Air Conditioning: Blown-in Insulation

With the heat and humidity we face in Florida, blown-in insulation makes living in paradise that much easier. This form of attic insulation is a great solution for making your home heat-resistant by preventing heat from entering into your home and preventing cold air from escaping (and vice versa during cooler seasons). Having blown-in insulation is also very energy efficient and cost effective, as it can decrease your energy bill by over 20% while also increasing the life of your air conditioner. Your air conditioner will work less when the proper amount of blown-in insulation is in your attic. Contact us today for more information.

What is blown-in insulation composed of?

• Insulation is most commonly composed of fiberglass, cellulose, and miner. We only work with fiberglass insulation when quoting all our jobs.

How does attic insulation work?

• Attic insulation is most known to help regulate the temperatures within your home. With the materials used in the insulation, it acts as a thermally resistant barrier. This goes for all seasons, both hot and cold. For a home without any insulation, it is easy for hot or cold air to escape through the cracks of your home. When you have attic insulation installed in your home, it acts as an aide in keeping the cold air in and the warm air out (or vice versa in the winter).

How much insulation do I need?

• That answer depends on where you live, what kind of insulation, the attic space to be covered, budget, and the optimal energy-savings. The Department of Energy recommends a minimum amount of R-38 level of attic insulation in the state of Florida.
• According to energystar.gov, “R-value is a measure of insulation’s ability to resist heat traveling through it.” The higher the R-value, the more resistant the insulation is to allow heat to pass through it. Different parts of the country require different levels of insulation that takes into account the average climate.
• R-value is calculated by a few different factors including the type of insulation, thickness, and density as well as temperature, aging, and moisture accumulation. As a general rule, one inch of blown-in fiberglass insulation is equal to an R-value of about 3.1-3.4.

When to replace attic insulation?

• Most often new insulation can be installed over the current installation, but there are some cases when the old insulation should be removed entirely:
• The insulation is wet
• The insulation is moldy
• There is evidence of pests living in the insulation
• Your insulation was installed before 1990 and may be contaminated with asbestos

Can i replace my own insulation?

• Although it is possible to complete most home projects on your own, it is strongly recommended to have a professional install your insulation. There are many hazards that can occur from installing blown-in insulation, such as fire hazards or even falling through the ceiling. Our trained professionals know how to indicate if there is too much or too little blown-in insulation, and will ensure proper installation.

How much money can attic insulation save me?

• There are many variables such as the size of the house, the age of the house, energy usage, type of insulation, rebates and financing, involved in calculating savings for your home. In most cases you can save anywhere between 11% to 20% on your energy bills with updated blown-in insulation.