January 12, 2016
Now is the time of year when homeowners in Ocean and Monmouth counties start thinking about how to keep things as warm and toasty as possible for when the depths of winter finally hit us. In most cases, people find themselves looking at their heating systems, trying to determine what—if anything—is going on. While HVAC systems certainly play into home comfort, they’re not everything. One of the most important things you can look at is your insulation, which is something that no homeowner can afford to underestimate.
In the world of home performance contracting, it’s often said that “insulation is the best heating system.” What this means is that even the most expensive, high-performance heating systems will have a hard time functioning properly if insulation is suffering. Add to the mix cracks and gaps throughout your home that can allow conditioned air to escape, and your heating system doesn’t stand a chance. The solution? Focus on insulation first, and then ensure your home is air-sealed properly.
The Importance of R-Value
There are a variety of different types of insulation on the market to choose from, some of which happen to be more effective than others. At the end of the day, few things matter more than R-Value. R-Value essentially measures the effectiveness of insulation in numerical form. In most cases, insulating materials that have a higher R-Value (such as cellulose) will be more effective at keeping your home warm than their alternatives (fiberglass batts, for example). Naturally, the best way to determine which type of insulation is best for your home is to speak with a home performance contractor, and we’ve got you covered.
Why Upgrade Your Insulation?
In attempting to understand why it’s so important to upgrade your insulation, it helps to look at the clear and present benefits. Insulation goes hand-in-hand with true home comfort, savings on your energy bill and peace of mind for you and your family as the temperatures outside continue to drop. Insulation also leads to better sound control and creates a barrier to keep out pollutants and allergens—it can even increase the resale value of your home!
At Tom Rostron Company, we know that air sealing and insulation are two of the most effective home performance upgrades a NJ resident can choose to make. Our team of professional contractors is here to help point you in the right direction, and we’ll work with your budget to come up with the right solutions.
