Insulation protects the conditioned areas in your home from the unconditioned areas. Translation: It prevents outdoor temps from disturbing the temperature you’re enjoying inside as well as keeping the unpleasant temps of, say, a hot and humid attic or a chill and damp basement, from crossing the thermal boundary into your living space.

Insulation levels are rated by R-values which measure insulation’s ability to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the thermal performance of the insulation.

Consult a TVA-vetted contractor through our Quality Contractor Network to find out the right AC unit for your home and budget.

Attic insulation helps your home conserve energy by slowing down heat loss and heat gain, and reduces the size of heating and cooling equipment needed.

The recommended insulation level for most attics is around R-38, or about 10 to 14 inches, depending on insulation type.

Wall insulation, like attic or floor insulation, is used to keep your indoor climate in and the outdoor climate out. If you’ve been in an old house, then you know how drafty they can feel, or even the opposite, how stale the air can feel. One of the reasons for that is poor or nonexistent wall insulation. But you don’t have to live in an older home to feel the effects of ineffective wall insulation. Maybe you want to turn an unfinished space, like a basement or garage, into a bonus room or small apartment. In that case, you’ll definitely want to add additional wall insulation to make it comfortable and energy efficient.

The amount of wall insulation you need is based on the size of your walls and the type of insulation that you and your contractor decide to install. Generally, exterior walls should be insulated to at least R-13.

Insulation works best when air is not moving through or around it. Exterior walls typically have penetrations for electrical wiring and outlets, as well as gaps in the top, bottom, and sides of the walls that can leak warm air into or out of your home. Besides increasing your heating and cooling costs, these air leaks can introduce water vapor into your walls, potentially resulting in condensation and damage.

Typical blown-in and batt insulation don’t stop air leakage. Air leaks need to be sealed with caulk or foam before installing insulation. But if penetrations and gaps are not accessible for air sealing, like with existing walls, installation of dense pack insulation (cellulose or fiberglass) or blown-in foam insulation will provide an adequate level of air sealing.

The first floor of your home makes up a huge part of your home’s thermal envelope. Proper floor insulation reduces the temperature variation inside by blocking the transfer of heat through the floor, meaning heat doesn’t escape in the winter.

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that floors in warm climate zones be insulated with an R-11 value, or insulation that is 3 ½-inches thick.