Did you know that in summer, your New Braunfels attic or loft space is trapping heat all day which is then filtered down into your living space? Adding insulation can benefit you in a variety of ways. Here are four things it can save you from:
1. No Heat-Generated Hot Spot
The rays of the hot Texas sun are absorbed by your home’s roofing materials from dawn until dusk, thereby causing the loft space to reach temperatures of 150 degrees or more. If there is ductwork in the vicinity, the heat will warm up the cooled air circulating through the ducts and interfere with the cooling process that your air conditioner is trying so hard to carry out.
2. No Overworked Air Conditioner
To keep up with the attic-generated heat, your AC is forced to churn out more cool air over an extended length of time. Insulating reduces the impact of this heat so your air conditioner isn’t working overtime. For maximum benefit, you should ventilate the attic as well. Ventilation is easily accomplished by installing an inexpensive attic circulating fan which helps to keep indoor air quality high. The combination of ventilation and insulation reduces radiant heat and makes it easier for your air conditioner to maintain the desired indoor temperature.
3. No Lack of Indoor Comfort
Sufficient insulation will keep your upstairs rooms and areas far from the thermostat more comfortable. If your home is insulated, but the upstairs rooms are still hot, you may need additional insulation. You can find out if you need more by measuring the thickness of your existing insulation. If there are less than eight inches of cellulose or less than 11 inches of fiberglass, you should probably add more.
4. No Overly-high High Cooling Costs
Installing either batt fiberglass or blown-in cellulose can cost less over time than what you’re paying in utility bills to overcome attic-generated heat. You can reduce cooling costs even more by sealing air infiltration pathways between the attic and your living space such as those around electrical wiring, plumbing and lighting fixtures and attic ductwork. According to the National Association of Realtors, sufficient insulation can lower heating and cooling costs by up to $600 per year.
Insulating materials are fairly easy to install, but it’s best to hire a qualified service technician from Woods Comfort Systems, a factory-authorized Bryant dealer. Learn more by calling (512) 842-5066.
