A Guide to Choosing Insulation for Your Home

A Guide to Choosing Insulation for Your Home

Home insulationOlder homes in Fairfax, VA were obviously not designed for the highest levels of energy efficiency. Adding or improving insulation to the attic or elsewhere can lessen the energy bill burden significantly. Often, the solution is just adding insulation that pays back in a couple of years. Here are some important steps to help you determine the type and amount of insulation to use.

Conduct an energy assessment.

The most important thing is to determine whether you need to improve your home’s insulation in the first place. An insulation check as conducted during an energy audit or roof replacement for your Fairfax, VA home is very revealing. An energy assessment also checks for air sealing needs in the house. If you choose not to call the energy auditor, you still need to check three major things:

  • Insulation presence or absence,
  • Type of insulation, and
  • Insulation R-value.

Inspect and evaluate insulation.

For a start, the areas to check for insulation include floors, attic and walls next to the basement or garage. This is because the structural elements around these areas are exposed; you can easily decipher the insulation type and size. The rule of the thumb is to make estimations via an opened electrical outlet box. Check via several outlets because it is possible to have insulation in certain parts of the house only.

Determine the cost of insulation.

The R-value of the insulation is going to be very important for this insulation project. Whether you get the value through a professional assessment or own analysis, energy- and cost-savings can help you determine the amount of insulation you need. It will also guide you on where to place the insulation.

Winters in Fairfax can be extremely drafty. Poorly insulated homes are exposed during winter because of their never-ending cold. If you think your home needs new insulation badly, contact an expert in roof replacement for help.

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