Insulation is Important in Warm Summer Weather, Too

When we're trying to prepare our homes for the winter cold, one tactic we turn to is insulation. When you have enough in the right places around your house, you have a much easier time staying warm.

But what about in the summer? Usually, people are trying to cool their house in the summer, not keep heat in. Does that mean insulation is useless in the summer?

Definitely not! Insulation is just as important in the summer as in the winter. As strange as it sounds, insulation is doing the same job during both seasons. It just has a different result depending on the weather.

How Insulation Works

Insulation works on the principle that hot air will try to move where it's colder until the temperatures are equal. In the winter, the hot air in your home tries to reach the cold air outdoors. In the summer, the hot air outdoors tries to reach the cold air indoors. No matter which way the hot air is moving, insulation slows it down. The thicker the insulation you have, the slower the hot air is able to move.

Choosing the Right Insulation

When you are choosing an insulation for your home, you'll want to look at the insulation's R-value. This number is based on the insulation's density, thickness, and what type of material it's made from. If you're not sure what the best R-value is for your needs, your HVAC contractor can advise you.

You can also discuss with your contractor what type of insulation will work best in the areas you're wanting to insulate. Some common types include:

• Blanket insulation

• Blown (loose-fill) insulation

• Foam insulation

Foam insulation comes in boards as well as in an injectable, expanding form that can effectively seal off awkward areas.

Each type of insulation has its pros and cons in terms of cost, life span, and effectiveness. Whatever you end up choosing, you can rest assured that it will help keep your home more comfortable year-round.

Need some help figuring out if you have enough insulation in your Broken Arrow area home? Contact Air Assurance today!

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Credit/Copyright Attribution: “AKuptsova/pixabay”

Insulation R-Value: Important for Helping You Keep Your Cool

Summer is coming, and if you live in northeastern Oklahoma, you'll probably greet warmer temperatures and sunnier skies with open arms. However, when the weather changes, utility bills often get higher. Unrelenting sunshine and hot weather overtax your air conditioner, while new blooms produce pollen that can invade the home and aggravate allergies. One of the most effective and long-lasting ways to lower the cost of cooling and reduce the strain on your HVAC system and appliances is to improve the amount and quality of insulation that protects your home from the outside world. 

How do you know if your home is insulated properly? All modern insulation is graded according to how well the materials can resist heat. An insulation R-value is its resistance value, and it indicates thermal resistance to the flow of heat. In the wintertime, that heat flow needs to stop at the perimeter of your home, in order to avoid wasting money on heat that escapes outside. During the summer months, heat resistance is crucial because it determines how much energy it takes to beat the heat trying to get inside.

The most energy-efficient insulation may be able to reduce bills by as much as 30 percent each month. However, when it comes to insulation R-value, one size doesn't fit all. Insulation calculators and  estimates will help you determine the appropriate R-value for your home's specific altitude, proximity to bodies of water and local climate. Insulation efficiency also depends on how and where it's installed; multiple layers can increase the resistance value, while tightly compressed insulation loses some of its strength.

Regular maintenance, such as thorough, seasonal duct sealing and regular air filter replacement, is also essential to maintain good air quality and prevent energy loss. For more information and advice about keeping your home comfortable and efficient all year, contact us at Air Assurance in Broken Arrow. We have more than three decades of experience in Broken Arrow and the greater Tulsa area, and we can help maximize the quality of your air and make sure you're not wasting money or energy.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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