Most older homes were not fitted with adequate insulation by today’s standards. If you’re considering upgrading your home’s insulation, it’s smart to have a plan and act strategically to achieve your goals without breaking your budget.
Here are five things to consider before upgrading your insulation:
- Know your goals. Do you want to lower your energy bills? Deal with a drafty area of your home? Address gaps in your existing insulation? It’s important to know what you want your upgraded insulation to achieve before moving forward.
- Assess your existing insulation. Insulation can usually be added to instead of replaced to achieve your goals, so it’s important to know what you’re starting with. While you may not be at the recommended R-value for your climate, you might be surprised to learn that you don’t need to add high R-value insulation to reach the threshold. Knowing what you’re working with can help you stay on budget.
- Identify problem areas. It’s important to assess any problem areas in your home, such as drafty rooms or visible insulation gaps in the attic. Working with an insulation professional, you can make sure your upgrades address these issues.
- Know the recommended R-values. Insulation R-values refer to the level of thermal resistance the insulation has. There are recommended R-values by climate to help you ensure your home is adequately insulated.
- Research insulation materials. Not all insulation materials are created equal, and not all are suitable for all climates. It’s important to know your materials in order to choose the right insulation for your specific home and location.
With over 30 years in the insulation industry, our local team at Polk County Insulation considers all this and more when assessing your home for insulation upgrades. Give us a call and we’ll take care of everything to achieve your energy efficiency goals.