Proper insulation is an essential yet often overlooked factor in residential and commercial HVAC operations. While many people blame an old system for high energy costs, poor insulation can also be a significant factor. This situation is particularly substantial in commercial buildings where nearly 30% of energy is wasted due to inadequate insulation. Whether a homeowner or a business owner, you can benefit from evaluating your building’s insulation to improve HVAC operation.

How Insulation Affects Efficiency?

Insulation is a barrier against heat transfer, helping prevent the escape of conditioned air and maintaining consistent indoor temperatures. Good insulation lowers energy bills and carbon footprint, keeping you cooler in summer and warmer in winter. Inadequate insulation affects HVAC efficiency by leading to hot or cold spots in your building. Poor insulation allows conditioned air to escape through different means, such as walls, attics, floors, etc.

Insufficient insulation forces your HVAC system to work harder to maintain the desired temperature, increasing energy bills. Your HVAC will also experience more wear and tear, leading to frequent breakdowns and repairs and a reduced lifespan. In addition, air leaks due to inadequate insulation can contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Buildings with poor insulation often have to replace HVAC more frequently. Conversely, buildings with high insulation levels experience fewer breakdowns and require less frequent replacements. Insulating your home and business can contribute to green building certifications and compliance with energy-efficiency regulations.

Criteria for Selecting Insulation

When considering upgrading home or commercial insulation, you should consider the following factors:

  • Withstand temperature fluctuations of the HVAC system
  • Sufficient moisture resistance to prevent mold and mildew growth
  • Fire resistance
  • Cost to determine potential long-term savings regarding energy efficiency

Residential Insulation Considerations

Several key areas play an essential role inside your home. Consider adding insulation to your attic. Most attics have little to no insulation and play a significant role in heat gain and loss. You can add fiberglass batts, blown-in cellulose, or spray foam insulation. The latter two types have higher R-values, meaning they will provide better insulation.

Interior walls also can be insulated. Your home’s walls represent another significant source of heat loss. Some of the same materials are effective, including fiberglass, foam board, or cellulose. Other effective materials are blown-in spray foam made of polyurethane and mineral wool.

Homeowners rarely consider heat loss through floors over unconditioned spaces like basements and crawl spaces. However, insuring underneath a floor can help prevent heat loss and drafts. The most appropriate insulation materials to create a thermal barrier are rigid or spray foam insulation.

Insulation on your air ducts reduces air loss in unconditioned areas where many are located. Along with inspecting and repairing loose connections and holes in your ducts, insulation will ensure that conditioned air arrives at its intended destination.

Types of Duct Installation

If duct insulation is a priority, you can select from several different types, each with advantages and disadvantages. What your HVAC professional recommends depends on the location of the ductwork and your insulation needs. Take a look at the following.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass blankets are a popular option for tube-shaped ductwork. Your technician will affix them using reflective aluminum foil tape. They’re popular because they’re easy to install, affordable, and have modest fire resistance. Fiberglass also has a high operating temperature tolerance and can resist moisture.

Cellular Glass

Cellular glass, also known as foam glass, is a recent innovation in duct insulation. It has many positive features, including a high operational temperature threshold, exceptional moisture and fire resistance, and ease of installation. It also works well in small spaces.

Polyisocyanurate (PIR) Boards

PIR boards have excellent thermal performance and durability. They are lightweight yet robust and easy to install on rectangular ductwork. HVAC technicians cut these at your home for a perfect fit and secure them to your ducts using aluminum foil tape or adhesives for more strength and security.

Superwool

Contrary to its name, super wool comprises needled silica that provides structural integrity. With its superior thermal insulating properties, it is ideal for use in extremely high-temperature applications. It is also flexible and easy to cut and shape to simplify installation.

Prefabricated Slotted Section Boards

These panels are ideal for circular ductwork, especially when flexible classing is applied before installation to provide weather protection. Installation is easy, primarily when narrow rolls seal the system to improve energy efficiency.

Commercial Insulation Considerations

Although insulation plays a crucial role in commercial buildings, HVAC systems are much bigger and have a different structure. Determining insulation needs in commercial buildings is frequently challenging. You may think your structure has sufficient insulation, yet you have high energy bills. Getting an energy audit is one way to discover where conditioned air escapes.

This procedure identifies weaknesses by examining various building parts and allows you to determine where insulation is needed. Another effective method involves thermal imaging, which allows technicians to see how insulation performs in real time under different temperatures. Poorly insulated areas show up as warmer spots during the cooling season and vice versa for heating.

The Importance of R-Values

R-values, which measure the effectiveness of insulation materials, are an especially important consideration. The higher the R-value, the better the material’s insulating properties. Material type and thickness affect insulation value, so understanding this term is critical for business owners who want to improve HVAC efficiency.

Commercial Insulation Types

Many different types of insulation are available for commercial buildings, with some resembling those installed in homes. Blanket insulation, a cost-effective solution manufactured in batts and rolls, can be made from fiberglass, mineral wood, or natural fibers.

Foam boards are rigid polystyrene or polyurethane boards that reduce heat conduction through floors, walls, and roofs. Spray foam is also available for sealing and hard-to-reach areas around pipes and vents. It creates a tight seal in irregular places and is effective against radiant heat.

Consider blown-in and loose-fill insulation because they are ideal for adding insulation to existing buildings and insulating hard-to-reach areas. They also provide superior coverage when installing other types, which is difficult. Finally, reflective insulation bounces back sunlight to reduce heat transfer during hot weather and is frequently used in attics or roofs with direct sun exposure.

Commercial applications often use a combination of insulation types for the most effectiveness. A thorough evaluation of your building can indicate the most effective types and where to use them.

Cool Power LLC Insulation Service Saves You Money

Upgrading insulation does much more than improve your home’s energy efficiency. You’ll also experience greater indoor comfort and long-term system durability. Our experienced technicians at Cool Power LLC provide residents and businesses in Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk counties with a wide variety of commercial and residential heating and cooling services. Our technicians are experts in heating and cooling repair, AC maintenance, and installation. Look to use for boiler service, geothermal applications, and indoor air quality products. Contact Cool Power LLC office today to make an appointment so we can look at your home’s insulation.

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