Heating and cooling costs control the most significant part of your utility bills. When your home isn’t adequately insulated, you could be wasting lots of money and energy. In fact, EPA says that energy-efficient insulation can save your heating and cooling bills by 15% and up to 11% on the total energy costs.
Adding insulation to your house helps prevent air leaks, saving you thousands of dollars on your energy bills. Here’s the cash and energy-saving potential of professional home insulation in Tallahassee, FL.
How much money can home insulation save you?
When it comes to heating and cooling, energy is money. If you need to run your air conditioning units longer because your house is trapping heat or have to crank up your heater due to air leaks, your energy usage will increase.
Here’s how different types of home insulation can help you save money by preventing air leakage and trapped heat.
Attic Insulation
25% of heat is lost through the attic in an uninsulated house. Insulating your attic, loft, or flat roof effectively reduces heat loss and lowers your energy bills. Additionally, loft insulation will practically pay for itself throughout its 40-year lifetime when properly installed.
On average, homeowners who haven’t touched the attic for over two decades can expect 20-40% energy savings, especially when using central air conditioning units. That makes attic insulation an excellent place to start, but that only covers one part of the comfort equation.
Cavity walls insulation
Houses built after the 1990s have good wall insulation, but older ones with cavity walls need major improvements. These are walls made of two thinner walls with a space in the middle, a style common in houses built after the 1920s.
Uninsulated walls lose about a third of your home’s heating. Unfortunately, cavity wall insulation work isn’t something you can complete alone. You’ll need a licensed insulation contractor like Efficiency Plus to do the job.
When properly installed, cavity wall insulation will save you up to 15% of your heating costs. In Tallahassee, FL, heating bills will cost you about $400 a month ($4,800 annually). That means proper wall insulation can save you up to $720 per year.
Floor insulation
Insulating your floors makes your home cozy and warm. You’ll only need to insulate the ground floor to enjoy the benefits. However, new homes with concrete construction might need rigid insulation.
You can insulate older houses with wooden floors by placing mineral cotton wool between the joists. However, the cost of insulating your floor joists depends on the type of floors you have and whether you’re willing to hire a professional for the best results.
Insulating your floors will get you around 10% savings on energy bills. However, this number can rise if the insulation is done in houses with crawl spaces.
Other quick fixes
The energy information administration says households using natural gas for heating can expect a 30% cost increase this winter. Households relying on electricity can also expect a 6% increase. That means homeowners must look at every place allowing leaks (besides the attic, floors, and walls) to save money. That includes:
- Install a hot water jacket. It costs less than $20, but it cuts your energy costs by over $80 annually.
- Block the chimneys if you don’t use the fireplace. A draught chimney excluder will cost you about $10 and reduces your annual energy bills by over $25.
- Draught-proof your doors and windows with foam strips, keyhole covers, door brushes, and letterbox flaps. That will save you over $30 in your annual total energy costs, but the cost depends on the kit you choose.
Other Benefits of Home Insulation
If you’re still not swayed by the potential of saving money on your total energy costs, here are other benefits you’ll enjoy in a well-insulated home.
Preserves your HVAC Unit
Installing a central air conditioning system in Tallahassee, FL, costs around $6500. Even with a rainy fund, it’s unlikely you’ll have enough money to cover the cost of replacing your broken HVAC unit.
While these units won’t last forever, you should get over a decade of service from them. Replacing your air conditioning system before using it for ten years drains your wallet.
Proper insulation reduces the air leaks in your house, and the HVAC system doesn’t need to work hard to keep your home comfortable. By reducing your air conditioner’s workload, the system can frequently run to the full length of its expected lifespan.
Home Value
Even when you’re not selling your house, it’s essential to keep the value of your home high. Market research shows that energy-efficient homes go for higher prices as most homeowners understand the long-term benefits, including comfort and money savings.
The amount of value added by your home’s insulation depends on the type of insulation installed and the size of your house. However, homeowners can expect up to a 6% increase in property value when they install insulation.
It keeps you Healthier
Besides temperature fluctuations, outside air brings in pollutants and allergens. According to a recent Havard study, if every home in the US had eco-friendly insulation, there would be 6500 fewer cases of asthma every year.
Reduces outside noise
Insulation preserves your home’s temperature and prevents outside noise from getting into your home. Whether it’s the annoying barking of your neighbor’s dog or cars passing outside, you can comfortably rest in a quiet environment after floor, wall, and attic insulation.
Looking to add insulation to prevent energy loss and reduce your monthly heating & cooling bill in Tallahassee, FL? We’ve got you!
Efficiency Plus is Tallahassee’s go-to insulation contractor for homeowners looking for a professional team to add new or replace existing insulation in your house. We offer the best form of modern insulation on the market, helping you control heat loss through the attic, floor, crawl space, and unconditioned basements. Call +1 229-403-9486 for a free quote!
