What You Should Know About Spray Foam Insulation

Owning a home is a huge responsibility, but it's easy to overlook many parts of the home, especially the insulation. Insulation is usually out of sight and out of mind, but when you don't have enough insulation, you can waste lots of money. If you would like to know more, keep reading. Why Is Insulation Important? Insulation drastically helps improve your home's ability to withstand the transfer of heat. This means your home naturally stays cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. As a result, you use less energy and money to keep your home heated and cooled. Insulation is specifically designed to have a high resistance to heat transfer, and some types of insulation are also good at blocking moisture. Unfortunately, in some older homes, enough insulation was not originally used, so you may not realize your home is lacking insulation. Signs your home doesn't have enough insulation include cold walls, drafts, mold and moisture inside the house, high energy bills, etc. What Types of Insulation Are Available? There are many different types of insulation, but homes only tend to use a handful. Home insulation often comes in rolls made from fiberglass, mineral wool, or plastic fibers. These rolls allow you to cut out pieces and lay them between the studs in the walls and the rafters in the ceiling. Some insulation is loose-fill fiberglass or cellulose insulation. This type of insulation is similar to the rolls, but it is blown into place. Spray foam insulation is also growing in popularity for homeowners. This is often viewed as one of the most effective types of insulation, but there are two different options: open-cell and closed-cell. Both are durable, but closed-cell spray foam insulation is also moisture-resistant. In some cases, reflective systems may need to be used. These are great for unfinished areas of the home, such as an unfinished garage or basement. The foil used helps better prevent the transfer of heat. What Does R-Value Mean? Insulation is measured in R-Value, and every building material has an R-value. Of course, since insulation is designed to withstand the transfer of heat, it is designed with a high R-value. Different types of insulation have different R-values, but the higher the value, the better it withstands the transfer of heat. Naturally, closed-cell spray foam has one of the highest R-values. The ideal R-value depends on two factors: where you live and where you are installing the insulation. For the most part, the hotter the climate, the lower R-value you need. For example, the majority of Tennessee is considered zone 4. In zone 4, the ideal R-value for attics is R38 to R60, and the ideal R-value for walls is R13 to R21, depending on the size of the wall. In the lower portion of Florida, however, R-value for the attic only needs to be R30 to R49. Where Should Insulation Be Added? Insulation should be added to many parts of your home. Typically, you want to add it to the attic, basement, every wall, every floor, and every ceiling. Attic insulation is particularly important at preventing heated air from escaping via the roof on cold days. It also helps prevent heat gain inside the house from the sun on hot days. In addition, you should add insulation to other parts of the house, such as any ductwork, pipes that transport heated and cooled water, and your water heater. This will help keep the air and water naturally warmer, so you use less energy. Insulation is easy to ignore, but it is important for reducing the transfer of heat inside your home. With a great R-value, you can save money on heating and cooling. If you would like to know more, contact us at Breeding Insulation Company, Chattanooga, Inc., today.