1. WHY DO I NEED MORE INSULATION?

ANSWER: A properly insulated home is going to accomplish this much more easily because the conditioned air is going to remain inside the structure, while keeping the unwanted air outside. As energy costs rise, there is no reason to be heating or cooling the air outside your home.

2. WHAT IS INSULATION AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

ANSWER: We use many different types of insulation depending upon your home’s specific needs. The most common types of insulating products that we install are fiberglass insulation, foam insulation, cellulose insulation, and insulating radiant barrier. When we discuss any type of insulation’s effectiveness we use a term known as R-value. The higher the R-value, the more resistant to heat transfer the material is. During your free insulation evaluation we will be able to determine what types of materials would best suit the different areas of your home so that you can maximize your home’s energy efficiency.

3. HOW DO I KNOW IF MY HOME NEEDS MORE INSULATION?

ANSWER: We have learned, over the years, that better insulation standards are a great way to save money in the long run and to help protect the air quality of the environment. Ten years ago the U.S. Department of Energy recommended that our homes have an R-Value of at least R-19. Today that same department recommends R-values up to R-60. A building that is up to R-60 standards will resist much more heat transfer than one insulated at an R-19 level saving you money on heating and cooling costs while positively affecting the environment at the same time.

The other reason you may need more insulation is that there are often mistakes made at initial install. We see low thermal performance in homes because there is not enough insulation to begin with, especially in older homes. Also, the more complex the design of the home, the more opportunities there are for under-insulated areas or improper air sealing. These two reasons together make it a must to have an insulation audit performed by one of our qualified representatives at no cost to you.

4. HOW DO I DETERMINE HOW MUCH INSULATION IS CURRENTLY IN MY HOME?

ANSWER: Most people do not have the tools and expertise to assess their home’s insulation needs. The easiest way to find out your home’s insulation levels is to have an insulation evaluation with one of our expert professionals. The professionals at Save With Insulation come to your home to thoroughly evaluate whether or not it is sufficiently insulated and are happy to advise you on the next steps to take to make your home more energy efficient.

5. WHAT AREAS OF MY HOUSE NEED MORE INSULATION?

ANSWER: The attic, walls, basement, and crawl spaces are all places that are very often under insulated and allow the heated or cooled air from inside your home to escape. This transfer of air leads to higher energy consumption and higher heating and cooling bills. Our representative will inspect and assess during your insulation evaluation.

6. HOW DOES HEAT GET INTO AND OUT OF MY HOME?

ANSWER: Conduction is the flow of heat or energy through materials. In our homes we find many areas that allow heat to flow through materials. For instance, it is easy for heat to flow through the wood framing and other building components. These components will have a relatively low R-value. When we insulate these materials we are able to raise their R-value and make it much more difficult for heat to flow into or out of your home.

Convection describes the flow of heat through gases and liquids. When we boil a pot of water and then take the lid off we see a cloud of steam rise from the pot. This steam is a great example of heat loss through convection. When the lid was on the pot it helped to hold the steam inside and more quickly heat the contents in the pot. When the lid is removed much of that heat trapped inside escapes. This can happen the same way in your home through leaks and gaps. Unless the leaks and gaps are properly sealed, hot air can flow into and out of your home which is both costly and inefficient.

Radiant heat is the heat felt when standing close to a campfire. If we stand too close for too long the heat will become more intense and eventually burn whatever is absorbing that heat. Now, think of the sun as that campfire and your roof as the one absorbing that heat. When the roof of your home absorbs that heat and energy from the sun it can heat up your home very quickly. With proper insulation it becomes much more difficult for that heat to get into the living spaces of your home.

Save With Insulation has become the experts in managing heat gain and loss starting with a proper diagnosis during your free insulation audit. We have the trained and certified technicians to install the products that will make your home more comfortable.

7. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE MY ATTIC IS PROPERLY VENTILATED?

ANSWER: During the winter we want to keep the attic cooler so that the ice and snow on the roof does not melt then re-freeze and cause problems with or damage to the gutters and the roof. In the summer we want to make sure that air can flow freely into and out of the attic so that the air inside the attic stays cooler. The EPA recommends keeping a natural flow of air through your attic at all times to prevent these problems from occurring. Properly insulating and air sealing will keep that unwanted air from escaping into the living spaces below where you and your family will feel the effects.