Frigid temperatures have settled in Coeur d’Alene. Utility costs are rising just as we’re getting ready to welcome guests for the holidays. How can you keep your home warm and comfortable without energy bills breaking the bank? The answer is simple: carpet. In this post, we’ll discuss how carpet can improve your home’s insulation and energy efficiency.
Carpet and R-Value
R-Value is a metric that measures a room’s energy efficiency. The higher this value, the easier it is to maintain a room’s temperature. So, a higher r-value means less work for your HVAC system and lower utility costs.
Carpet helps improve r-value. Its fibers are naturally more insulating than hard surfaces. You may have noticed this if you’ve ever stepped out of bed on a cold winter night onto a hardwood or tile floor. Carpet is noticeably warmer since fibers retain temperatures more efficiently.
While fabric is warmer in general, the actual r-value is mostly determined by thickness. Obviously, thicker carpet means better insulation. However, it can also mean more static shocks when touching metallic surfaces. And, carpet that’s too thick doesn’t fit every style. Fortunately, there’s another opportunity to improve energy efficiency, which we’ll discuss next.
The Benefit of Carpet Padding
The carpet itself isn’t the only thing improving your room’s r-value. Carpet flooring is installed over padding. These pads add yet another layer of insulation. A quality pad improves the r-value substantially. As an added bonus, a quality pad will also extend the life of your carpet.
Area Rugs
Rugs can also help improve a room’s r-value. They work well with both carpet and hard surface flooring. We recommend placing them around common seating areas to provide a little more warmth.
Learn More
Ready for a cozier (and more affordable home) this winter? Visit Coeur d’Alene’s leading flooring experts at Carpet Warehouse & ColorTile today!
