You may know your home has insulation, but is it enough for the extreme temperatures that the greater Chicago, IL area is known for? Not many homeowners realize that proper levels of insulation can keep your Illinois home more comfortable all year long. Even in the bitter, icy cold winters and hot and stuffy summers, the role of your insulation is to keep your home at the perfect temperature while protecting you from the uncomfortable outdoor air. It can even reduce your heating and cooling costs. In fact, as much as 20% of your energy bill can be saved by proper insulation! So how much insulation does your home need?

Insulation & Chicago’s Climate

According to The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Chicago’s building science climate is considered Climate Zone 5a. In other words, Chicago is cold and humid. True home comfort in this climate means controlling the heat inside your home, as well as any moisture infiltration from the outdoors.

The role of the insulation in your home is to prevent any transfer of heat through the materials that make up your walls, attic, crawlspace and floors. This works both ways: keeping the heat from your furnace and heating equipment inside in the winter, and keeping the hot summer temperatures and humidity out in the warmer months. The resistance capabilities of insulation are rated using an R-value — and the higher the R-value, the greater the resistance to that transfer of heat.

The following graphic presents the recommended R-values for climate zone 5:

insulation breakdown infographic assured insulation

Understanding Your Current Insulation

So how do you know if your home is under insulated? You may be experiencing the following symptoms:

  • Indoor drafts

  • Ice dams & icicles

  • Inconsistent room to room temperatures

  • Unexpectedly high energy bills

There may also be some areas of your home that are under-insulated which you cannot detect with just your naked eye. This is where a professional diagnostic home assessment comes in, called an energy audit. Assured Insulation will use an infrared camera to find the areas in your walls, attic, and crawlspace where your insulation has deteriorated, or where there just isn’t enough insulation to keep your home comfortable. We will also use a blower door test to determine if there are any air leaks in your home that are allowing additional outside air to infiltrate and undermine your indoor temperatures.

After your energy audit, we will remove your outdated insulation and prepare your home for the installation of your new insulation materials.

Rest Assured, We’ve Got Your Covered

From how much insulation to what type of insulation, Assured Insulation has got you covered from the attic down to the crawlspace. We professionally install the highest performance insulation materials, including environmentally friendly and effective cellulose insulation for year round home comfort here in Chicago Southland and Northwest Indiana. If you’re concerned that your home may be under-insulated, don’t waste another day in an uncomfortable and inefficient home!

Do you have enough insulation to battle the Illinois climate all year? Rest assured, with Assured Insulation. Call us at 708.570.3260 or contact us to schedule your energy audit.

Keep the harsh Illinois Climate outside, where it belongs.

Insulation is the key to comfort!

708.570.3260

Schedule Service

STAY COMFORTABLE

  • I had a family of raccoons in my attic that took over 3 months to
    get rid of them. The resulting mess required all the existing
    insulation had to be removed (combination blown in and rolled
    fiberglass on top of it. Also had 2 attic fans that needed to be
    replaced/removed, as well as the initial hole that was torn into the
    roof to get in by the mama raccoon. I hired Assured Insulation
    based on not only cost, but they are a preferred contractor of the
    EnergySmart Nicor rebate program. Other contractors I received
    a cost estimate from didn't even mention anything about rebates.
    This wasn't the usual mail in your form and 10­12 weeks later you
    receive a check. Assured did all the work and I received the max
    rebate right off the top of the bill. I did nothing, Assured Insulation
    did everything. As far as the work that was done. They did a
    superb job, could not have asked for a better job. Ed repaired the
    roof hole, removed 1 attic fan and replaced another as well as
    redirected the vent from my bathroom fan up thru the roof
    (building code) vs to the soffit. Initially, he told me they may have
    to do that, but there were no hundreds of dollars of add-ons, $50
    over their original bid and that included a special spray that the
    other contractors had said they use because of the raccoons. Able
    and the rest of the crew, who worked together very well as a
    team and were very courteous and considerate of us. They
    performed leakage tests before starting work and after
    completion (as part of their requirements for the rebates, not
    mine).  They removed all the existing insulation, including what
    the raccoons left behind.  Sealed all the ceiling fixtures and
    between walls (tagged them as well so they can be found after
    insulation was blown in). Sprayed the special Microban to
    neutralize ceilings below from the critters presence. ? Installed
    baffles to allow attic to breathe and allow heat to rise over the
    insulation.  Sealed & filled in areas that leak (Kitchen soffits
    open and exposed, bathroom). Built up areas that were below
    the 16" height of the insulation, added additional foam backing to
    entrance doors to the attic(s) And lastly, if I hadn't been there
    during the process and came home, well you would barely know
    that anyone even showed up. They removed all remnants of new
    or old insulation, cleaned the area leading to the attics, the
    hallways, floors, walls. just a terrific, terrific job, well beyond my
    expectations. I would whole heartedly recommend Assured
    Insulation Solutions to anyone. I don't do testimonials like this for
    work, but I can't say enough about the job they did.

    Jack C. 8/10/17