The ROI of Home Re-Insulation: Why Re-Insulate Your Home?

Are you paying unusually high heating or cooling bills? It may be time to check the current insulation on a home and take steps to perform overall home improvement, learning about when to re-insulate and reasons to do so.

Understand more about why homeowners are looking to re-insulate their homes and why it makes sense to do so today.

What Makes Re-insulation an Attractive Option?

Many homes across the U.S. may need additional insulation. Homes located in hot areas such as Florida or Arizona could benefit from re-insulation to reduce their cooling costs and those in colder regions can take advantage of more efficiency when it comes to heating their home. Why not improve insulation in a new construction or older home and maintain desired temperatures while paying less to utility companies?

This is not the only reason to re-insulate a home. Homes in highly-concentrated metro areas may place great demand on older grids and re-insulation is a way to reduce current energy consumption and decrease the likelihood of outages. Homeowners who choose to re-insulate a home are benefiting not only themselves but their neighbors and local utility companies.

Lastly, additional insulation on a home is one project that may offer a significant ROI. Not only current homeowners, but potential buyers are interested in the advantages of insulation and attic insulation. Those who want to insulate their home, may see returns that can be as high as 116.9 percent, meaning that this project can pay for itself and then some when it comes time to sell a home.

Having An Energy Audit Done To Determine If Your Home Needs Reinsulation

An energy audit can make a world of difference when it comes to the efficiency of a home. From the light bulbs being used in all the fixtures, to the amount of insulation in the home, an energy audit takes a careful look at how the home uses energy to look for ways to save. When an energy audit is done, how well the home maintains temperature will be assessed. Airflow within the home is measured, and the amount of air lost is checked. If new insulation is needed to get the home up to code, the energy auditors will recommend this in the assessment. Homes that have an energy audit done are able to run more efficiently using the most up to date products that ensure optimal energy use. Older homes often benefit from energy audits to determine if there needs to be more insulation placed into the attic or walls to keep the home warm.

Some Re-Insulation Options

Homeowners need to reach out to a qualified installer and be aware of the R-values necessary for a space. Some forms of insulation include:

Spray Foam Insulation

Spray foam is an environmentally-friendly product that can help seal out elements. It can be used in new wall cavities or existing walls to provide superior protection. This is a great option for homes with oddly shaped areas where it may be difficult to apply other types of insulation.

Blown-in Insulation

Blown-in insulation or loose-fill insulation is also useful as it can be added in hard to reach areas. Those who need insulation applied around obstructions, in areas with irregularities and in finished spaces may want to investigate this option. This is also a green option, making use of recycled newspaper materials to not only insulate a home, but reduce the risk of home damage from mold, insects and more.

Blanket Insulation

Some may want to tackle re-insulation projects on their own and blanket insulation is a relatively affordable insulation choice. It is possible to use blanket insulation in areas without obstructions and with regular spacing of joints and studs. Apply blanket insulation on unfinished walls and foundation walls.

There are many types of insulation available, including other forms such as reflective systems, concrete forms and foam board. Some require the expertise of a professional for proper installation. Different types of insulation are more expensive than others. For example, foam insulation is generally more expensive than traditional batt insulation but offers homeowners higher R-values and can be used to create a necessary air barrier, useful in weatherizing a home.

An Affordable Upgrade

Re-insulation is not a project that will be immediately apparent to those walking through a Kenai home but does offer the opportunity for homeowners to significantly reduce their energy bills. Depending on the type of insulation and area, average costs to install insulation may run from about $1,300 to over $2,200. These amounts can be easily recouped over a lifetime of owning a home.