Attic insulation makes all the difference.
Adding insulation and sealing air leaks are two of the most cost effective ways to keep cool and cut monthly energy bills. To learn more about the costs and incentives for an insulation project, start by giving us a call at (623) 581-5298, or reach out to schedule an appointment.
Schedule an Appointment
Humblebrag alert – We’re not just one of the best insulation companies in Phoenix. We’re one of the best in the country. No other contractor in the country has earned the ENERGY STAR Contractor of the Year title more times than AZ Energy Efficient Home.
Every insulation project comes with a satisfaction guarantee.
What it's like - Phoenix insulation project
“We had had insulation added and duct sealing done by other contractors previously, but still had ongoing concerns with HVAC function and excessive dust. Jonathan took the time to review our history and concerns, and did a thorough and scientific review. Testing not only uncovered significant past insulation and air flow oversights, but also helped lead to the discovery (after 7 years!) of the source of our unhealthy, excessive dust.”
“I would encourage anyone to get an energy audit with AZEEH. Jonathan and his team will also work with your power company to assure that available rebates are utilized. There was no “hard sell” in our case. The corrective work is done, the cost was competitive, and the results excellent.”
-Larry W.’s review of his Phoenix insulation project (Read more AZ Energy Efficient Home reviews on Google)
Frequently asked questions about insulation in Phoenix
If you're just starting to think about insulation:
If you're considering insulation for your home:
If you're trying to make a final decision about insulation:
Why does my home get so hot in the summer?
Most people think they need to replace their air conditioner or heat pump if they can’t get a consistent, comfortable temperature at home.
It may make sense to upgrade your HVAC system, but it shouldn’t be at the top of your priority list. If you feel uncomfortable at home, start with air sealing, duct sealing, and insulation.
Refrigerator Analogy
Imagine this – Your refrigerator doesn’t keep cold.
The first thing to do is check to make sure the door of the refrigerator is sealed properly. Without a consistent seal between the inside and outside of the fridge, it will never keep things cold even if you swap out the mechanical parts.
Similarly, if rooms or an entire floor of your home heat up this summer, you should first make sure that you have a consistent barrier between the inside and outside of your home. You create a consistent barrier by sealing air leaks and adding insulation to your attic, walls, and floors.
It’s also important to seal any gaps in the ducts that deliver conditioned air from your HVAC system. ENERGY STAR estimates that in an average U.S. home, 20% to 30% of the air that moves through ducts gets lost through holes, leaks, and poorly connected ducts.
After addressing any issues with air sealing, insulation, and duct sealing, it’s likely that you won’t need to replace your AC or heat pump right away. That’s how you even out temperatures at home and save money by extending the life of your mechanical systems.
What are the steps to install insulation in Phoenix?
#1. Reach Out
Give us a call at (623) 581-5298, or send a message to schedule an assessment of your home.
#2. Appointment
Every client starts with a comprehensive, diagnostic assessment.
We dig in to determine the specific amount of air leakage throughout your home, including the duct system. We crawl through the nooks and crannies to inspect the condition of your current insulation. Only then will we make a recommendation about the air sealing and insulation that makes sense for you.
Too many insulation companies in Phoenix make recommendations without good data. Beware of any Phoenix insulation company that tries to sell you a project without first doing diagnostic testing (e.g. blower door test and duct blaster).
#3. Install Your System
We stand by the quality of our work, offering every client a satisfaction guarantee. If there are any issues with your Phoenix insulation project, we’ll do what we can to make sure you’re satisfied. That’s one of the reasons we’ve been selected as ENERGY STAR Contractor of the Year for the last eight-years in a row.
How long does it take to get insulation installed?
Timelines vary. To get the latest estimates, give us a call at (623) 581-5298.
We currently have openings in the next month. Depending on the type of insulation that you need, it’s possible that we could seal and insulate your home in Phoenix in the next two to four weeks.
How do I know if I have enough insulation?
Most Phoenix homeowners who need insulation notice one of two things first:
- High electric bills;
- Comfort issues like temperature differences between rooms or floors of the home.
Let’s start with electric bills.
As a rule of thumb, your highest electric bills during the peak of summer should be less than $100 per 1000 square feet. So if you live in a 2,500 square-foot home, your highest monthly electric bill should be no more than $250.
If you’re paying more than that, it’s because your AC runs constantly. Give your AC a break and bring down your monthly bills by sealing air leaks and adding insulation.
You may also notice temperature differences between rooms and floors. For example, if the temperature upstairs is consistently 5 to 10° higher than the temperature downstairs, it’s because you don’t have enough attic insulation.
Looking across your attic, you should see about a foot and a half of blown in insulation consistently covering the entire attic floor. If you only see a few inches of insulation or spotty coverage, you should definitely give us a call: (623) 581-5298.
Does attic insulation help in summer?
Yes, attic insulation can help keep your home cool in the summer. Insulation works by slowing down the transfer of heat from the outside to the inside of your home.
In the summer, the sun’s rays can heat up the attic, making the rest of the house uncomfortably warm. Insulating the attic can reduce the amount of heat that enters the house, keeping it cooler.
In Phoenix, most of your air comes from the attic
In Phoenix homes, most of the air changes come from the attic. Windows and doors matter much less than most people realize.
Think about it this way.
In the summertime, let’s say it’s 110-degrees outside, and you keep your house at about 80-degrees. In your attic, the temperature is about 150-degrees.
Air moves most rapidly between areas with the greatest difference in temperature or pressure. Because of the huge temperature difference between your attic (150-degrees) and living space (80-degress), more air moves between those two areas than anywhere else in your home.
It’s essential that you seal air leaks and insulate your home in Phoenix.
With air sealing, we pay special attention to can lights, which are basically one-inch holes between your attic and indoor living space. Top plate penetrations where wires come down to the switches and outlets are also very important.
Give us a call at (623) 581-5298, or send a message to schedule an assessment of your home.
Wall insulation vs. attic insulation in Phoenix?
Here’s a common question we get: Where should I add insulation?
Since most homes in Phoenix are slab on grade, floor insulation doesn’t apply. That leaves two options:
- Insulate your walls.
- Add attic insulation.
Attic insulation: It almost always makes sense to focus on the attic first. When we seal air leaks in Phoenix attics, it’s common for us to reduce air leakage by 1,000 CFM – the same as shutting two mid-sized windows.
Imagine that you left two windows wide open at home. What would your home feel like after you shut the windows? Would it stay cooler longer? Would you pay less for electricity?
Air sealing and attic insulation are two of the most cost effective home energy upgrades in Phoenix. They’re also two of the best ways to improve indoor air quality.
If you have large air gaps between your attic and indoor living space, then a significant amount of the air you breath comes from your attic. Airborne particulates can cause health problems like allergic reactions and asthmatic responses.
Make air sealing and attic insulation top priorities if you haven’t done them already or if you’re not sure whether they’ve been done: (623) 581-5298.
Wall insulation: In general, wall insulation doesn’t offer a decent return on investment in Phoenix. Most homes in our area have sufficient wall insulation. Adding additional insulation gives only an incremental improvement that doesn’t justify the cost for most homeowners.
The bottom line: We almost always recommend starting with air sealing and attic insulation in Phoenix. You’ll see the best return on investment as well as the biggest improvements in both comfort and indoor air quality.
To beat the heat, should I prioritize AC or insulation?
If you feel uncomfortably hot at home, you probably want to cool things down.
Here’s the question: Where do you start? In Phoenix, should you upgrade your AC or heat pump, or does it make sense to seal air leaks and add attic insulation first?
Every home is different. Start by giving us a call at (623) 581-5298.
Here we’ll break down the main considerations related to upgrading your AC or insulation.
Phoenix Insulation vs. AC - General Considerations
The first thing to say is that it doesn’t have to be an either / or situation. Both your AC and insulation play an important role in determining how cool your home feels throughout the summer.
Most people think the first step is to upgrade their AC or heat pump. That may make sense, but most homeowners in Phoenix will benefit more by sealing air leaks and improving their insulation first.
When to start your AC
If you have a limited budget and your AC or heat pump system is on its last legs, then it probably makes sense to start with service / maintenance or replacing the entire system.
Here are the main considerations that could lead you to prioritize your AC:
- Age: Your AC or heat pump system is 15+ years old
- Maintenance: Your system has received little or no maintenance over the years
- Budget: Your budget prevents you from addressing both your AC system and other prioritize, like improving air sealing and insulation.
When to prioritize Phoenix insulation and air sealing
Most homeowners should start by sealing air leaks and adding insulation to their homes in Phoenix. Here are a few of the reasons to start with air sealing and insulation:
- Save money on upfront cost of your AC or heat pump: With proper air sealing and insulation, you can install a slightly smaller AC or heat pump. Because of the smaller size, you’ll save money on the cost of the cooling equipment
- Lower monthly electric bills: ENERGY STAR estimates that air sealing and insulation saves 15% on heating and cooling costs for average homeowners in the U.S.
- Less cycling, less strain: Air sealing and insulation will even out the indoor temperature differences that can cause your AC to constantly cycle on and off. As a result, your AC won’t have to work as hard.
- Longer lifespan for your system: Because your AC or heat pump won’t have to work as hard if you have the recommended levels of air sealing and insulation, the system will last longer, resulting in additional months or years of reliable operation.
What's the best attic insulation for Phoenix homes?
For attic insulation in Phoenix, blown-in fiberglass is the best solution. We install premium fiberglass insulation produced by CertainTeed, Owens Corning, and Johns Manville.
Compared to fiberglass batts, blown-in fiberglass delivers much better insulation value. The main issue with batts is misalignment: Any gaps between the batts reduce their effectiveness.
Misalignment of only 5% reduces the insulation value of fiberglass batts by 50%. If fiberglass batts are misaligned by 10% (very common), their insulation value gets cut in half again.
As an example, if you have fiberglass batts rated with an insulation value of R-30, you’ll only get R-9 if the batts are misaligned by as much as 10%. Because you get consistent coverage from blown-in fiberglass insulation, you can easily achieve R-43 – about five times the insulation value of misaligned fiberglass batts.
Some homes have blown-in cellulose insulation in the attic. In general, we don’t recommend cellulose because of concerns about indoor air quality.
Cellulose insulation contains fire retardants and produces a significant amount of particulate matter, which can cause congestion and other allergic reactions. Cellulose insulation can also be a trigger for asthmatics.
When we find an attic with cellulose insulation, we recommend vacuuming it out and replacing the attic insulation with blown-in fiberglass.
Compared to cellulose, fiberglass insulation does a better job of protecting indoor air quality. It also delivers better insulation value than fiberglass batts, which often have issues with misalignment. That’s why blown-in fiberglass is the best attic insulation for Phoenix homes.
How much does Phoenix attic insulation cost?
The cost of air sealing and attic insulation in Phoenix typically ranges between $2,500 and $4,500. The exact price depends on the size of your home and factors like the type of insulation, target R-value, and the amount of air sealing or other preparation needed.
To get pricing for your attic insulation project, start by giving us a call at (623) 581-5298, or send us a message anytime:
Phoenix Attic Insulation Costs: Type of Insulation
The best option for most homeowners in Phoenix is premium blown-in fiberglass insulation. You’ll find that fiberglass batts are more more common and slightly less expensive. However, because of issues with misalignment, fiberglass batts deliver far less insulation value than blown-in fiberglass.
Phoenix Attic Insulation Costs: R-Value
Another factor that affects the cost of Phoenix insulation projects is the target R-value.
The R-value is a measure of how well a type of insulation can keep heat from entering or leaving your home. R-values for insulation vary based on the type, thickness and density of the material. Generally, a higher R-value means better climate control and more energy efficiency. However, higher R-values also tend to come with higher price tags.
We generally aim to achieve an R-value of more than R-40 with blown-in fiberglass attic insulation. This tends to be the sweet spot. If you try to achieve a higher R-value, you’ll just end up paying more for the project without seeing an additional improvement in comfort or savings on your energy bills.
Phoenix Attic Insulation Costs: Preparation
Your insulation project will cost more if, for example, we need to remove existing insulation or other debris before installing your new insulation. Additional air sealing to close up gaps between your attic and indoor living space will also drive up the price.
How much will insulation save on my energy bills?
ENERGY STAR estimates that sealing air leaks and adding insulation save 15% on home heating and cooling costs for an average home in the U.S.
Before installing attic insulation – or doing any home upgrade – it’s important to consider how the upgrade will affect other areas of your home.
For example, a less reputable Phoenix insulation company may propose insulating your attic without sealing and insulating the ducts in your home.
This would be a huge missed opportunity. Sealing and insulating ducts saves an additional 20% on average energy bills. What’s more, sealing ducts keeps particulates from entering your HVAC system – clogging your air filter and potentially hurting your indoor air quality.
Here at AZ Energy Efficient Home, we always take a whole-home perspective. When we assess a home, we consider the full potential for air sealing, duct sealing, insulation, and more.
Give us a call to talk about a project at your home: (623) 581-5298.
Are there tax credits for Phoenix attic insulation?
Absolutely!
Starting in 2023, you can claim a tax credit that covers up to 30% of the cost of installing insulation – including attic, wall, or floor insulation – with an annual maximum of $1,200.
If you hire AZ Energy Efficient Home to insulate your home, we’ll ensure that your project checks all of the boxes to qualify for the insulation tax credit.
Be careful choosing an insulation contractor.
To get the insulation tax credit, the IRS requires that your insulation and air sealing materials meet the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) standard from two years prior the installation. So, if you insulate your attic in 2025, the materials have to meet the IECC standard from 2023.
For more, please peruse our breakdown of energy tax credits for homeowners in Phoenix, or visit the U.S. Department of Energy for a deeper dive.
To claim your insulation tax credit, the first step is to connect with a reputable installer. Just give us a call at (623) 581-5298 or reach out to schedule an appointment. We’re happy to help.
What's different about AZ Energy Efficient Home?
We care … a lot.
Too many Phoenix insulation companies move fast and make recommendations without taking the time to understand the home. This can have all kinds of unintended consequences – like causing pressure differences and the build up of dust, mold, and mildew.
We run diagnostics for every Phoenix insulation project. The testing tells us exactly how much air sealing, duct sealing, and insulation you need.
We’re incredibly proud of the work we do. No other contractor in the country has won the ENERGY STAR Contractor of the Year title more times than AZ Energy Efficient Home.