Are Your Vegas Walls Keeping Out the Heat
Are Your Vegas Walls Stopping the Heat? Learn About R-Values to Save Energy
In Las Vegas, the rules for building houses say you need a certain amount of insulation, but more insulation is even better. Adding extra insulation with higher R-values helps keep your home cooler and saves energy and money. While the law says you only need a little bit, using better types like spray foam, rigid foam, or shiny reflective insulation works best for saving energy and staying comfortable. according to www.energy.gov
Las Vegas Building Codes and Insulation
- Minimum R-values: The rules for buildings in Las Vegas say your walls, ceilings, and floors need a certain amount of insulation called the “minimum R-value.”
- Following the Rules: When you follow these rules, your home has enough insulation to save energy and money, according to insulationcontractorslv.com.
- Made for Las Vegas: These insulation rules are made for Las Vegas to help keep homes comfortable during really hot or cold days.
Many homes in Vegas don’t have enough insulation because the building rules don’t always require a lot. That means some houses aren’t as cool or as energy-saving as they could be, leading to higher bills and rooms that don’t feel comfortable.
What Are R-Values and Why Are They Important?
R-values tell us how effective insulation is at stopping heat from entering or leaving your home. A higher R-value means better insulation. In Las Vegas, where it gets super-hot, you need insulation with a higher R-value to keep out the heat.
If your home doesn’t have enough insulation, your air conditioner must work extra hard to cool your rooms, raising your energy bills. But if you have good insulation, it keeps your house cool and helps your air conditioner work less, leading to significant cost savings.
Best Insulation for Saving Energy in Las Vegas
- Spray Foam: Spray foam is a great choice because it seals up cracks, stops air from leaking out, and keeps your house cool with its high R-value, , according to Quora.
- Rigid Foam Boards: These boards are strong and do a good job keeping heat out, especially in walls and roofs, according to Leyton.
- Reflective Insulation: This type bounces heat away, which is really helpful in hot places like Las Vegas, says the Department of Energy. according to the Department of Energy (.gov).
- Other Options: Cellulose, mineral wool, and fiberglass can work too, but spray foam and rigid foam usually keep homes cooler and have higher R-values. , according to the Insulation Institute.
Vegas Building Codes vs. Best Insulation for Energy Savings
Las Vegas building rules are made to keep homes safe and help save a little energy. But sometimes, the rules don’t help you save a lot of money or keep your house as cool and comfortable as it could be. What you have to put in your house by law is not always enough to keep out the hot desert air. Here is how the basic rules compare to what’s really best:
Attics in Las Vegas get really, really hot. In the summer, they can be as hot as 150 degrees! The law says you need at least R-30 insulation in your attic, but experts say R-49 is much better. The bigger number means your attic can keep out more heat, so your house stays cooler and you spend less on air conditioning.
Walls For outside walls, the law says use R-13 insulation. But if you add more, like R-19 or R-21, you’ll keep your home even cooler in the hot months. This means your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard, and you can save even more energy.
Floors and Crawl Spaces You might not think about the space beneath your house, but it matters too. The rules say R-13 is good enough for floors and crawl spaces, but R-19 is even better for stopping heat and saving energy.
Why Minimum Isn’t Always Best Vegas building codes just make sure houses are safe and not too expensive to build, but that doesn’t mean you’ll save the most money in the long run. If your home doesn’t have enough insulation, your AC has to run more, your bills go up, and your house can still feel too hot. By choosing better insulation, your home feels nicer, your bills are lower, and your AC will last longer because it doesn’t have to be on all the time.
Best Types of Insulation for Vegas Homes
- Spray Foam Insulation: This is one of the best. It fills up cracks and gaps and has a high R-value, but it costs more. It can help a lot in the long run.
- Blown-In Insulation: This is made from small pieces of fiberglass or paper. It’s good for adding more insulation to attics and walls and is not too expensive.
- Fiberglass Batts: These are big rolls of insulation that fit between the wood in your walls or attic. They are cheaper but must be put in just right or they won’t work as well.
Where Should You Upgrade First?
- Attic: Start here! Adding better insulation keeps the most heat out and saves you the most money.
- Walls: Making wall insulation better helps, too.
- Air Sealing: Be sure to close up any cracks or spaces around doors, windows, and vents—so hot air can’t sneak in.
How Comfort Masters Can Help
At Comfort Masters, we know how hard it is to keep homes cool in Las Vegas. We can check your insulation and tell you how to make it better. If you want your house to be cooler and your energy bills to be lower, we can help you pick the best options.
Ready to Save Money and Stay Cool?
Don’t let weak insulation make your house too hot. Call Comfort Masters to get a free check-up and learn how to keep your home comfy and your bills down. Let’s keep the desert heat outside where it belongs!
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