Even in a moderate climate like Peachtree City’s, improving your insulation is an effective way to keep your home more a comfortable temperature all year. Learning the best areas to insulate before you start will help you get the most out of your efforts.

Attic

The sun shining down on your roof can raise your attic temperature to over 100 degrees even on mildly warm days. That heat then radiates into your rooms, increasing the load on your air conditioner. In winter, the warmth from your heating system naturally rises and can slip away into your attic and out through your roof.

Air sealing and adding insulation to your attic reduces this type of energy loss. In the Peachtree City area, an attic should have an R30 to R60 layer of insulation, which is at least 9 inches of fiberglass batts.

Laying batt insulation is a simple DIY job. While loose-fill (blown-in) insulation is somewhat more efficient because it fills in small crevices, you’ll need a blower machine to install it.

Ducts

Insulation on your air ducts helps maintain the temperature of the air inside so it’s the right temperature when it reaches your rooms. If the ducts in unconditioned spaces, such as the attic, aren’t well insulated, they can lose or gain heat from the surrounding air. Adding an R-6 layer of duct wrap or batt insulation reduces this loss. First, though, make sure the duct joints are correctly air sealed.

Walls

Your exterior walls are also among the most important areas to insulate. If you’re planning on replacing your siding, consider installing an R-5 layer of insulative sheathing under it. Otherwise, adding loose-fill insulation is the easiest way to increase the energy efficiency of your walls. This type of insulation can be added through a relatively small hole, so your walls won’t have to be torn out.

Basement

For another simple way to boost your home’s efficiency, insulate your rim joists using rigid foam insulation and caulk.

Want more tips on identifying the best areas to insulate? Contact us at Powers Heating & Air in Peachtree City.

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). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.

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