What you don’t know about insulating your walls, floors, and attic could be costing you big bucks. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling costs account for 42 percent of utility bills. Did you know:
The best type of insulation is…
It depends. A home energy assessor can help you determine what insulation you have and what you need. Your first considerations are where is insulation needed and what thermal performance (R-value) is needed?
Types include blanket batt and roll insulation; insulating concrete blocks; foam board or rigid foam insulation; insulating concrete forms; loose-fill and blown-in insulation; rigid fiber board insulation; and sprayed foam and foam-in-place insulation.
Insulation is typically placed in attics, walls, floors, basements, crawl spaces, and around water pipes. Some insulation types are preferred for specific areas of a house. Moisture control is a consideration in areas like basements and crawl spaces.
Your home may not have enough insulation
North American Insulation Manufacturers Association reports 90 percent of American homes are under insulated. Indicators are fluctuating temperatures from room to room; high energy bills; interior walls, floors, and ceilings that are cold to the touch; drafts; frozen pipes; and tiny spaces that permit rodents and insects to enter.
Little cracks can be a big problem
U.S. Department of Energy says a gap of just 1/8 of an inch under a 36-inch door lets in as much cold air as having a 2 1/2-inch hole drilled through your wall to the outside. Consider air sealing your home prior to insulating it.
Installation is the most important factor
More important than the type of insulation you choose is how that insulation is installed. Any remaining air voids reduce insulation’s performance.
Wood is not a good insulator
U.S. Department of Energy recommends attic insulation cover the tops of ceiling joists because wood is such a poor insulator. If those support beams are not covered, heat and cold will bypass the insulation and radiate right through the wood.
You don’t want to compress insulation
Stuffing too much insulation into a wall or floor is a bad idea because insulation that’s compressed will not deliver its maximum thermal performance.
The Club can help
To schedule a consultation, contact the Club.
