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Is Home Insulation Required Under Florida Building Code?

Many states have all kinds of rules and regulations in place to maintain certain qualities of your home, and Florida is no exception. For example, every property must adhere to the building code regarding home insulation. While many contractors will comply with the code during the construction of each new structure, it’s still possible that your home may not be meeting these requirements. Whether it be due to negligence by the contractor or the degradation of poor insulation over time, it’s in your best interest to inspect the condition of your current insulation with the help of the insulation experts at Foam Bear Tampa.

R-Value Requirements in Florida

If you’ve read up on insulation even a little bit, you may have heard of the term “R-value”. This refers to the level of effectiveness of your insulation and how well it works in regulating your indoor temperature. A high number in your R-value means that less heat will pass through while a lower number means that your insulation is not very effective at containing heat. The R-value is typically measured by your home’s temperature differential which any skilled contractor is able to calculate for you.

Walls and floors are expected to have an R-value of 13 or higher while ceilings need to have at least 30. For reference, the average high for walls is 21 and the high for ceilings is 60. In comparison, the Florida building code doesn’t seem like it’s asking for much. However, you’ll be surprised to learn that many homes don’t even meet these numbers, especially when equipped with traditional fiberglass insulation.

Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) Requirements in Florida

Many people talk about the R-value when it comes to insulation, but there’s another unit of measurement that helps determine the quality of your insulation and is also regulated by building code laws. We’re talking about air changes per hour, also referred to as ACH. This is a calculation of how many times the air in your home leaks to the outside each hour. ACH is used to determine the air tightness of your insulation.

The Florida building code requires that your home must not exceed 7 ACH, although this is pretty generous. For proper insulation, an ACH of 3 or less is much more comfortable and will save you money on your energy bill. This is easy to do with quality spray foam insulation.

Meeting Florida Requirements with Spray Foam Insulation

Oftentimes, traditional fiberglass insulation will just barely allow your home to comply with Florida’s regulations, if at all. Some homeowners frequently worry about their old insulation becoming deteriorated enough to the point of no longer being legal, but spray foam insulation will ensure that you pass your inspections with flying colors every time. This is because, unlike fiberglass sheets which are difficult to align for a tight and proper seal, spray foam is designed to fill in all open space for a truly airtight application.

The Best Spray Foam Insulation Company In Tampa

If you want to keep in line with the Florida building code every time without worry for the years to come, allow Foam Bear Tampa to come down and equip your home with the best quality spray foam insulation that Florida has to offer. Give us a call at (727) 580-1090 for a free estimate!

Is Your Home Energy Efficient? 5 Ways to Decrease Your Energy Use

Energy efficiency isn’t a trend or a luxury, it’s a vital component of the future of our climate. If you want to play your part in a happier planet while saving money on your electric bill, Foam Bear Orlando has all the little tips and tricks to decrease energy usage in your home. By making a healthy habit out of these actions, you’ll see a noticeable difference, and you can feel proud of yourself for supporting our lovely environment in the process.

1. Upgrade Your Equipment to Greener Versions

Whether it’s something as small as a light bulb or as large as a washing machine, most brands of home appliances offer energy-efficient models designed to minimize electricity usage. LED light bulbs are proven to consume much less electricity than traditional bulbs, and green appliances will no doubt cut down your bill. Next time you go shopping, look out for the ENERGY STAR sticker on any machine that you’re checking out.

2. Refrain From Unnecessary Energy Usage

Many of us will flip all the light switches on without a second thought, but every minute that the lights are on is another minute of energy being used. Take advantage of natural lighting during the day and make sure the switch is down in rooms that aren’t being occupied. It also helps to turn off the television or computer if you’re not actively using them.

3. Pay Mind to Your Thermostat

Oftentimes, the air conditioner is the main culprit in high energy usage. Make use of your ceiling fan if you have one and reduce indoor heat by closing your blinds or curtains during the summer. These are all good habits to have while keeping your thermostat set to decent temperatures.

4. Hot Water Uses Energy, too!

It takes a great deal of energy to generate enough heat to warm up water and maintain its temperature. By conserving hot water, you can minimize the number of times your water heater needs to work. One way of doing this is to wash your clothes in cold water. Unless you’re dealing with heavy stains, cold water works just fine for regular loads.

5. Insulation Makes All the Difference

The most significant thing you can do in creating an energy-efficient home is to upgrade your insulation. Most homes come standard with fiberglass sheets, but these don’t always provide a good enough seal to effectively regulate your interior temperatures. Spray foam insulation is more effective in sealing up every little gap that could otherwise lead to an overworked HVAC. Homeowners who have made the switch to spray foam insulation have seen energy bill savings of up to 50%!

Call Foam Bear Orlando for the Best Spray Foam Insulation!

Foam Bear Orlando has been upgrading homes in Florida to be more energy efficient for many years. which makes us the number one choice in the area! We’ll gladly clear out your outdated insulation before giving you top-quality spray foam insulation that’ll last a lifetime. Call us at (727) 580-1090 for a free estimate!