Congratulations on your new heat pump installation! As the weather cools down this fall and winter, your heat pump or ductless mini split system will keep your Hudson Valley home comfortable while operating efficiently and sustainably. But did you know that to get the most out of your high-performance heating system, your home also needs to be properly insulated and air sealed?
Healthy Home Energy & Consulting can help determine where your home needs performance upgrades with our comprehensive, no-cost energy audit. Also referred to by our team as a Healthy Home Evaluation, this in-depth analysis allows us to identify areas of inefficiencies and build a custom plan of action to maximize your home comfort, efficiency, and health.
Insulation & Air Sealing: The Key to High-Performance Heating & Cooling
A heat pump is designed to provide efficient heating and cooling, but even the most advanced system can struggle to keep your home comfortable if your home’s building envelope is compromised. A building’s envelope can include many things that affect the thermal and pressure boundaries, but insulation and airtightness are most crucial. Gaps in insulation, unsealed cracks, and air leaks can cause your heat pump to work harder than it needs to, which drives up energy costs, shortens its lifespan, and reduces overall comfort.
Why Insulation Matters
Proper insulation is crucial for maintaining warm temperatures in your home throughout the winter. Without adequate insulation in key areas like your attic, basement, or crawl space, your home loses heat quickly, forcing your heat pump to cycle more frequently. Upgrading your insulation to high-performance materials, like cellulose or spray foam, helps maintain a consistent temperature, lowers energy consumption, and reduces wear and tear on your heat pump.
The Role of Air Sealing
In addition to insulation, sealing air leaks around windows, doors, and other penetrations in your home’s envelope further enhances your heat pump’s efficiency. Air sealing stops drafts and prevents cold air from entering and warm air from leaving your home, allowing your heat pump to maintain a steady indoor climate without the extra effort.
Added Benefits of Insulation & Air Sealing Your Home
Investing in upgraded insulation and air sealing doesn’t just improve your heat pump’s performance—it also provides numerous other benefits, such as:
Improved Indoor Comfort - Say goodbye to cold drafts and uneven temperatures—insulation and air sealing ensure that every room in your home stays warm and comfortable, regardless of the weather outside.
Enhanced Indoor Air Quality - Insulation and air sealing can help reduce outdoor pollutants, allergens, and moisture infiltration, contributing to healthier indoor air quality.
Lower Energy Bills - With better insulation and fewer air leaks, your heat pump doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your home warm. This means you’ll enjoy significant energy savings throughout the entire year.
Get Started with a No-Cost Healthy Home Evaluation
Wondering where your home in Westchester County or surrounding areas needs home performance improvements? A no-cost Healthy Home Evaluation is the perfect place to start. Our trained and certified specialists will conduct several tests, like a blower door and infrared thermal imaging, to assess insulation quality, pinpoint areas of air leakage, and more. Based on our findings, we’ll work with you to develop a tailored plan that will help your heat pump operate at its best. We’ll also go over available rebates and incentives for your proposed upgrades, like the newly available Inflation Reduction Act rebates through NYSERDA.
Book your Healthy Home Evaluation today. Call 914-242-9733 or contact us online to get started.
