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The Benefits of Home InsulationWe are all concerned about saving energy and Home Insulation has become a high priority home improvement project this year. Rising energy costs have us searching for ways to save on energy bills and creating a more air tight home envelop before next winter sets in. It is one of the most cost efficient projects we can undertake, as well as improving the comfort of our homes. Often the first consideration is to improve attic insulation when planning to upgrade the R-value of your home with modern home insulation products and techniques. However, depending on the design and age of your home, you may benefit much more if you can plan for a complete project of a whole house insulation, budgeting for outer walls, ceilings, floors, doors and windows.
It's also important to remember that all home insulation projects should also include provisions for adequate ventilation. Closing up your home benefits from reducing the flow of cold air from the outside in as well as reducing heat loss you have generated in the inside.
Without proper ventilation, moisture will build up within your home and begin to affect the infrastructure until there are visible signs of mold and mildew.
Sufficient ventilation is also especially important if you use gas appliances in your home. For example, a kitchen ventilation hood is essential to extract cooking and fuel fumes but there must also be a sufficient clean air supply coming into the room.
With a wide variety of insulation products and material to choose from, it can be difficult deciding which is the best option for your home.
Spray foam home insulation is growing in popularity because when it is installed professionally it is one of the easiest and quickest ways to reach deep into cavity walls and other difficult to access area of the shell of your home and that is why it is a popular option in retro insulating homes.
The comparatively high cost of installing liquid foam is slowly coming down. This material sprays on in a thin layer and expands to around 120 times its initial volume and sets in minutes. Other advantages are that this material then doesn't sag or disintegrate, nor does it provide an environment for mildew.
Your other home insulation type options are:
Rigid Foam - has great water resistant properties and this has made the home insulation product popular with basement insulation projects. Another advantage is that it has a high R-value when compared to fiberglass blanket batts.
Although this is often a good economical choice especially for the level of insulation barrier protection it provides, rigid foam is more popular in new build than in retro-insulation projects.
Loose Fill - with loose fill home insulation, you have a choice between cellulose and fiberglass materials. Cellulose is more economical for you and easier to handle for your home insulation contractor, although you may be advised to opt for fiberglass if you live in an area prone to damp.
All types of Loose Fill are pressure blown into cavities, experienced contractors should make sure that this home insulation product settles evenly without leaving any air pockets.
Blanket Rolls and Blanket Batts - these are the preferred choice for most do-it-yourself home insulation projects because these special paper backed blankets are designed to fit between floor joists and in wall cavities.
If you are planning to use blanket rolls, to replace old materials or to supplement existing insulation, always check the recommended minimum R-value for your area and plan to exceed it with higher density batts, without going so far as to impact the material.
If your doors or windows can be moved even slightly when they are closed, you can be sure that air can also pass between the frame. Weather stripping doors and windows is well worth the effort - often so much of the heat that you are paying for is lost out of your own uninsulated front door. Materials like felt and soft foam usually have to be replaced every year, while vinyl weather stripping stands up longer to the elements and constant use. The use of metals like copper as a weather stripping material often become a design feature and are long lasting solutions. Home Insulation Tips
There are other areas within your home where you should assess for possible air leaks, checking the seal of baseboards as well as electric switch plates and outlets may give surprising results.
Often the attic is insulated without giving any attention to the access hatch itself - these should also be insulated to prevent your heat escaping into your attic space.
Whole house insulation without adequate ventilation will create a very unhealthy home environment, the combination of moisture building up and the lack of new air causes stagnent air pollutants which can make your home a very unsafe place to live.
Insulation and Ventilation should always be a combined project to make sure that your energy bills are reduced over a long term and that you and your family can really benefit from your Home Insulation investment. Susan Eland-Nyikos has written numerous articles on how to improve the comfort and value to your home. If you would like to read more on home insulation or are looking for home remodeling ideas, projects, tips and product reviews - you will find more articles at Home Improvement and Financing.com
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