Denver, Colorado (10/1/2003) --- Summer is almost upon us, and for many parts of the country, last summer was the hottest on record. After experiencing winter's sky-rocketing gas prices, many homeowners are asking how they can reduce their cooling costs this season. The best way to keep your home cool is to insulate walls and ceilings which ensures cool air stays in and warm air stays out. And with today's higher energy costs, most homes need more insulation than what was originally installed.
To help consumers reduce cooling costs, Johns Manville, a leading building materials manufacturer, advises homeowners to pay close attention to how they select and install insulation. It's important for homeowners to know that all insulation comes with a rating called an R-value, indicating the material's resistance value to heat flow. The higher the R-value marked on the insulation packaging, the greater the insulating quality. Johns Manville also recommends homeowners check their local building code for the correct R-value for their area.
Attics, ceilings, walls, floors and crawl spaces are the places where the proper amount of insulation is crucial. A properly insulated attic or ceiling usually requires 10 to 18 inches of insulation. If you choose to add insulation to your attic or ceiling, install insulation batts between the ceiling joists. The whole ceiling should be covered except where air spaces are required around any heat-generating fixtures, exhaust flues and attic vents. You also can insulate and seal the joints in metal ducts in unconditioned attic and crawl space areas. An alternative to installing batts is to use John Manville's Climate Pro® Blow-In Fiber Glass. Climate Pro for attics is specifically designed and engineered for use by the professional in hard-to-reach locations such as corners, crevices, nooks and crannies.
If you have an older home, with little or no insulation in the walls, consider the benefits of retrofitting insulation. If the wall is opened for remodeling, insulation batts can be added. To insulate enclosed wall cavities, a contractor can be hired to drill holes and blow insulation into the walls.
Insulation can be installed under floors between floor joists from below, or from above if the sub-floor has not yet been installed. To insulate crawl space walls, secure unfaced insulation batts at the sill by nailing wooden strips over the insulation and draping the insulation down each wall.
Installing fiber glass insulation is not as difficult as you may think. In addition to the insulation, all you need is a tape measure, a utility knife and a staple gun. For your safety, wear long-sleeved, loose-fitting clothing, gloves, eye protection and a respirator mask approved for fiber glass protection.
Another way to save money on cooling costs is to caulk around drafty windows and doors; schedule a cooling-system tune-up, and clean furnace filters. Also, make sure to keep windows closed during the day and curtains drawn in areas of the house that receive direct sunlight.
For more tips on insulation or additional information on the full line of Johns Manville Building Insulation products, please contact the Johns Manville Product Information Center, P.O. Box 5108, Denver, CO 80127. Phone, 1.800.654.3103. Fax, 1.303.978.2318. Or, visit Johns Manville's Web site at
http://www.jm.com.
