How Much Money Can Spray Foam Insulation Save Homeowners?
Spray foam insulation has been available for quite some time now, and it’s the most effective insulation on the market. You may be familiar with this insulation type but unaware of the savings that await when you have it installed. We’re going to take a closer look at the question: How much money can spray foam insulation save homeowners?
Let’s Answer the Question
In short, installing new spray foam insulation in a home that was already insulated or in a more contemporary house will see a 10 to 15 percent reduction in its cooling and heating costs. Compare this to a 20 to 30 percent reduction in heating and cooling costs for an older or poorly insulated house. And if your home was built before 1990 and contains block walls, you’ll likely see a 15 to 25 percent decrease in energy costs.
Factors That Affect Cost Savings
Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as, “Spray foam will save you X amount of dollars.” Below are some factors that affect the cost savings you could see from installing spray foam insulation.
House Age
The age of your home will affect the cost savings you could see from installing spray foam insulation. Insulation codes have evolved through the last few decades. Therefore, a house built in the 1970s will have less insulation than a newer home with R30 insulation.
A well-insulated home will already have a protective layer from the outside elements. However, homes built before 1990 will benefit exponentially from installing spray foam insulation because they don’t have this base layer of protection.
Two-Story or Single-Story
Single-story homes can benefit significantly more from having spray foam insulation installed than two-story homes. Two-story homes have double the amount of attic square footage. If you have a single-story home with vaulted ceilings, you can’t install insulation in the ceilings unless you remove the drywall. The vaults leave little room for attic space and for professionals to come in and spray the insulation.
However, professionals can create an air barrier between the accessible attic and the vaulted ceiling. This barrier creates a conditioned area with spray foam insulation and an unconditioned space without insulation.
Whether or Not You Leave the Existing Insulation In
Old insulation left on the floor of an attic traps heat during the summer. This heat causes the temperature in the attic to rise higher than if there were no insulation on the attic floor. Homeowners will save even more money when they remove the existing insulation before installing the new spray foam insulation in the attic.
Climate
The climate in which you live will affect the areas where your home gains and loses heat; the amount of energy you can save from spray foam insulation will also vary. If you live in a hot area such as Phoenix, most of your heat gain probably comes through your windows rather than through the walls or attic. Therefore, to save money on your energy bills, it would be best to upgrade your windows and insulate around them instead of focusing on the attic.
If you live in a colder location such as Chicago, on the other hand, your house’s most significant source of heat loss is likely through the walls. The best thing you can do to save money on your energy bills is install spray foam insulation in them.
Whether You’ve Cleaned the HVAC System in a While
To keep an energy-efficient house, you need a system that will run as efficiently as possible. Not maintaining and cleaning your HVAC and ducts will cost you money. You can apply as much spray foam insulation as you’d like, but you’ll still pay higher energy bills if your HVAC isn’t functioning correctly.
Ensure you have a professional come out and service your AC unit and furnace each spring and fall. This servicing should include changing the filter, mechanical cleaning, and cleaning the ducts. Staying on top of this maintenance will ensure your system runs efficiently and keep more money in your pocket.
Outdated Windows and Doors
Spray foam insulation can only get your home so far if you’re not taking measures to keep the rest of the home energy efficient as well. For instance, you can kiss the money you want to save goodbye if your windows and doors are outdated. If you can feel cold air around your windows during the winter, it’s time to install new ones. The AC unit and furnace will have to constantly run as air escapes through your older doors and windows, and your house will have a challenging time maintaining a comfortable temperature.
Only Insulate One Area
If you want the most significant savings, you should install spray foam insulation in the entire house. That’s not to say you can’t start by insulating sections of your home, but in the end, you’ll want to insulate the whole place. Insulating only your walls could lead to a stack-effect issue, which is when air movement causes uncomfortable temperatures and high energy bills. Outside air makes its way into your home through your crawl space and then up into your living quarters. Since the walls are insulated, the air pressure can’t escape there, so it continues moving upward, taking the conditioned or heated air with it and up into the attic and roof.
How Spray Foam Saves You Money
The best way spray foam insulation saves you money on heating and cooling costs is through air sealing. If your home has trouble regulating the temperature, your heating and cooling system will run constantly. The air inside leaks out while the outside air makes its way into your house. Spray foam insulation will help your home solve this issue by reducing the amount of air leakage happening in your home’s walls, attic, and other uninsulated areas. Its air-sealing qualities will keep the warm or cool air the HVAC system creates indoors and the outside elements where they belong: outside. Compared to other forms of insulation, spray foam is the only type that can provide complete air sealing throughout the home.
Now that we’ve discussed how much money spray foam insulation can save homeowners, it’s time to upgrade. Spray foam insulation is an excellent investment to make in your home. Contact Paragon Protection to get the job done right the first time. Our professional spray foam insulation contractors in Barrington, Illinois, have years of experience. Call us today!
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