What Is R-Value?
Combatting the Palm Beach heat and humidity starts by ensuring your home has the right insulation and understanding how R-value contributes to it! R-value is the measure of a material’s thermal resistance. The higher the R-value, the more slowly heat will pass through the material. This is an important consideration when choosing insulation for your home.
Hopkins Air Conditioning offers blown-in insulation for homes throughout the Palm Beach area, including West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Delray Beach. Our product helps reduce your cooling costs during hot weather while keeping you warmer through cold spells in winter.
R-Value and Home Insulation
It’s critical to have the proper amount of insulation for your home to help you conserve energy, keep you comfortable during all the seasons, and protect your investment.
There are a few different types of insulation, but they all work by slowing the transfer of heat. The most common type of insulation is fiberglass batting, which has an R-value of 3.5 per inch. Another popular type is cellulose insulation, which has an R-value of 3.8 per inch.
How Can You Increase the R-Value of Your Home?
One way to increase the R-value of your home is to add more insulation. You can also improve the R-value of existing insulation by adding a vapor barrier. A vapor barrier is a material that slows down the transfer of moisture. It will stop warm, moist air from reaching the colder areas of your home and condensing.
Understanding What R-Value You Need
The recommended R-value for insulation in an average American house is R-38. This varies by location and structure type. You can find recommendations for your home online or with a contractor. The typical thickness for this kind of insulation is 12 inches, but it should be installed as compressively as possible.
The EPA recommends the following R-values for Palm Beach County:
- Uninsulated attic: R-30 to R-60
- Existing 3-4 inches of insulation: R-25 to R-38
- Floor: R-13 to R-19
Factors To Consider When Choosing Insulation
When choosing insulation, it’s important to consider the climate you live in. In hot climates, you’ll want a material with a low R-value so heat can escape easily. In cold climates, you’ll want a material with a high R-value to keep the heat in.
The Advantages of Blown-In Insulation
If you’re interested in adding more insulation to your home or building a new one, consider hiring a company to blow it in for you. Blown-in insulation is easier than installing batts and rolls and can save you lots of money over the long run.
Now that you know about R-value, you can make an informed decision when insulating your home. Be sure to consider all your options and choose the right material for your needs.
Our friendly, experienced team at Hopkins Air Conditioning can help guide you toward the perfect product! Since 1988, Hopkins Air Conditioning has been a respected, family-owned business serving Florida’s West Palm Beach area.
We are committed to providing the best residential and commercial insulation services to meet all your home comfort needs.
Contact us today at 561-656-4870 to schedule a service visit!
