-35 minimum to up to R-50 and beyond for the Nevada region.
In Las Vegas homes, you will typically find:
Batts (or Rolls) of Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass batts are easily available in home improvement stores and are a less expensive choice. However, fiberglass rolls have a lower R-Value (between 30 and 40) and can allow air to leak through the seams, and get matted over time.
Blow-In or Loose-Fill Insulation
While some homeowners do (or at least try) to install fiberglass batt insulation on their own, blow-in insulation is a professional-only activity as it requires specialized equipment. The most typical materials used for loose-fill insulation are cellulose, fiberglass, and mineral wool. All contain some amount of recycled content.
Blown-in cellulose has an R-Value range between 30 and 40, mineral wool has an R-Value range between 30 and 48, and blown-in fiberglass has an R-Value range of 20 to 50.
Whether you need completely new insulation, to replace current insulation, or just need to add to current insulation levels, loose-fill insulation is an optimal choice to snugly fill any type of space.
Schedule Your Insulation Assessment Today
Fill out the form or call Ambient Edge at (702) 723-4704 today. We’ll assess your home and insulation, and provide professional insulation installation services to make your home more comfortable, more energy-efficient, and save you money.
