Heating and Cooling

When you think of summer we all think of hot sun outdoors and keeping our homes cool by running our air conditioners. Were there are other ways besides an air conditioner or fans to stay cool indoors. What people often ignore is the amount of attic insulation they have in their homes. That is understandable since the attic is a place we seldom go to, and is not a primary living space. However, if you do not have adequate attic insulation you may be paying more to keep your home cooler this summer.

Here is why, insulation helps to maintain uniform temperatures throughout your house. It keeps walls, ceilings and floors warmer. Over time insulation settles and does not provide the barrier it did when first installed. If you have gaps in your insulation then cold air and warm air will mix minimizing the effectiveness of your cooling system. During the summer heat transfers from outside  into your home so your cooling system works harder to remove that warm air.

The best way to know if you have sufficient attic insulation is to have a professional company like Four Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning come to your home and measure. The performance of insulation is measured by R – value, and every region of the United States has a recommend level of R-value depending on that regions climate. If you have an uncovered attic floor and your attic insulation is below the attic floor joist it is likely you do not have sufficient insulation.

Just as we mentioned when we started the whole point is to keep your home cool while saving money and attic insulation will help to reduce your cooling cost. This savings can be significant, plus keep in mind that through the end of 2010 the government is providing up to $1,500 in tax credits when you purchase attic insulation. In effect the attic insulation will not only save you money but also help pay for itself in the form of tax credits.

For more information on ways to save money, be green and save energy see these sites.

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