Even though winters in Georgia are relatively mild, if your home is not properly insulated, you may be wasting a significant amount of money not only on heat during the winter, but also on cooling during the summer. Adding insulation is a cost-effective way to make your home more energy efficient. It can easily be done yourself or with assistance from a contractor using the following tips.

Attic Floor

Because heat rises, a poorly insulated attic floor is, by far, the greatest contributor to heat loss in a home. The floor should be insulated to an R-Value of at least R-30, though up to R-60 can be used for the best performance. Before insulating, seal all air gaps around electrical fixtures, pipes and other obstacles with caulk, and use a vapor barrier. Fill the cavities between the floor joists with insulation up to the top, using loose fill, fiberglass batts or sprayed foam. If the space is not used for storage, even more insulation can be added. When using fiberglass batts, place the second layer perpendicular to the joists to prevent air leaks and reduce thermal bridging. Leave appropriate spacing around light fixtures and vents for furnaces or other combustion appliances, and ensure that proper roof ventilation is maintained.

Floors, Ceilings and Exterior Walls

Use at least R-25 in the floors over unconditioned spaces. Ceilings underneath uninsulated areas should have R-22 insulation, with up to R-38 where space allows. Exterior walls should have at least R-13 for two by four walls and R-19 for two by six walls. If the siding is replaced, consider adding foam panels between the siding and walls to increase the overall R-Value.

Basements and Crawlspaces

On the interior of existing basements and crawl spaces, use water-resistant insulation such as foam on the walls and apply a fire-resistant coating to ensure safety.

Air Ducts

Seal and insulate any ducts running through unconditioned areas.

For more information about how to make your home more energy efficient, contact our technicians at Powers Heating and Air today. We serve Peachtree City and the surrounding area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

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