Insulation is the only way you can prevent warm and cold air from escaping from your home. Any big variations in your energy bills during the peak winter or summer months is a clear sign that your insulation is starting to fail. Energy Star states that proper insulation is capable of reducing an average home’s heating/cooling costs by as much as 20%. So if you want to save more energy in your Calgary home, make sure of get your home insulation evaluated by the experts and upgraded or replaced.

Signs of Inadequate Insulation

The following are the signs of inadequate insulation in your home:

– Large sized ice dams are formed on the roof

– Large icicles are formed on the overhang

– Your house heats up fast in the summer

– Your heating and cooling costs have shot up abnormally

Get an Evaluation

If you see any such signs, it will be best to ask a professional home insulation company to evaluate your home’s insulation. The analysis will involve checking the air tightness of your house and the places from where the air leaking.

You can go a step further and ask for an energy audit too. An energy audit will also check the heating and cooling system to ensure that they are working properly.

Importance of Attic Floor Insulation

Attic floor insulation plays a key role in your building’s envelope. It works as a shield that keeps the heat inside when it moves to the attic from the living area. If you notice that the attic floor joists are visible, it is a sign that you need to either replace or upgrade insulation.

You can check the insulation superficially, but it will be best to have a professional evaluate it more closely. Many companies use advanced technologies such as IR devices to detect any gaps or holes in insulation layers. It will usually cost you less than hundred dollars to have an energy audit conducted for your home. But there are some Calgary home insulation contractors who can offer free evaluation.

Damage to Roof

Most of the homes in North America aren’t insulated properly. This is the reason most of them suffer from drastic heat loss during winters and heat gain during summers. Inadequate and improper insulation can also increase the chances of damages to the roof.

If your attic floor is not properly insulated, warm air escaping from the living area to the attic can cause frost on the roof sheathing. When the frost melts, it can wet the surface and increase the chances of rot.

Importance of R-Value

If your home insulation contractor requires you to add or replace insulation after an evaluation, make sure to inquire the R-value of the new material.

R-value is a sign of how effective an insulation material is. It will provide valuable info about the heat penetration barrier and thickness of the material.

According to Energy Star, 38 is the recommended R-value for attic insulation. The recommended material thickness can thus range between 12 and 15 inches. If you live in a relatively colder area, 49 is the ideal R-value.

If your home is more than a decade old, there is a good chance that its insulation is not up to the latest standards. The R-value of the insulation will be much lower than the required energy ratings. You will either have to add more insulation or replace it entirely to adhere to the least standards and to prevent heat/cold escaping from the interior.

So keep these factors in mind when considering replacing or adding insulation in your home.