Insulating your home is one of the most effective ways to reduce your APS electric bill. The fall months come with all sorts of fun – colorful foliage, festivities, and the first cozy snowfall. However, one important feature that is not fun is the increased energy bill as the temperatures cool down and your thermostat gets cranked up. Most of the energy in your home is spent on cooling and heating. One of the main reasons why your electricity bills might go up during winter is because your home is not insulated properly. A properly insulated house is a surefire way to keep your bills manageable and an energy-efficient house is better for the environment. Here are some ways you can reduce your energy bills by insulating your home.
What is home insulation?
Home insulation aims to achieve the same goal and that is to reduce heat transfer into your home or out of your home. There are different types of insulation materials and electricity bills methods of applying them. You can use polystyrene, fiberglass or mineral wool to insulate your home. Application methods such as loose-fill, spray-in foam, and rolls of batting may be used. The right sort of home insulation depends on your needs.
Understanding how insulation works
Insulation is a straightforward concept and it works by trapping small pockets of air to slow down heat movement out of your house in winter. How well it functions is measured by the R-value and the higher the R-value, the better the insulation is at resisting the transfer of heat and that will lower your APS electric bill.
Do you need new home insulation?
Most homes are under-insulated, so there are high chances that your house could use some insulation improvements. The best way to determine if your home insulation is up to snuff is by evaluating your existing insulation to compare the R-value of your home to what is recommended in your location.
There are different ways to do this and some of the most effective ways to do this is to look at any unfinished ceilings and walls to see if they are insulated. You can also remove an electric outlet cover and poke around the wall cavity. It is also a good idea to look for any physical signs of poor insulation. If the temperature varies greatly from one room to another then it might be a sign of poor insulation.
Another sign of poor insulation is when your power bills are very high when cooling or heating your home. You should also check if you get icicles hanging from the rooftop in winter.
The cost of home insulation
While some people may think that the cost of home insulation is very high, the reduced APS electric bill that comes with proper home insulation will do wonders for you in the long term. Upgrading an attack can cost approximately $1000 to $2000 or more. However, a well-insulated house will keep you more comfortable and help you save about $200 on electric bills per year.
