Insulation: One Of Many Ways To Keep Your Home Cool This Summer

If high energy bills plague you monthly, taking steps to improve your insulation is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to keep your home cooler. Increasing your home’s ability to resist heat transfer through the ceilings or walls goes a long way toward reducing the amount of time your air conditioner has to run.

When you’re selecting these materials, keep in mind the R-value they carry to choose the amount you need. The R-value stands for the product’s ability to resist heat transfer. The two most common types of insulating materials used in new homes or for remodeling projects include fiberglass batt and blown-in insulation.

Fiberglass batt insulation

These come in rolls of varying widths to fit between your home’s studs or joists. You can buy them in specific lengths or by the roll and cut your own with a utility knife. Fiberglass batts are commonly used between wall studs and in attics between the floor joists. Some fiberglass batts are covered with vapor barrier materials to reduce the condensation caused by humidity. Since our area is humid, choosing this type for your attic reduces the possibility of mold growth.

Blown-in insulation

This product is made from recycled paper treated with borates to reduce its flammability and stop insect, rodent and moisture damage. If you want to increase the amount of insulation in your walls, cellulose blown-in insulation does an effective job. Installers use a circular drill bit to create a hole into which they insert the end of a hose. Another person pours the material into a blower that shoots it through the hose and into the wall. It’s also a good material for increasing insulating levels in attics.

If you’d like to learn more about insulation and lowering your cooling bills, contact Blanton’s Heating & A/C. We’ve provided HVAC services for Fayetteville since 1951.