You can do several things to keep your HVAC running strong. Replacing the air filter regularly and sealing air leaks are two of the best ways to help it use less energy. Another key factor is the insulation in your house. It often gets overlooked, but it plays a crucial role in keeping conditioned air in and outdoor heat out. This guide walks you through the role of insulation in HVAC efficiency and what you can do to improve it.
Insulation Reduces Heat Transfer
The purpose of insulation is to create a barrier that slows the movement of heat. In the summer, it reduces the rate at which heat from the outdoors makes its way into your house. During the winter months, it prevents heat from escaping via the floor, attic, and exterior walls.
Your HVAC will have to work harder to maintain the temperature you’ve selected if this barrier isn’t there. The compressor will run longer while the blower motor has to push more air through the system. All of this extra strain makes the system wear out faster and keeps your home from staying comfortable. The right insulation will enhance heat transfer by reducing energy loss, which goes a long way in improving HVAC efficiency.
Insulation Lowers Energy Consumption
Homes with optimal insulation don’t have to run their air conditioners and heaters as often. This means your energy bills will go down, and the HVAC system will experience less wear and tear. Over time, this can translate into less money spent on repairs and replacements. Most experts agree that quality insulation can reduce heating and cooling costs by as much as 20–30%. The lower energy use is also good for the environment. Since you won’t have to run the AC or heater as much, your home will have a smaller carbon footprint.
Insulation Helps Maintain Consistent Temperatures
It’s not unusual for homes with poor insulation to experience major temperature swings from room to room. This can lead to a lot of frustration as you try to heat and cool the home evenly. Certain parts will lose heat faster than others, resulting in hot and cold spots throughout the house.
Sleeping in a bedroom that stays hotter than the rest of the home can leave you feeling exhausted the next day. And constantly adjusting the thermostat to make up for the uneven temperature will wear out HVAC parts faster. You’ll end up spending money on energy bills, premature repairs and replacements. Choosing the right insulation will provide greater temperature regulation to ensure the whole house has even heating and cooling.
Insulation Prevents HVAC Overload
When the HVAC has to work in overtime mode to make up for heat loss caused by poor insulation, it can overload the equipment. It might short-cycle or even completely break down. Any overheated parts may fail, resulting in expensive repairs that you could otherwise prevent. Quality insulation will help the whole system have balanced airflow and temperature control, so everything runs smoothly year-round.
Insulation Improves Indoor Air Quality
Your home’s insulation does much more than help with temperature regulation—it also has a huge impact on indoor air quality. Gaps and cracks in insulation allow unwanted airborne particles like dust and pollen to seep into the home. As they float through the air and settle on surfaces, they increase contamination and hurt the air you breathe. Those with allergies or asthma will likely notice an increase in their symptoms. With better insulation, the home will have a tighter seal to keep harmful pollutants out.
Best Ways to Improve Your Home’s Insulation
Now that you understand the role of insulation in HVAC efficiency, it’s time to take action. Here are some simple steps you can take to improve your home’s comfort and energy performance.
Seal Gaps Around Doors and Windows
Having good insulation will help your HVAC perform more efficiently, but you need to make sure there aren’t any air leaks. Even small openings around doors and windows let conditioned air escape and allow outdoor air to enter. The drafts created by these leaks put unnecessary stress and strain on your HVAC equipment, causing it to use more energy.
Sealing gaps with caulk or weatherstripping traps the conditioned air inside where it belongs. This can make a huge difference in your monthly energy bills, especially during extreme weather. Keep in mind that weatherstripping and caulk will crack and deteriorate over time. Checking it every few months will help you decide when to replace or reapply it.
If you’re not sure which type of weatherstripping to use, you can follow this simple guide to find the best fit for each area of your home:
- Foam tape: Window sashes and door frames
- V-strip: Sides of windows and sliding doors
- Door sweep: Bottom of exterior doors
- Felt: Attic hatches and low-traffic doors
- Rubber or vinyl gasket: High-use exterior doors
Add Insulation to Attics and Crawlspaces
Most of the heat loss and gain that happens in your house occurs in the attic and crawl spaces. This is why you must make sure these spots have adequate insulation. You don’t want excess heat escaping during the winter or hot air pouring in during the summer. The temperature imbalance will not only create harmful conditions like moisture buildup but also impact comfort by causing uneven temperatures.
Adding thick insulation to these areas will reduce energy waste and mitigate humidity problems. Plus, the improved temperature control will help the HVAC use less energy as it maintains your desired indoor climate. One of our technicians can do an assessment to determine the exact spots to add extra insulation.
Upgrade to High-R-Value Materials
The R-value of the insulation tells you how well it resists heat flow. You want insulation with a high R-value because it means it can better trap conditioned air inside your home. A lot of homes, especially older ones near SR 99 or along the Stanislaus River, have insulation with low R-values. Some of them don’t even meet today’s energy efficiency standards.
Doing a renovation to upgrade the insulation with a material that has a high R-value will dramatically boost how well the home can hold heated or cooled air. The HVAC will perform much more efficiently and experience less wear.
Here are some helpful insights you can use to compare insulation types and R-values:
- Fiberglass Batts
R-Value per inch: R-2.9 to R-3.8
Best for: Walls, attics, floors - Blown-In Cellulose
R-Value per inch: R-3.1 to R-3.8
Best for: Attics and wall cavities - Spray Foam (Closed-Cell)
R-Value per inch: R-5.0 to R-7.0
Best for: Walls, ceilings, basements - Spray Foam (Open-Cell)
R-Value per inch: R-3.5 to R-3.8
Best for: Interior walls, soundproofing - Rigid Foam Board (Polyiso)
R-Value per inch: R-5.6 to R-7.6
Best for: Basement walls, exterior sheathing - Mineral Wool
R-Value per inch: R-3.0 to R-4.3
Best for: Fire-resistant areas, soundproofing - Cotton (Recycled Denim)
R-Value per inch: R-3.5
Best for: Eco-friendly remodels
Loves Air has answers to any questions you have about insulating your home correctly. We specialize in air quality solutions, HVAC tune-ups and much more to help your system run efficiently year-round. Want a home energy audit? We provide those, too!
Call Loves Air now to access premier HVAC services in Salida, CA.
