What is blown-in insulation, and what are the benefits?
Blown-in attic insulation is a type of insulation that is blown into your attic space, typically with the help of machines on the outside of your home. Contractors connect a long tube to the device and run it into your attic. It’s a relatively quick process and can be completed in just a few hours.
The blown-in material is either fiberglass or cellulose, both of which are lightweight and have many benefits.
The most significant benefit of this type of insulation is that it’ll lower your energy consumption. We’ll get into how this works and how much you can save, but for now, understand you’ll save money on your utility bill.
Another benefit is that blown-in attic insulation is less expensive than other types of insulation and does almost as good of a job.
So, how does this insulation work? The same way all insulation works.
Energy efficiency by slowing the heat transfer.
Taking you back to your middle school science class, there are three ways to transfer heat: convection, conduction, and radiation. When we say “keep the cold out,” really what we’re doing is preventing heat transfer.
Being cold is simply the lack of heat, to put it simply.
With attic insulation, you’re trying to slow the heat transfer one way or another, but usually, it’s slowing the conduction of heat. On cold days, you want the heat to stay inside your home. During hot Texas summer days, you want the heat to stay outside of your home.
What about the other types of heat transfer?
Attic insulation is suitable for heat conduction, but what about radiation and convection?
If you’re trying to slow heat radiation, you might consider putting up blinds or curtains. This will stop the loss of heat through the windows. Those looking to slow heat convection would consider caulking or weather-stripping. This prevents heat from escaping through small gaps, ultimately making your HVAC unit work harder to keep your home warm.
However, if you’re trying to slow heat conduction, then insulation is the way to go.
Keep in mind, although you have insulation in your walls, most of your heat transfer will happen in your attic as warm air rises. Upgrading your attic insulation helps with this.
How much will it save on my energy bill?
There are many variables when it comes to how much insulation will save you on your energy bill.
Things like the climate you live in, type of insulation, R-value of the insulation, and even your roofing material all play a part. However, according to the EPA, you can expect to save around 15% on your energy bill each month.
Another thing to consider is that if you upgrade one part of your home, you’ll save more than if you only upgraded the attic insulation. So, for example, insulating your attic, caulking all your doors, and upgrading your windows will likely yield a more significant return on investment than just insulating the attic.
So when you’re trying to save money on energy costs, it’s essential to take a whole-home approach and thoroughly assess where you’re transferring heat. It might be as apparent as a draft coming from under a door or well hidden within your attic.
How much does blown-in attic insulation cost?
Just like above, many variables go into the cost of installing attic insulation. While the type of insulation and R-value are factors, the most significant factor is the square footage of your home. The larger the house, the more product is required and the longer it will take to install.
However, on average, you can expect to pay between $1 to $1.50 per square foot for the installation. That means if you have a 2,000 square foot home, you might pay around $2,000-$3,000 to upgrade your attic insulation.
Not too expensive considering the savings you’d enjoy. The investment could pay off in just a year or two.
But the savings doesn’t just stop there. Many local governments and agencies offer rebates for performing energy-efficient upgrades throughout your home. For example, CPS Energy in San Antonio provides a rebate of $0.25-$0.35 per square foot of attic insulation. They also offer rebates for other energy-efficient upgrades, such as upgrading your air conditioning unit.
Get your quote quickly!
By this point, you’re probably convinced that you want the energy savings of blown-in attic insulation. But what are you waiting for?
Just like any other home improvement project, the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see the benefits. Don’t keep paying that high energy bill; put that money to work! Not only will you be more comfortable in your home, but you’ll also be saving money on your energy bill.
We offer a free quote that takes only seconds to complete. Or, if you’d prefer, you can schedule a time for our team to come out and get started installing your new insulation.