The price of the energy resources we use to heat our homes is rising in the greater Chicago Southland and Frankfort areas. Supply constraints and increasing demand have experts tracking price increases on just about every energy source we use to heat our homes, like electricity, natural gas, heating oil, and more. Some of these fuel prices are projected to rise as much as 45%!
While you might not be able to do much about gas prices increasing, you can do something about how much fuel it takes to keep your home warm this winter: increase your home insulation!
How Insulation is Tied to Heating Bills
The first thing homeowners might think to do to reduce their heating bills is to turn down the thermostat a few degrees in an effort to lighten the load of their furnace, boiler, or heat pump. This may reduce the amount of heat your furnace needs to add to your living space, but it does nothing to prevent the heat loss that is happening in your home and will undoubtedly reduce your overall home comfort.
Heat loss in a home commonly occurs in two ways: through tiny air holes in your home’s construction, or through the materials that your home is constructed with. With proper insulation and air sealing, you can prevent heat from escaping your home, allowing you to fully utilize the heat from your heating system.
This will result in:
Reduced reliance on your heating and cooling equipment
A more comfortable home
Lower heating costs
Improved indoor air quality
Fewer indoor drafts
The Most Important Places for Home Insulation
Assured Insulation has been a trusted insulation contractor for over 10 years here in Illinois, and we have learned how to battle the unique comfort challenges that the Midwest presents to homes in our neighborhoods.
There are two areas of the home that are particularly crucial to have well-insulated:
Attic Insulation
The attic is where the heat from your living space will often go as a result of the stack effect, and it will eventually escape from your attic if it is not sufficiently insulated. By properly insulating and air sealing your attic, you can put a nice airtight “cap” on your home, which will keep indoor temperatures where you want them, and even prevent ice dams.
Basement or Crawl Space Insulation
As the warm, conditioned air in your home gravitates upward, that air will be replaced from somewhere else—typically your crawl space or basement—through air holes and poor insulation. Crawl space encapsulation, and other crawl space or basement upgrades can make a significant difference, and even prevent your floors from being cold every morning.
What Does Your Home Need for Lower Heating Bills?
If you are looking to make your home more comfortable while also reducing how much you have to spend each month on heating bills, we recommend going about it the right way—with a thorough inspection of your home called a home energy audit. An energy audit from Assured Insulation includes multiple diagnostic tests, like a blower door to assess how leaky your home is, or infrared imaging to find places where your insulation isn’t cutting it.
After we have compiled your results, we can talk you through how your home is performing, and which upgrades will provide the greatest long-term benefit to your home. And the best part is, depending on who your electric utility is, your energy audit could come at no cost to you!