4 Ways to Cut Cooling Costs this Summer
Posted in Attic Insulation, on June 08, 2020
With summer just around the corner, temperatures are starting to rise – and for a good many homeowners it’s time to turn on the air conditioning. Needless to say, cooling down the home means higher energy bills and summertime can get quite expensive.
The fact is, cutting down on cooling costs is more than just turning off the air conditioning. There are proactive measures that homeowners can take to enhance energy efficiency (installing blown in insulation) and therefore cut down significantly on cooling costs.
Energy Efficiency can be Achieved in Various Ways
One way of improving home energy efficiency is to do it incrementally – in other words, making basic upgrades that deliver basic improvements. This would include weather-stripping, window wrapping, and even installing indoor fans. For more dramatic results, astute homeowners choose to better insulate their home overall. And here, blown in insulation can provide the right answer.
1. Upgrading attic insulation
Upgrading attic insulation has proven to be one of the best ways to effectively improve energy efficiency throughout the entire home. Attic insulation provides excellent return-on-investment because of the huge savings on energy. With the cost of air conditioning, a well-insulated attic can potentially reduce costs between 30% and 40%. This is particularly true in many older homes.
2. Effective attic ventilation
Attic ventilation is essential for attic insulation to perform at peak. Simply put, insulating an attic without proper ventilation is counter-productive. In summer, attic vents allow for a much cooler roof cavity, which puts less demand on the air conditioning system. An appropriate combination of soffit vents and rafter vents will allow the AC system to work less and thus use less energy.
3. Removing old insulation
In some cases, attic insulation must be removed and re-installed. Removal requires professional expertise and a DIY approach should be avoided. Once the old insulation material has been safely and effectively removed, blown in insulation can be re-installed. Blown in cellulose provides an insulation barrier that prevents air-conditioned air from escaping out through the roof and attic.
4. Air sealing attic/roof
Prior to installing any new attic insulation, it’s important to make any necessary repairs and/or retrofits. One thing for sure is the need to properly air seal the attic and roof cavity. Importantly, air sealing prevents air leakage, which stops warm summer air from intruding and stops cooled indoor air from escaping. This makes a huge contribution to energy efficiency and reduced costs.
For Blown in Insulation in Toronto and Mississauga Choose Four Seasons Insulation
For homeowners who are considering blown in insulation for the attic, Four Seasons Insulation provides professional services from end to end. We install high-quality products and provide workmanship that’s guaranteed.
In older homes that are poorly insulated, Four Seasons Insulation can substantially improve overall energy efficiency by installing blown in cellulose attic insulation in Mississauga, Toronto and the GTA. In fact, the dollar savings on air conditioning can “pay down” the original cost of the upgrading.
Find out more about blown in attic insulation in Toronto and Mississauga by calling Four Seasons Insulation at 416-727-4181. or, visit us online and arrange for a FREE home assessment along with a pricing estimate.