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Writer's pictureBlake Brumfield

Insulation, How Worried Should You Be?

Most homeowners don’t give much thought to their insulation or its maintenance; for most, if it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind. However, it is crucial to the HVAC system’s efficiency and the family’s comfort. Found in flooring, windows, doors, walls, and attics, your home insulation serves as a barrier that keeps heat from escaping.

The most common options for Texas homes include batts (made of fiberglass, cotton, or mineral wool), blown-in insulation, and roll insulation. When installed properly, these materials allow homeowners to enjoy consistent temperatures all year round. When insulation starts to degrade, however, many notice that their heating and cooling systems run less efficiently.

Low-quality or damaged insulation also increases humidity in attics and other places, creating the right conditions for mold growth and causing long-term water damage. Here, we’ll explain why insulation is so important and show the area’s homeowners how easy it is to schedule installation and maintenance services with the team at AC TEX.

Insulation: What Is It and What Does It Do?

It is a material that’s installed in homes and buildings to reduce thermal energy loss. While some types are fibrous, such as slag wool, cellulose, and fiberglass, others are harder and not as porous. No matter their material composition, all types of insulation are designed to keep heat in.

Does Your Home Need More Insulation?

The easiest answer is likely yes. Like other parts of a home, insulation settles and becomes less effective with time. Many Texas homes don’t have enough; either it’s uneven, too thin, or doesn’t supply enough coverage. New homes, even in nicer neighborhoods, are often built to minimum standards—which are rarely adequate. The type and size of the home’s heating system, as well as the structure’s level of sun exposure, determine its insulation needs. Our team will assess the home and make recommendations to improve its comfort and efficiency.

How Insulation Quality Affects HVAC System Performance

The type, amount, and quality of insulation installed in a Texas home affects the performance of its heating and cooling system. When families turn on the heat or AC, thermal energy is produced in the form of cooled or heated air. As previously mentioned, it traps that energy, thereby reducing the burden on the HVAC system.

If your local home doesn’t have enough, or if it’s the wrong kind for the structure, the heating and cooling system may not deliver the desired results. Cooled or heated air will take the easiest path out of the home, such as in areas where insulation is missing or inadequate. Don’t let insulation issues make you uncomfortable at home; call today to schedule an estimate.

Signs That It’s Time for an Insulation Upgrade

Although these signs typically manifest themselves as mechanical problems, they may also occur because of insufficient insulation. Along with routine AC repair and maintenance, we can also inspect your home when these issues arise.

  • Inconsistent cooling and heating. Are there hot and cold spots in the home no matter the thermostat setting? Most would assume that the problem lies within the system, but that’s not always the case. In some instances, the insulation isn’t good enough to keep thermal energy in. If some rooms seem to be hotter or colder than others, this may very well be the culprit.

  • Rising utility bills. When a home’s insulation isn’t up to par, it will cause rapid heat loss. The HVAC system will struggle to reach its preset temperature, even if the thermostat settings aren’t changed. The increase in energy consumption will adversely affect the system’s efficiency, bringing a decline in performance and an increase in energy spending.

  • Lower-quality air indoors. It doesn’t just retain heat; it also keeps contaminated air from getting into the home. If it is inadequate, it will allows unclean air to pass through the walls and gradually work its way into the HVAC system, which in turn causes air quality to decline. With good insulation, your entire family will breathe cleaner, fresher air.

  • Diminished system performance. If your home never seems to be at the right temperature, this may be the cause. Worn and weak insulation lets more heat in, which leads the home’s heating and cooling system to work much harder.

If you’d like to learn how to upgrade your Texas home’s insulation, our team is ready to help. Protect your air conditioning system and stay comfortable indoors. From increased thermal energy retention to better reliability, our team can suggest ways to make your home’s insulation the best it can be. Call or click to schedule a no-obligation estimate.

Insulation and New Heating and Cooling Systems

Without sufficient air sealing and insulation, it’s impossible to determine a home’s heating and cooling needs. To choose the right size system for a home, thermal imaging analysis and blower door testing are needed. Proper insulation improves the results of these tests, allowing homeowners to get properly sized units that work efficiently and keep homes more comfortable.

After added, your home will stay cooler in summer and warm in winter because the HVAC system won’t have to work as hard to do its job. You’ll notice benefits like:

  • Increased efficiency due to proper sizing

  • Lower energy bills

  • Less power cycling

  • A decreased need for repairs

  • A longer lasting system

Quality insulation keeps homes consistently comfortable, eliminating hot and cold spots and muffling unwanted sound. We’ll recommend the right type for any part of the home—call us today.

Assessing the Quality of a Home’s Insulation

Although it is found in many places throughout a home, such as ceilings, floorboards, and walls, most of it is somewhat inaccessible and should be checked by professionals. The attic is one of the few places a homeowner can see the insulation as it does its job. If it is level with or below the attic joists, it may not be thick enough.

Thankfully, there are other ways to assess the quality, and most involve paying closer attention to the HVAC system’s function. If it always seems to be stuffy and uncomfortable indoors, quality may be the issue. Call us today to book an assessment.

It’s All in the R-Value

When adding insulation to your Texas home, its R-value is a crucial consideration. In the US, all commercial and residential insulation is labeled with an R-value in accordance with FTC (Federal Trade Commission) guidelines. This all-important metric shows a product’s resistance to heat transfer. The higher the R-value, the more effectively it will hold heated or cooled air inside the home.

Let Us Help Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Of all the concerns Texas homeowners face, insulation adequacy is one of the biggest. Upgrading will certainly improve its energy efficiency and overall comfort, it’s equally important to ensure that there are no problems in other areas. There are a few steps owners can take to troubleshoot their homes’ efficiency and comfort issues and requesting an energy audit is one of the biggest. During the process, we’ll assess structural issues, air sealing, and equipment efficiency, among other factors. We’ll look for issues like:

  • Unsealed gaps

  • Outdated HVAC equipment

  • Poor maintenance

  • Inadequate sizing

  • Broken thermostats

  • Damaged ductwork

  • Insufficient insulation

While our team may recommend insulation upgrades, some home comfort issues are based on usage patterns and equipment conditions. Contact us today to schedule an energy audit.

Even the Most Well Insulated Homes Sometimes Need HVAC Maintenance and Repairs

Insulation serves two important purposes: it regulates indoor temperatures and helps conserve thermal energy. When carefully chosen and installed, it also preserves an HVAC system’s longevity and efficiency—but there are limits to these life-preserving benefits. No matter how well insulated a home is, occasional heating and cooling maintenance is needed. With adequate insulation, though, those appointments will be fewer and farther between.

If your home’s heating and cooling system is struggling to do its job, consider reaching out to one of our customer service representatives for repair and maintenance services. We’re happy to help!

Home Comfort and Preventive HVAC Maintenance

System optimization and preventive maintenance will keep small issues from turning into big and expensive ones. Our cleaning, adjustment, and diagnostic services allow our technicians to extend system lifespans, improve efficiency, and make recommendations for other upgrades.

Home HVAC Performance Depends on Insulation Quality

Insulation inhibits thermal energy transfer, keeping homes warm in winter and cool during the summer. With the right kind, you (and your HVAC system) will find it easier to keep indoor temperatures comfortable.

Whether you’re considering insulation upgrades or need to schedule heating and cooling maintenance or repairs, we are here to help. Our team is proud to provide the installation and repair services Texas homeowners need to support indoor comfort all year long. Contact us online or call today to schedule an appointment with one of our licensed, certified technicians.

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