Living through an Edmonton winter should give a homeowner a good idea on whether or not they need more insulation. The negative temperatures and invasive weather can take a toll on any home, but one with insufficient insulation will feel the negative impact even stronger. Heat is always moving, traveling from a warm zone to a cooler zone. This means that in winter, heat will leak from your home to the outside, making your central air system work even harder. Of course the reverse is true in summer, when the heat attempts to infiltrate your cooler home. Proper insulation will help keep the heat and cool from escaping your home – and lower your utility bill.
If you feel that your home might benefit from additional insulation, where do you start?
- Heat Rises – Most of the heat in the home is lost through the ceiling as heat always rises. The most important area of the home for insulation is the attic floor. In the summer, the attic insulation helps protect against heat gain that radiates from the ceiling, infiltrating the home. By insulating your attic, air conditioning and heating your home will be more comfortable. There are two common types of insulation for attics: the fiberglass batts that are installed between the ceiling joists and cellulose loose-fill that is blown onto the floor.
Insulating Roofs and Attics
- Cold Floors – If your home has floors that are uninsulated, they can draw heat energy out of the house. It can be especially draining if there is a basement or crawl space underneath. In fact, a basement can account for as much as 20 percent of a home’s total heat loss. Consider consulting an insulation professional to help guide you in the proper insulation procedure for your flooring.
Basement Insulation
- Wall Leaks – There are three common types of wall construction for Canadian homes: solid walls, concrete block and frame walls. Solid walls are built out of brick, stone, wood plank and other durable materials. These walls do not have space for insulation to be added, so the only option is to add insulation to the exterior or interior wall. Concrete blocks often contain hollow cores that allow for circulation, which can create convective heat loss. Sealing possible air leakage routes is the best way to insulate this kind of design. Frame walls contain a space that can be insulated, but the kind of construction technique will dictate the size of the space and accessibility. Call Always Plumbing & Heating to help determine how to insulate your walls properly, allowing for more efficient heating and air conditioning.
Insulating Walls
Ensuring that your Edmonton home is properly insulated will help keep your household both healthy and comfortable. It will also help keep your HVAC system running more efficiently and for a longer period of time. Since your central air won’t be working as hard to keep your home warm (or cool), you will also be spending less on electricity. If your home is not warm enough this winter, consider scheduling an assessment with an insulation professional. And if you have any problems with your heating, don’t hesitate to contact the HVAC professionals at Always Plumbing & Heating.
Related Blogs:
Boosting the Heat in Your Holiday Home
Winter Energy Saving Tips in Your Holiday Home
Book your furnace and boiler maintenance inspection today for efficient home heating in Edmonton. Call Always Plumbing & Heating at 780-489-8118 or contact us online .
