Everyone knows the energy savings insulation can offer, but there are actually a lot more benefits of installing insulation than just lowering your monthly bills! Insulation is one of the best ways to make your home more energy-efficient, and it offers long-term value.
Signs You Need More Insulation
First things first – how do you tell if you need more insulation? It’s best to talk to professional insulation contractors, but in general, there are a few signs that indicate you probably need to re-insulate, including:
- Energy bills that have been increasing for no apparent reason
- Drafts and uneven temperatures from room to room
- AC running more than normal in the summer
- Unusually cold walls and floors in the winter
- Ice dams on the roof in the winter
Benefits of Insulation
There are a lot of reasons to install insulation, not just to make your home more energy-efficient (though that is the main reason people re-insulate their homes). Insulation offers a number of other benefits as well, including:
More Comfortable Home Interior: Insulation helps your home stay comfortable year round. In the winter, it prevents warm air from escaping from your home, and in the summer, it stops warm air from leaking in. Air most often gets into your home through tiny gaps and holes in the windows, doors, walls and ceilings, and a home that isn’t properly insulated can be drafty and uncomfortable.
Sound Control: If your home doesn’t have enough insulation, outside noises – and noises between different rooms and levels inside the house – can be annoyingly loud. Fiberglass, cellulose and foam can provide the soundproofing your home needs.
Improved AC Efficiency: Your air conditioner constantly has to work to keep your home comfortable during the summer. If heat from outside is getting in, your AC has to compete with this and work harder, which can compromise its performance and increase the risk of a breakdown. Insulation keeps the heat outside, which improves the overall efficiency of your AC and increases its durability.
Less Air & Water Infiltration: Air and water infiltration not only make your home less energy-efficient (and cause your monthly bills to shoot way up!), but they can lead to other problems like mold and mildew growth, drafts and uneven temperatures, etc. One of the benefits of insulation is it can stop air and water from seeping into your home.
Higher Home Market Value: Home buyers these days value energy efficiency, and well-insulated homes are a lot more energy-efficient, which makes them more appealing to more people.
Healthier Environment: Insulation cuts down on the energy you use, and decreased energy consumption helps reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.
Contact OJ Insulation today if you want to learn more about the benefits of insulation or you think you may need more insulation in your Southern California home!
