SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Blog

How Insulation Can Protect Your Southwest Florida Home

When you think of protecting your home from the harsh Southwest Florida weather and natural elements, your insulation may not be the first solution to come to mind. However, with the right type and overage, this installation can be the lifesaver you never knew your house needed. Here are a few ways insulation can protect your Southwest Florida home. Temperature Regulation Insulation is one of the primary ways to ensure you have a temperature-regulated building. Without proper coverage and regular maintenance, one end of your home can feel like it's stuck in the arctic while the other end leaves you sitting in a sauna. Not only is this considerably uncomfortable for you and your household, but it puts significant pressure on your HVAC system. This can cause a drastic increase in utility bills as well as possible damage to the unit itself. One of the primary functions of insulation is the regulation of heat transfer. The material reduces the rate at which heat escapes a building, locking in desired heat in the winter and keeping out unwanted heat during the summer. By having a properly insulated building, you reduce the potential for heat to escape through the walls, ceiling, and floors. If you're experiencing cold spots, uncomfortable drafts, or inconsistent temperatures throughout your home, you may need to update your current insulation. An industry expert may also be able to pinpoint underinsulated areas throughout your home that you weren't even aware of. Pest and Mold Resistance Many insulation types are treated to reduce pest attraction and mold growth. For example, cellulose insulation is treated with boric acid, a chemical with antifungal properties to prevent mold and kill pests that ingest it. Other insulations can help reduce water damage by being moisture-resistant, like closed-cell spray foam. Many homeowners don't realize the various types of insulations they can have installed in their home, so be sure to check with an industry expert on your choices. Pests often find their homes in attics or other warm, dark places. With properly installed and maintained insulation, you’re providing your Southwest Florida home with an additional layer of protection against infestation. Many insulation types can get into the most stubborn cracks and crevices, filling hiding places that these unwanted guests love to burrow into. With proper care and evaluation, your insulation should act as a barrier rather than a doormat for insects and rodents. Reduced Costs As mentioned earlier, having an under or improperly insulated building can put a considerable amount of strain on your HVAC system. As the unit is required to work harder and longer, you’re more likely to need additional maintenance and frequent replacement parts. With an under-insulated building, heat transfer interferes with your temperature regulation, causing heat to escape and enter through walls, windows, and doors that aren’t well sealed. This causes your HVAC to play catch up, constantly running in order to try to keep these rooms at the desired temperature. Not only can this cost you significant appliance repairs, but it also leads to high energy consumption and consequently higher utility bills. After you update, refill, or install new insulation in your building, you're more than likely to see a difference of up to 25% on your bills and an even greater reduction in your energy usage. With greater regulation and heat retention, your HVAC system doesn't need to run as often for as long. Energy Efficiency Finally, one of the number one reasons to focus on proper insulation in your home is for the benefit of energy efficiency. Earlier we discussed how proper installation and coverage can reduce your utility bills and HVAC usage. This reduced energy consumption also contributes to a more environment-friendly household. Your HVAC unit contributes to a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions, so the less runtime the better. Reducing your carbon footprint isn't the only way insulation can contribute to a safer environment, though. In fact, many insulation materials are either from recycled components or designed to have a longer lifetime to cut down on materials used over time. With a thorough investigation done by a Koala Insulation expert, our technicians can give you a better idea of how to update your current insulation to be more energy efficient! Your Next Step Now that you’re more aware of the importance of proper insulation, what are the next steps to take to ensure your home is up to par? Your first reaction may be to peek your head into the attic and check on the insulation distribution above your ceilings. While this is one step to checking your coverage, this isn’t the only location you should find insulation. In fact, the material should be throughout your home’s walls, above basements and crawl spaces, and even covering joists and crevices. When it comes to a thorough and accurate insulation evaluation, it’s important to call local installers that can walk you through their process. With the industry experts at Koala Insulation of Southwest Florida, you not only have a group of experienced and trusted individuals but also a team of educators. Insulation frequently suffers from the “out of sight, out of mind” treatment - it’s important to stay diligent and understand the effects of poor and grade-A quality insulation installation.