What Property Owners Should Know About Insulation R-Value

What Are R-Values for Insulation? Here's What You Should Know About Insulation R-Value

If you've recently discovered signs that your house or commercial building needs an insulation upgrade or replacement, you may have started searching around for answers about how to get the project done. During your search, you probably encountered the term "R-value"—and that naturally leads to the question, what are R-values for insulation?

The answer is a little more complicated than some property owners suspect, but it's information that is good to know because insulation R-value can help you ensure the energy efficiency and comfort of your home. 

This guide from the Kansas City insulation experts at Koala Insulation of North Kansas City answers common questions about R-value. Residents across the greater north Kansas City area can rely on our team of professionals for courteous customer service and knowledgeable workmanship when it comes to insulation services, including installation, replacement and upgrading, as well as advice and answers to all your questions.

What Is Insulation R-Value?

Basically, insulation R-value is a measure of the effective thermal resistance and performance of insulating materials, or in other words, how capable the material is at preventing heat transfer. An approximate insulation R-value is expressed per inch of thickness, and the higher the insulation R-value is, the more effective it is at preventing the transfer of heat. The insulation R-value of a material is influenced by factors such as the material's thickness, density and type, among other considerations.

Insulation R-value represents how much thermal resistance the insulating material has per inch of depth, which means a material with a lower insulation R-value can provide the same amount of heat resistance as a higher R-value material if more of it is used. For example, one inch of insulation with an R-value of 40 provides the same heat resistance as two inches of insulation with an R-value of 20. Insulation R-value is essentially equal to 1 / k-value. K-value is the inverse of R-value—while insulation R-value is a measure of thermal resistivity, k-value is a measure of thermal conductivity or the ability of heat to be transferred through the insulating material.

Why Is Insulation R-Value Important?

If you haven't spent much time worrying about heat loss or thinking about how your home's insulation R-value impacts the comfort of your family and the amount you have to pay on your monthly utility bills, you might be unsure of why it really matters so much. 

In essence, it all comes down to heat transfer, which is the process by which thermal energy moves from a warm place to a cold place. That's why a cup of coffee cools down when it's left sitting—heat transfer occurs and the thermal energy moves from the hot coffee to the cooler air around it. Similarly, when you furnace heats up your house in the winter, that warmth tries to escape outdoors through unprotected parts of your building envelope and in the summer when your air conditioner is on, heat from the sun seeps into your house through the roof or an exterior wall. 

Heat transfer has three modes: conduction, convection and radiation. While conduction is the main mode of heat transfer that is prevented by insulation, having the correct insulation R-value reduces all three modes of heat transfer to varying degrees.

Heat transfer creates a temperature difference inside a building, though we often don't notice because when it happens, our HVAC systems turn on and restore the building to the correct temperature according to what we've programmed on our thermostats. The problem with that is your HVAC system needs to use a considerable amount of fuel to operate, and when it's forced to operate longer and more frequently to fight heat transfer, its energy consumption goes way up—and that increase is reflected in higher energy charges on your utility bill. At the same time, problems like cold air drafts and hot or cold temperature zones make your home less comfortable for your household. That's why learning the answer to the question, "what are R-values for insulation?" and ensuring your home has adequate insulation R-value can both save you money and increase your home comfort levels.

Which Insulation R-Value Does My Home Need?

Many property owners assume that the higher the insulation R-value, the better—but that's not necessarily the case. Insulation materials do, of course, cost money and there's a point where a higher insulation R-value delivers diminishing returns in preventing heat transfer. That means that once you've surpassed the effective R-value for your climate zone, adding more insulation is not cost-effective because it's not providing the same financial value by preventing heat transfer and keeping your HVAC running efficiently.

So what insulation R-value do you need, exactly? That can be a surprisingly difficult calculation because it depends on factors that have to do with the unique design and current condition of the building in question. That being said, Energy Star has listed recommended insulation R-values according to climate zones so homeowners and insulation professionals have a starting point for calculating effective R-value. Olathe and Kansas City are more or less on the line between Zone 4 and Zone 5. That means the target insulation R-values here are between R38 and R60 for attic insulation, R13 to R21 for wall insulation and R25 to R30 for crawl spaces and floors. 

Once our experienced insulation technicians have had the opportunity to consult with you and inspect your existing insulation, we can give you more information about your specific house and offer educated recommendations on the best course of action to get your insulation R-value where it needs to be.

Want to Increase Your Insulation R-Value in Olathe? Count On Koala Insulation of North Kansas City

Whether you are in Olathe, KS or nearby parts of the north Kansas City area, you can trust the team of insulation technicians at Koala Insulation of North Kansas City for expert advice and reliable service. Get in touch with us today by giving us a call at 913-348-7789 to find out more or schedule a consultation.