February 19, 2025
Upgrading your heating and cooling system is a great step toward better home comfort and energy efficiency, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. Your insulation and air sealing are equally important to creating a comfortable home and reducing energy bills.
Whether you’ve already made HVAC system upgrades or you’re thinking about installing a new heating or cooling system, Weatherization Services can help you get the most out of your investment. We take a whole-home approach to energy efficiency, ensuring that insulation and HVAC upgrades work together for maximum comfort and savings.
Insulation is the Foundation of Energy Efficiency
Many factors impact your home’s energy efficiency, but insulation is the glue that holds them all together.
Insulation and air sealing act as a barrier that slows the transfer of heat between your home and the outdoors. During the winter, insulation traps heat inside your home, making it easier for your furnace to keep your house warm. In the summer, insulation helps with cooling by blocking heat from entering your home, reducing the strain on your air conditioner.
Without proper insulation and air sealing in key areas of your home, you will be constantly losing heat in the summer and taking it on in the winter, making it impossible for your HVAC system to work efficiently. This makes your house uncomfortable and it also drives up your energy bills.
The Critical Role of Attic Insulation
One of the most impactful places to upgrade insulation is the attic. Because heat rises, an under-insulated attic allows warm air to escape in winter, making your heating system work harder. In summer, attics can reach extreme temperatures, causing excess heat to seep into your living spaces. Insulating your attic will keep your house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, reducing the burden on your HVAC system.
How Insulation Enhances HVAC Performance
A high-efficiency furnace or air conditioner can only do so much if your home isn’t properly insulated. If your insulation and air sealing aren’t in good shape, your HVAC system has to work much harder to keep your home comfortable. That’s not good for your energy bills or your HVAC system. Too much strain will drive up your energy costs and could cause your heating and cooling system to break down, leading to expensive repairs.
When insulation is upgraded, it minimizes heat loss and gain, allowing your HVAC system to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures with less effort. This leads to:
- Lower Energy Bills – Less energy is required to heat and cool your home, leading to significant savings.
- Extended HVAC Lifespan – Reduced workload on heating and cooling systems means fewer breakdowns and a longer lifespan.
- Better Indoor Air Quality – Insulation helps keep out pollutants and allergens while reducing moisture and mold problems.
- Humidity control - Insulation and air sealing keep humidity out, reducing your reliance on your AC for dehumidification.
A Whole-Home Approach Provides Maximum Benefits
Most contractors focus on just one service—some do heating and cooling upgrades, others install insulation. But this segregated approach leads to many issues. If, for example, your house isn’t staying cool enough, you might call an AC company to replace it. But if that company doesn’t look at your insulation first, you could end up spending $10,000 on a new AC when an attic insulation upgrade would have been much more effective.
With Weatherization Services, you can upgrade your home with confidence. We begin with a comprehensive energy audit to identify the root cause of problems like discomfort, high humidity, and expensive utility bills. From there, we make targeted recommendations that ensure the most effective improvements. As experts in whole-home solutions—including insulation, air sealing, and HVAC upgrades—we provide everything you need under one roof for an easy, streamlined process.
Save on Insulation & HVAC Upgrades with HOMES Rebates
Making upgrades to your home’s energy efficiency is more affordable than ever thanks to new rebates. The IRA HOMES rebates, offered through Focus on Energy, can save you $1,500 to $10,000 on energy-saving home improvements, including insulation, air sealing, and ENERGY STAR-certified heating and cooling equipment. The amount you’re eligible for depends on how much energy your project is expected to save and your household income. The more energy you save, the higher your rebate!
Weatherization Services is an IRA Registered Contractor and we can help you take advantage of HOMES rebates in Wisconsin! You may also qualify for additional Focus on Energy rebates and a federal tax credit, depending on the upgrades you make. We can help you determine which incentives you qualify for and help you maximize your savings.