SOUTH MIAMI Blog

Why insulation should be one of your New Year’s resolutions

Your home is your most valued possession and the place where you’ve probably spent the most time especially over the last two years. It’s not only the place where you work, eat and sleep but also where you make memories with your loved ones. As 2021 comes to a close, home insulation might be worth putting on your list of New Year’s resolutions to make sure home a more comfortable (and valuable!) place and save you some money in 2022. Many people make New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, save money or stop bad habits but these are hard to keep which is why most people give up after a few weeks. Instead of committing to something you won’t stick to anyway; let’s commit to improving your home! 

Increase your home’s value

There are many ways to increase your home’s value, a lot of them cosmetic. However, if you’re looking for something more substantial that will not only increase your home’s selling price but also improve your day-to-day life in that home, insulation is your top choice. The impact of added insulation on property value varies based on the type of insulation and the size of the home but, overall, some reports suggest that homeowners can enjoy an increase of up to 6% on their property value. Energy-efficient home upgrades are popular and might, in the future, turn from a homeowner’s choice into a legal obligation with lawmakers trying to implement measures to save our environment. For that reason, energy efficiency is becoming an increasingly important topic during home inspections and selling discussions and homeowners who invest in their home’s energy efficiency can expect a significant return on their investment. 

Prevent costly home repairs

Here in South Florida, we’re all well aware when Hurricane season is approaching and what damage these storms can do to our homes. Nearly every year, the cost of damages that occur as a result of hurricanes or intense tropical storms making landfall in the U.S. ranks in the billions and a lot of the time heavy rain, storm surges or flooding contribute to the destruction of properties. 

Of course, it’s not the primary function of insulation to protect against storms but insulation can reinforce your home’s structural integrity and offer support against the heavy winds. In regards to water damage, closed-cell spray foam insulation is the way to go as it is one of only a few building materials that get the FEMA’s (Federal Emergency Management Agency) flood damage-resistance classification. Due to its closed-cell makeup, it not only adds rigidity to your home but also withstands direct contact with floodwater for an extended period of at least 72 hours and therefore limits moisture-heavy air from entering your home. But only that! Applied in spaces like your crawlspace, closed-cell spray foam can actually reject bulk water ingress.

Save energy & money

Just imagine - If you added up all the leaks and gaps in a typical home’s envelope, it would be like having a window open every day of the year! So it’s not surprising that the average US household spends about 41% of their energy costs on heating and cooling. For older houses or underinsulated homes, that number is even higher. And according to the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), approximately 90% of U.S. single-family homes are under-insulated and wasting energy! The most impactful and cost-effective way to save money on your energy bill is to install insulation. Insulation keeps your conditioned air from escaping your home which means that the more efficient your insulation, the less you have to rely on your air conditioning unit to keep your South Miami home cool. With proper insulation, you will save money on your energy bill and reduce your carbon footprint because you won’t have to use your air conditioning as much.

Reduce noise & improve comfort

Insulating your home will make it more comfortable to live in as the insulation will protect it against the hot South Miami temperatures so you’re always at the right temperature and can relax. No more suffering in that one hot corner or room and no more unnecessary (and unhealthy!) moisture that can result in mold and mildew. Insulation will keep heat and moisture in check and provide you with a more comfortable, healthy living environment for you and your family. 

Additionally, insulation material is mostly sound-proof which means that it deflects sound waves and keeps the next room’s tv noise out of your sweet dreams. 

All of insulation’s benefits paired with off-season installation savings can make replacing or installing your home’s insulation one of the smartest investments you’ll make all year. Don’t waste your time signing up for a gym that you won’t go to and put insulation on your New Year’s resolutions list instead. Invest in your home now and save money all of 2022 (and many more years to come!).