For the vast majority of homeowners, insulation plays a role in most months of the year. Not having to use either heat or air conditioning, for most of us, is a rarity. This fact, of course, underscores the importance of having proper insulation in your home. There are many different ways that good insulation can serve to make your home a more energy-efficient one, and, for this reason, finding the time and the money to insulate your home stands as a must. However, many homeowners are often left wondering what time of the year is the best for insulating their homes. Stopping to ponder what is the right time for you to invest in insulation is well worth the time as well as the money.
Living in a home with poor insulation can be a difficult experience even if you might not realize it at the time. A poorly insulated home means that you either deal with being uncomfortable or have high energy bills. Energy isn’t free, of course. Therefore, looking for and finding different ways to insulate your home is an important move.
Freezing in the winter or boiling in the summer – now that isn’t exactly a good choice for anyone, is it? The bottom line is that if you need insulation, the time to do it is now. After all, every single month that you wait is another month that you are losing money as you see your heating and cooling bills rise. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, most families spend about $1,500 each year on their energy bills. Almost half of that bill is dedicated toward heating and cooling. [1] Most wasted energy is the result of poor insulation or air leakage. [2]
Since energy costs are going up and up with no end in sight, it makes sense to find effective ways that you can get those bills under control. The simple fact is that, whether you opt for more insulation in the winter or the summer, you are making a good decision. Insulation stands as a surefire way to future proof your home against rising energy costs.
What time of the year is best for you to install insulation will, of course, depend upon a variety of factors. One factor to remember is that cost may not be as large of a stumbling block as you might believe. The reason for this is that installing insulation is generally more affordable than many people believe, and, of course, the payoff is virtually instant in the form of energy savings.
If you do need to delay the expense of installing insulation, you could consider lifestyle factors. For example, if you know that you spend a great deal of time outdoors during the summer, you could delay your insulation upgrade to the winter. If you are not home as much in the summer, your need for an immediate upgrade is less urgent than in the winter months where you may be forced to spend more time indoors.
On the flip side, if you have a lot of vacation time in the winter and spend it away from home, then maybe upgrading or installing new insulation during the summer months makes more sense. Other factors, such as your particular climate, could also be a consideration in this regard. Ultimately, the sooner you install new insulation or upgrade your existing insulation, the sooner you can start saving on your energy bills no matter where you live.
Photo Source: re-nest.com
Sources:
1. http://www.insulate.org/consumerinfo.html
2. http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/insulation-saves-money-energy.html
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