The “envelope” of your home is the shell that protects you from the weather outside.  Components include the ceiling, outer walls, floors, doors, and windows.  Each area has a different insulation value that is recommended based on the area of the country in which you live.  Insulation is rated with R-values, which refers to the insulation’s ability to resist the transfer of heat.  Therefore, the higher the R-value, the more insulated that portion of the envelope is.

Insulation is important because it helps keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.  This reduces energy waste and decreases your heating and cooling costs.  That’s why knowing your insulation values is so important.

In Southern Oregon and Northern California, the recommended R-value for the ceiling is R-49.  Insulation is accomplished in this area of your home’s envelope by laying your preferred form of insulation on the floor of the attic.  Walls are insulated and should achieve a value of R-49, floors are recommended to be R-30, and basement walls should reach R-13.  Predictably, windows have a low R-value because of the properties of glass, but with a three-pane window, you can achieve around R-3.  You can insulate your window further by using drapes and other insulating window coverings.

There are several different kinds of insulation you can utilize to achieve these values in most areas of your home’s envelope.  Examples include fiberglass, rigid foam board, spray foam, and cellulose.  Before you add insulation to any area of your home, you should make sure cracks, gaps, and leaks are sealed to limit airflow.  This will improve the function of the insulation significantly.

If you want to learn the current R-value of different areas in your home, contact Metal Masters Air Conditioning & Heating.  Then, if any improvements need to be made, this knowledgeable contractor can provide you with the services you need to improve insulation and decrease your heating and cooling costs all year long.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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