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How to Find the Best Insulation for Your Attic in Arizona

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An Introduction to Attic Insulation for Arizona Homeowners

Between the chilly desert nights and the searing daytime sunshine, Arizona homes face some formidable thermal control issues. If you’re having trouble keeping your home comfortable without spiking your utility bill, you may need to add insulation to your attic. The good news is that modern construction technologies give you more insulation options than you ever knew existed; the bad news is that all those options can cause understandable puzzlement. Here are some key considerations to help you select the most effective insulation for your Arizona attic.

Insulation Forms and Materials

Attic insulation can take any of numerous forms, the two most common of which are blown-in and batted insulation. Blown-in insulation makes use of a blower that fires chunks of spun material into tight spaces. However, it can also cover large areas, potentially making it the only form of insulation your attic needs. In batted insulation, panels of insulating cloth called batts can cover large, precise areas on attic walls. This form is often supplemented with blown-in insulation sprayed into the smaller or more awkward areas. Spray foam can also be blown into tiny cracks and crevices, boosting energy efficiency. In yet another kind of insulation called radiant barrier insulation, panels of reflective material bounce thermal energy away from the attic interior.

Both batted insulation and blown-in insulation may consist of materials such as cotton, cellulose, and fiberglass. Of these materials, fiberglass is often the preferred choice for its ability to cover areas evenly and without settling. Spray foam insulation is made of polyurethane plastic. Radiant barrier insulation features an outer sheet of metallic foil glued to a backing board.

The Question of R-Value

In addition to choosing the right kind of insulation for your attic, you must also consider how much R-value you need to add to whatever you’ve currently got. R-value is an industry standard measure for a material’s thermal resistance. Recommendations are generally based on the regional climate zone. The Phoenix area sits within Zone 2. For Zone 2 homes, an attic with no insulation should receive insulation with a total R-value between 30 and 60. An attic with three to four inches of existing insulation should receive additional insulation with a R-value of 25 to 38.

When adding new insulation, some of your choices may be limited by the nature of the existing insulation — unless you decide to rip that insulation out entirely and start over. For instance, if your attic already has batted insulation, placing another layer of batting over it may leave air gaps between layers, affecting performance.

Now that you know a few of the factors involved in choosing attic insulation in Arizona, get the rest of the story from the experienced experts at King Insulation. We can tell you exactly how much insulation you need, point you toward the ideal products for your needs, and perform top-quality installations.

Autumn Home Maintenance: 3 Things EVERY Homeowner Must Do To Prepare For Winter!

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As the leaves begin to change and the smell of Autumn fills the air, savvy homeowners know that winter’s chill may not be far behind. Preparing for winter is part and parcel of a homeowner’s experience. Ensuring that your property has been shored against the coming winter can be a great way to keep your home comfortable while improving the year-round efficiency of your property.

According to a report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average household will spend nearly $700 on heating their home with natural gas this Winter.

Whether you live in a palatial mansion or you rent a small ranch home, you must ask yourself if your home is adequately prepared against the coming season. Of course, we are talking about much more than just putting up your favorite Christmas decorations. In fact, we have three simple tips that can help you prepare your home for the season in style.

Today, we are going to introduce you to THREE THINGS every homeowner must do to prepare for winter.

Autumn Preparedness Checklist: Three Steps to Housekeeping Success

1. Install or Improve Upon Your Home’s Insulation

The average home insulation installation can last for anywhere from 80 to 100 years if left undisturbed. Unfortunately, insulation rarely lasts this long and there are plenty of signs to look out for. Do you notice changing indoor temperatures in your home? Has your energy bill increased substantially in recent years? Do you feel drafts of wind coming from within your home?

Replacing your insulation is one of the fastest ways to shore your home against wonton energy waste. Properly installed insulation can help to prevent the exit-transfer of heat, thus keeping your home warm and cozy against the coming season.

Popular insulation choices include Fiberglass, Cellulose, and Spray Foam Insulation.

2. Replace Old Windows With Energy-Efficient Alternatives

Did you know that leaking windows are responsible for nearly 30% of heating/cooling energy use in the average household? It’s true! Before winter rolls into full view, use Autumn as a time to consider replacing all of your outdated or leaking windows. If you have single-pane windows, now might be a great time to consider an energy-efficient window makeover in your home.

For homeowners looking to boost their energy efficiency, consider installing Low-E Windows. Low-E Windows are coated with a special coating to block UV rays and light waves, thus protecting your home against heat during the summer. During the winter, your Low-E windows will keep your home warm by deterring drafts.

Another way to buy energy-efficient windows is to pay attention to ENERGY STAR labels.

3. Get Rid of Drafts Through Weatherstripping

According to the United States Department of Energy, weatherstripping can help homeowners to save up to 20% on heating and cooling bills. Weatherstripping is the act of sealing your home against drafts and leaks. Most commonly, gaps and leaks leading to drafts can be found near windows and doors and anywhere that your home’s caulking has begun to wear away.

To appropriately weatherstrip your home, make sure that you are working with the proper seals. Tension seals are ideal for hanging in windows while felt seals are great for beneath doors.  To calculate how much weatherstripping supplies you need, add the perimeters of ALL windows and doors, and then add 10% to adjust for potential waste.

King Insulation has been a full-service provider of insulation and energy-saving solutions since 1981. From massive warehouses and commercial buildings to single-family homes, no job is too big or too small for King Insulation. When it comes time to prepare your home for winter, make sure that you consult with the pros!

Why is it Smart to Have a Well-Insulated Home in Arizona?

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An Arizona Homeowner’s Guide to Insulation

If you lived in Arizona for any length of time, you know that the temperatures can get extremely hot in the southern part of the states and extremely cold in the northern part of the state. Instead of simply throwing more HVAC power at the problem, however, it pays to make a smarter investment by making sure you have the proper insulation installed in the most effective manner. Let’s take a look at the essentials of insulation for Arizona homes.

Why Good Insulation Is a Must

Arizona is notorious for extreme temperatures, especially on the top end of the thermometer. The average summer temperature in the state runs at 103 degrees Fahrenheit, with the average July temperature reaching 106 — and even higher temperatures commonly occur. If your home doesn’t have adequate insulation, it can very quickly become unmanageably, dangerously hot during extreme weather.

Investing in a beefed-up air conditioning system may cause more problems than it solves in such situations. For one thing, an air conditioner too large for its surroundings will tend to short cycle, turning on and off so rapidly that it never actually cools you off. To make matters worse, bigger air conditioners require more electricity, causing your utility bills to spike accordingly.

Properly installed insulation of the right thickness and thermal resistance (see below) can assume some of the burden in keeping your home comfortable. This benefit can lead to a reduction of 20 percent in your energy expenses.

Understanding R-Values and Insulation Types

An insulator’s thermal resistance is measured in terms of its R-value. The higher this number, the more effectively the material resists conductive heat flow. Homes in southern Arizona usually require insulation with an R-value between 30 and 38 to achieve optimal efficiency against the brutally hot weather seen in these parts, with higher R-values producing diminishing returns. By contrast, homes in Flagstaff or other northern Arizona cities may need R-values as high as 60 to combat the frigid winters they regularly see. Your insulation installer can help you determine whether you have the right degree of insulation for your needs.

Many kinds of insulation can provide effective R-values, especially since they come in a variety of thickness options. Urethane foam, cellulose, and mineral wool can all insulate attics and walls with great efficiency, whether you have it applied in solid batts or as a blown-in material that fills cracks and covers tricky surfaces. While none of these materials can claim to be totally flame-proof, they can all retard fire to varying degrees.

Find Out Exactly What You Need

The smartest starting point in your quest for insulation involves the scheduling of an energy audit. Qualified professionals can evaluate your home’s thermal performance in detail, figuring out exactly which parts of the house require extra help. Once you know what you need, you’re ready to enjoy a more comfortable, energy-efficient Arizona home!