Insulation is one of those things homeowners do not think about until an energy bill spikes or a draft creeps across the living room floor. Working on houses all over Bellevue, Nebraska, from older builds near Olde Towne to newer spots out by Offutt Air Force Base, Apex Siding Solutions gets asked many questions about how insulation works and what makes sense for our Nebraska climate. Here are the answers to the questions homeowners in Bellevue, Nebraska hear and ask most often.
How do I know if my Bellevue home actually needs more insulation?
Utility bills are usually the biggest tell for a Bellevue home. If your furnace runs constantly during a freezing January stretch or your air conditioner cannot keep up in July, conditioned air is likely escaping through the attic or walls. Homeowners can also head up to the attic with a tape measure to check the depth. If your insulation sits below the floor joists, the house is definitely under-insulated. Another easy check is looking at your roof after a heavy snow; if patches are melting faster than the rest of the neighborhood, heat is escaping straight through the roof deck.
What R-value do we need here in eastern Nebraska?
The Department of Energy recommends between R-49 and R-60 for attics in our climate zone, which is Climate Zone 5. Winters get very cold and summers get very humid, so a solid thermal barrier is very important. A lot of homes Apex Siding Solutions looks at only have R-30 or less, which does not cut it when the wind starts howling off the Platte River and freezing temperatures settle in for weeks at a time.
Is spray foam worth the extra money compared to fiberglass batts?
It depends on where you are putting it, but generally speaking, spray foam is worth the investment if you are doing an attic upgrade or rim joists in the basement. Closed-cell spray foam acts as both an air seal and a high-R-value insulator. Fiberglass batts are cheaper upfront, but they sag over time and let air move right through them if they are not installed perfectly. Apex Siding Solutions often sees homeowners save hundreds of dollars per year on gas and electric bills after switching to foam in drafty problem areas in Bellevue.
Can you add new insulation right over the old stuff?
Usually, yes, as long as the existing material is clean and completely dry. If you have old blown-in fiberglass or cellulose that is in decent shape, adding another layer of loose-fill on top is a great way to boost your R-value without tearing everything out. However, if there is any sign of a roof leak, mold, or pest damage, you must clean the slate first. Never put new insulation over wet material.
Will upgrading my insulation stop my house from being so dusty?
Surprisingly, yes. A lot of household dust is actually tiny particles being sucked in from the attic, crawlspace, or wall cavities through tiny gaps in your building envelope. When Apex Siding Solutions air-seals an attic before blowing in new insulation, we cut off those draft pathways. Homeowners in Bellevue are often amazed at how much cleaner their surfaces stay week to week.
How long does an insulation installation take?
For most standard attic upgrades, the crew from Apex Siding Solutions can knock it out in 1 to 2 days. Spray foam projects that involve the entire house or tricky crawlspaces might take 2 to 3 days depending on prep work and curing time. We try to keep disruption to an absolute minimum so you can get back to normal life quickly in your Bellevue home.
Does adding insulation help with outside noise?
It makes a noticeable difference, especially if you use dense-pack cellulose or spray foam in your exterior walls. If you live near busy roads or under flight paths in Bellevue, better insulation dampens those high-frequency outdoor sounds and makes your indoor space much quieter.