Cooling your Lake Havasu City, AZ, home can be expensive, especially during the heat of summer. However, there are ways to reduce your cooling costs, including the use of insulation. If your home isn’t adequately insulated, consider upgrading it.
The Role of Insulation
Arizona’s summer temperatures can rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, temperatures have surpassed 100 plus degrees 60 times each year for the last few years. This can lead to your cooling equipment running frequently to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. If your home isn’t well-insulated, it can allow heat from outside to enter, potentially resulting in high energy bills. By ensuring there is a barrier between your home and the outdoors, you can reduce heat transfer and lower cooling costs. You might also call for fewer heating and AC repairs, since your systems won’t have to work as hard.
Considering R-Value
Insulation products are rated using an R-value, which represents how well they can resist the flow of heat. Insulation with a high R-value represents optimal and efficient insulation. Arizona benefits from high R-value insulation, especially during extreme heat. Keep in mind that the R-value can be impacted if there are air leaks in the areas where the insulation is located.
You can increase the R-value of your insulation by layering different products. Some products can be layered easily, such as rigid foam boards and fiberglass batting. However, products like spray foam insulation and cellulose don’t pair well, as they can experience a compression effect that can decrease R-value over time as the products settle. There may be a specific order in which products must be installed, which a professional can help you address.
If you’re planning on layering insulation to increase R-value, work closely with a knowledgeable professional. There are often local building codes that dictate what kinds of products can be used together and how they need to be installed.
Sealing Your Home
Insulation also helps close any cracks, gaps, or open spaces that allow heat to enter your home. Before having insulation installed, you can seal these spaces with products like caulk or expanding spray foam.
Addressing Hot and Cold Spots
Uneven insulation throughout your home can lead to inconsistent indoor temperatures. This results in overusing your cooling equipment to address areas that are uncomfortably warm.
Considering Insulation Location
Several key areas of the home are often under-insulated. Heat rises, so attics tend to be the main areas of homes that experience efficiency issues. Windows and doors can also be problematic, especially as they age. It’s common for gaps and cracks to form around these areas, allowing air to enter.
Wall insulation provides a strong barrier for thermal comfort and efficiency. Most homes have this insulation installed before the drywall is put up, but it can usually be added to walls later as well.
Because basements and crawl spaces are underground, they tend to be cooler than the rest of the home. However, some degree of heat can still seep through the foundation of your home if the insulation isn’t adequate.
Different Types of Insulation
Insulation comes in several varieties. Some are more suited to the warm climate of Arizona than others.
Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation provides a very tight seal against the outdoors. This airtight seal is also highly resistant to moisture and mold. It can be used in areas such as walls, attics, and ceilings, effectively filling in very small spaces. Spray foam insulation typically has a very high R-value. Open-cell spray foam is breathable and usually has an R-value between 3.5 and 4.0 per inch, while closed-cell spray foam is dense and typically has an R-value between 6.0 and 7.0 per inch.
Keep in mind that spray foam insulation can be more expensive than other insulation options. However, it is well worth the money spent considering the savings on your cooling costs. Additionally, you may be eligible for a tax credit when you upgrade your insulation using a spray foam product.
Radiant Barriers
Ideal for very hot climates, radiant barriers reflect heat away from your home instead of absorbing it. They are usually used in attics to facilitate the reflection of heat off the top of your home. Radiant barriers are often used in conjunction with other types of insulation, such as spray foam, fiberglass batting, and rigid foam boards. Professional installation is important for ensuring that a radiant barrier functions correctly. It’s important to note that radiant barriers do not have an R-value since they operate differently from other insulating products.
Fiberglass Batting
A common insulation product used in homes all over the country, fiberglass batting is made of very fine pieces of glass. These panels can be cut to fit specific spaces around your foundation, in crawl spaces, and in your attic. The R-value of fiberglass batting varies depending on the thickness of the product. For example, a 3.5-inch-thick sheet will have an R-value between 11 and 15 per inch. Thicker batting, between 8 and 12 inches, will have an R-value between 30 and 38 per inch.
Fiberglass insulation doesn’t always reduce cooling costs well since it allows air gaps to occur. Professional installation can help minimize this risk but doesn’t eliminate it entirely.
Rigid Foam
A rigid foam board insulation can be installed in basement walls, attics, and exterior walls. It has a very high R-value, which falls between 3.6 and 4.2 per inch for expanded polystyrene foam boards and 6.0 to 6.5 per inch for foam boards made from polyisocyanurate. This is the most efficient rigid foam insulation option available.
Unfortunately, rigid foam offers little flexibility during installation. It can be cut to fit certain spaces, but full access to these areas is necessary to install the insulation properly. It holds up well to moisture, resists mold, and promotes a very tight barrier.
Blown Cellulose
This eco-friendly insulation product is usually made from recycled paper products. It comes in the form of loose fill and is applied to specific areas using professional equipment. Blown cellulose insulation is ideal for hard-to-reach areas in your attic or walls. It’s also very cost-effective and provides a moderate R-value of approximately 3.2 to 3.8 per inch.
Blown cellulose insulation can settle into place over time, reducing its effectiveness. To save money in the long run, you may want to consider investing in a higher-quality product.
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
Insulation helps lower your cooling costs, but reducing the amount of energy your home uses also reduces your carbon footprint. This action helps slow climate change by decreasing the number of greenhouse gases in the environment. Additionally, it promotes better indoor air quality by reducing pollution.
Air Control Home Services can help reduce your cooling costs in several ways. We offer routine AC maintenance that keeps your air conditioning equipment working efficiently and affordably. We even have a Comfort Club Maintenance Program to help you save money while keeping your AC and heater working at their best. Our repairs can address issues impacting cooling efficiency. Upgrading your insulation helps create an insulating barrier that keeps cool air inside. Contact Air Control Home Services in Lake Havasu today for more information about insulation and its role in reducing cooling costs.
