Are you looking for a simple yet extremely effective way to lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint? If so, look no further than home insulation. Insulation limits a home's heat transfer year-round. This means that during Delaware's cold winter months, sufficient insulation will keep a home's indoor heated air where it belongs: inside! It does so by preventing indoor heated air from seeping outside or to unlivable, cold areas of a home (i.e. attic). And during Delaware's warm summer months, sufficient insulation will prevent outdoor air from coming indoors and making your home hot and uncomfortable.
How to Know When Enough is Enough
For a home to be properly protected from the effects of Mother Nature, it needs to have sufficient insulation. But how do you know how much insulation your home needs? Insulation is measured in terms of R-values. The thicker or more dense the insulation, the greater the R-value and the better it will resist heat transfer.
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends the following insulation R-values for Delaware residents: R38 - R60 for an uninsulated attic; R38 for attics with three to four inches of existing insulation; R25 - R30 for floors. If you have any questions about your home's recommended level of insulation, contact a certified Delaware insulation contractor today.
Where to Install Insulation
To significantly lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint, it's important that your home be comprehensively insulated by a certified insulation contractor. This may include insulation in your attic, floors, walls, garage, basement, and crawl space. If only one area of your home remains uninsulated or insufficiently insulated, your home will not be as comfortable as it could be during the winter or summer months. It'll also mean that your heating and cooling system(s) will have to work harder than necessary just to keep up with the preset temperature on your thermostat.
Types of Insulation
There are numerous types of insulation, including rigid foam insulation, spray foam insulation, and fiberglass insulation. Some types of insulation make a great base, while others -- like spray foam insulation -- are perfect for protecting hard-to-reach corners or uncommonly-shaped spaces. How do you know which insulation is suitable for your home? Simply speak with a certified Delaware insulation contractor to find out. He or she can help you determine how much insulation R-value you home needs, where new or additional insulation is necessary, and which type of insulation best suits your home, budget, and climate.
The Benefits of Air Sealing
While insulation and air sealing are different aspects of home energy-efficiency, the two go hand-in-hand. Even the most expensive type of insulation will be ineffective if the home has numerous sources of air leaks. So before a certified Delaware insulation contractor installs the proper insulation R-value in your home, be sure he or she fully seals all sources of air leaks, particularly in the attic. This may include using a "blower door test" to uncover where outdoor air is seeping inside.
To create a more comfortable home year-round, lower energy bills, and reduce your carbon footprint, make sure that your home is sufficiently insulated and sealed. Dr. Energy Saver Delaware specializes in air sealing in Dover, Wilmington, Newark, Bear, New Castle, Salisbury, Middletown, Berlin, Easton, Seaford and other surrounding areas. To get started simply contact a certified Delaware insulation contractor today!