Tips

General Insulation Tips

• Proper home insulation is the most important part in conserving energy and keeping your utility bills lower. For average homes, use the below as a guide:
  1. Ceilings: R-30 (10”) Thermal resistance
  2. Exterior walls, floors (over unheated areas): R-11 (3-1/2”) Thermal resistance.
  3. (Houses located in cold temperatures may need additional insulation to promote desired energy conservation).
• When using your heating or cooling system, keep all windows and doors closed.
• Windows allow heat to enter the home in summer and escape the home in winter, but heat transfer can be cut significantly – up to 40% to 50% – by switching to double-glazed windows (window that have a sealed air space between the two panes of glass).
• Get metal-frame or wood-frame storm windows for your home. That extra layer of glass and air cuts heat transfer tremendously, even if your single-glazed windows are high quality.
• All entrance doors and windows should have weather-stripping and caulking. Also, if your home has small areas where outside air can filter in, plug them with plastic, caulking or weather-stripping.
• Humidifiers can help conserve heating costs in wintertime because a lower temperature setting can be used with less-dry air.
• Fireplaces should have tight-fitting dampers that can be shut when not in use.
• Have your ductwork cleaned regularly by a professional.
• Take advantage of a programmable thermostat - which allows homeowners to adjust indoor temperatures to their schedule. While away from the house, the system (heating or cooling) can be set to run less frequently - saving energy and money.
• When going away on a trip, always adjust the temperature so the heating/cooling system will run less often. You may not want to turn the system completely off because heat often leads to odors or unwanted humidity that can be hard on furniture or other household items. Likewise, allowing your house to get too cold, could lead to bursted water pipes from freezing conditions.