Problem #3: Inadequate Levels of Insulation

In two previous posts, here and here, we detailed two of the three fundamental problems of home insulation: excessive air leakage and improper insulation installation.

In this, the final installment of our series, we briefly touch on the third key issue: inadequate insulation.

Problem III: Low levels of insulation

Typically, the inadequacy of insulation shows up first in the attic and the walls and secondarily in the basement. Insulation levels are gauged in terms of R-value, or the measure of how long heat takes to migrate through a particular material.

And if lowering your gas and electric bills is not tantalizing enough, there is an additional incentive for Chicago-area homeowners to add the proper level of insulation in their attic. Currently, for example, to qualify for the People’s Gas Energy Efficiency Program’s $750 rebate, homeowners must add insulation with a minimum of R-38.

Last week we received an e-mail from one happy customer who had just gotten a check for that princely sum from People’s Gas. They even went to the trouble of scanning a photo of the check and attaching it to their note, which thanked us for tipping them off to the program.