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It’s important that attics are properly insulated in Florida. When people start renovating their homes, the attic is rarely a concern. After all, typically no one sleeps up there, and it’s not used for much other than storage. So why should someone spend money to insulate their attic? The bottom line is that insulation keeps your home cool in the summer and warm during the winter.
Insulating an attic is generally a simple undertaking. Usually, it can be done in a weekend. The best part is that when you’re done, you can save 10% to 50% on your heating bill. Small effort with a big pay off! Effective insulation will provide an R-value that reduces heat loss and gain. In addition, a properly installed attic will prevent air from escaping and will promote energy efficiency.
“Attic insulation is the most important location and best return on investment,” according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
It’s no secret that it gets hot in Florida, especially during the summer months. Without insulation, your home can get “heated” for a few reasons.
To start, insulation will prevent sunlight from penetrating deep into the home. With all of that heat from the sun stuck in the attic, your AC won’t have to work so hard to keep the rest of your home cool. The scorching Florida sun is barreling on your roof all day long. With no insulation, the heat spreads throughout the house. Depending on the time of year, an insulated home will keep heat inside or outside, constricting the movement of heat.
The R-value is the ability of a material to resist heat. The thicker the insulation someone wants, the higher the R-value they would attain. R values can vary depending on the material, thickness, and density. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends homes near Tampa have attics between R30 and R60. This is the amount that a home being built with no insulation is required to have. The more thickness that exists, the cooler air will be trapped inside and hot air blocked from coming in.
No insulation is bad but too much can be a bad thing as well. That is why the recommended R-value is important. A home with too much insulation can have moisture problems that could lead to mold problems. Moisture will be trapped inside a home that is so tightly wrapped and secure.
There are several kinds of insulation that you should be aware of when choosing the best type for your home.
Blown-in insulation is insulation that is blown or sprayed into the attic. The benefits of such a method is that everywhere in your attic will be affected. Even those hard to reach places will be covered with insulation. However, blown-in insulation is not water-resistant. The material will soak up any liquid in the attic, resulting in messy mildew.
Roll or batt insulation are large blankets of insulation that are made from either fiberglass or cotton. This method does not require special manpower. All you need to know is how to cut the batt, to make it fit in different places. Another benefit, is that these sheets can cover large areas. Like blown-in insulation, batt is also water-absorbent and could lead to mildew problems.
According to Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric batted fiberglass was popular decades ago. Since then, attic insulation technology has improved.
Spray foam fills up every inch of where it is installed and provides an excellent barrier to air leakage. The disadvantage of using spray foam insulation is that it is expensive, and it does pose some health risks as a result of the chemical components. I can also be damaging environment if not used properly.
The more you invest in a high-quality insulation, the more you will save on future utility costs. It’s that simple. Call Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric today at 1-800-475-1504 to schedule a visit from one of our Home Comfort Specialists.
