GREENVILLE Blog

Your Insulation’s R-Value Matters: Ask Your Greenville Area Experts

What is R-Value?

Understanding the importance of R-value starts with understanding the importance of insulation in the first place. The main function of insulation in your home is to help regulate temperature and improve climate control. The material installed throughout a structure accomplishes this by reducing the rate at which heat enters and exits the building, which is known as heat transfer. When the insulation in your home is damaged, deteriorated, or poorly installed, you may begin to experience irregular temperatures and uncomfortable drafts or cold spots.

R-value, which is short for resistance value, is the numerical measurement of the material’s ability to resist heat transfer. A higher R-value generally means that the insulation is more effective at reducing the movement of heat throughout the structure. If the material becomes damaged or deteriorated, the R-value will reduce. There are a few warning signs to look out for that can tell you the R-value of your home’s insulation has deteriorated:

• One room or a side of the house that is cooler or hotter than the rest of the house
• Drafts or cold spots
• Poor indoor air quality
• Higher energy bills and maintenance fees

It’s important to recognize these signs and take action as soon as possible to help keep your home safe and comfortable. However, many homeowners may simply write off these conditions as typical changes in the season which may lead them to suffer through discomfort and even extreme temperatures. Instead of ignoring these warning symptoms, regularly evaluating and updating the insulation and air sealing in your home can contribute to significant savings.

The Different R-Values of Insulation Material

Different insulation materials have different R-values which are typically based on factors like what kind of insulation is chosen, the type of material, how much is installed, and other variables. Typically, a high R-value means the insulation can reduce heat transfer more effectively. However, while it's true fewer materials are generally used for materials with higher values, insulation types with lower R-values shouldn't be written off as a worse product.

On the contrary, many insulation materials have their own additional benefits that could be better suited for the needs of your home. As you’re making a decision, these factors should be considered alongside the R-value. For example, closed-cell spray foam has one of the highest R-values for insulation options, with an average of R-6.9 per inch. This material is most effective when applied to walls, in between ceiling joists, and even on the roof of some buildings. However, this isn’t always the first choice for homeowners and it won’t be as effective in every space where new material needs to be installed. For the floor of your attic, blown-in cellulose could be a better option, even though it had an average of R-3.4 per inch. This material is treated with boric acid during production, which has antifungal properties and kills insects that digest the material; boric acid is used to help deter mold growth and pest infestation in a building.

For more information on the different types of insulation materials and their benefits, check out our article How To Choose Insulation.

How To Increase R-Value Effectively

R-value will reduce over time due to the deterioration of a material, which means it becomes less efficient. While there are some insulation materials that can last up to 15 years, there are a number of factors that increase the rate of deterioration to significantly reduce this lifespan. One of the most common culprits of insulation degradation is moisture exposure from leaks in your roof or foundation.

With help from your local insulation professionals, regularly evaluating the material can help to locate deteriorated and damaged insulation before it puts your household’s safety and air quality at risk. Having the insulation and air sealing of your home regularly inspected and updated significantly improves your environment. At Koala Insulation of Greenville, our industry experts can help you and your household determine which insulation materials have the best properties to meet the needs of your home.

By locating materials throughout the building that may need to be removed and replaced, our team can check to be sure the area isn’t affected by other problems such as mold, moisture, and pests. Koala Insulation has a thorough process to remove poor material, clean and prepare the space, and add new material to restore the appropriate R-value.

The Unique Needs of Your Home

Understanding the different advantages each insulation material has is important in order to cater to your home’s unique environment. The needs of a structure can be impacted by a  number of factors, taking into account everything from your climate zone to the regular habits of your household. Each area in the house that needs insulation will also have different needs, which means there isn’t exactly a “one size fits all” solution for your home.

This is what makes calculating R-value so important. The required R-value isn’t necessarily a simple project when it comes to understanding what levels will best support your comfort and safety. While there are regional guidelines and even recommendations from industry leaders like the Department of Energy, these don't always provide the same specialization as an in-depth evaluation of your personal environment.

During the initial construction of your home, the basic requirements of the area were evaluated and met by an industry professional, filling the space per building codes. Industry regulations, regional standards, climate conditions, and national recommendations were all taken into account during this process. Every room in a house can have different R-value needs, including within the walls and under crawl spaces. Having the help of an insulation technician can provide the necessary insight to evaluate the current conditioning of your home before getting started on any projects. The perspective of an experienced professional can help educate you and your household on the importance of insulation and air sealing. It could even end up saving you money by preventing mistakes during the installation!

Your Next Steps With Industry Experts

 At Koala Insulation of Greenville, we’re interested in helping everyone in our community come one step closer to being an insulation expert. With our free evaluations, we can help your household understand the needs of your home and how updated insulation and air sealing can improve comfort, safety, and savings. With cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions, our team of insulation professionals can provide your household with the details you’ll need to make informed decisions. Contact Koala Insulation of Greenville today to schedule your free evaluation and learn more about how you can improve your environment.