Keeping your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter takes more than a well-maintained HVAC system. It also requires a properly insulated home. Especially in Southern California, where cool temperatures are milder than much of the country, many home builders slack on the insulation to save money during construction, resulting in higher than necessary utility bills. The simple fix of improving the insulation in your attic or crawlspace can save you money and help ensure your HVAC system isn’t unnecessarily working overtime.
Assess Your Needs
By taking a look at the current insulation, you can get a better idea of the project ahead. If your home was built before 1990, you should call in a professional, as there is a high chance that highly toxic asbestos is present.
Decide What You Need
The two most common forms of insulation are loose fill and blanket insulation. Loose fill, also known as blown insulation, requires special tools to blow the insulation into the attic space. Blanket insulation, also known as batt or roll insulation, comes in large rolls that are cut to fill the space. Blanket insulation can be the most convenient to install because it is readily available at home improvement stores, is easily transported, and requires no extra tools. Loose-fill insulation, on the other hand, can be more effective if the attic has many nooks and crannies to fill.
Measure It Out
Measure the square footage of the attic to know how much insulation you will need. Be sure to go armed with this information when you journey to the home improvement store.
Seal It Off
Cracks and loosely fitted insulation can result in up to a 50% loss of treated air. So be sure to seal off any cracks and properly fit windows, pipes, fans, and ducts with spray foam or caulking.
Your HVAC Experts
At Just Right Services, we are dedicated to getting your residential HVAC system to perform at its peak performance to ensure your maximum comfort. Contact us today at (949) 245-6320 to talk about your HVAC system’s performance and how we can make your system even more efficient.
