Thursday, October 28th by Shannon Brelsford
Ensuring that your new home is properly insulated is one of the most important parts of homeownership.
Becoming a first-time homeowner is the beginning of a grand adventure, one full of choices and surprises, with no shortage of work to be done.
One of the most important considerations to make when moving into a new home is ascertaining its level of energy efficiency and overall comfort. Depending on the age of construction, the needs of the home may vary--with newer construction tending to need less in the way of insulation and air sealing than older construction, which often requires new or added insulation after a certain amount of time. But, as a new homeowner, how does one know which type of insulation their home needs?
Batt insulation is commonly used in attics, walls, floors, and ceilings.
As a first-time homeowner, there are many aspects of maintaining a healthy and comfortable home that was never quite as important before as a renter or member of the family household. Things like “how often should the gutters be cleaned?” or “what type of insulation goes where?”
Here’s a rundown of the most common types of insulation:
Cellulose insulation, made from recycled paper is an excellent insulating material for attics with unfinished floors and crawl spaces.
There are many factors that contribute to what insulation is best for the home, and how much you may need in any given area. Some of these factors include the age of construction, common weather patterns in your area, and your personal budget.
With older homes, insulation has had more time to settle, degrade and lose its overall effectiveness. In some cases, with a truly old home, there could be areas that were neglected altogether. This can become a serious drain on money and resources during the winter if you happen to live in a colder climate, leaving the home uncomfortable and racking up heating and cooling bills through the seasons. The best way to choose the proper insulation for your home is, of course, to reach out to a professional home insulation contractor for an experienced opinion.
Heat naturally rises, this is a fact that we all know well. As such, the area that tends to lose the most heat during the winter and collect the most heat during the summer is the highest point in the home--making the attic space one of the most crucial areas to ensure is properly insulated--as well as exterior walls and windows.
R-value is defined as the capacity of an insulating material to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater and more effective the insulating power of the material.
Unfortunately, there is no one answer to this question, however--a professional home insulation contractor will be an excellent resource for you in this matter.
A home energy audit is a series of tests done around the home to form a better idea of energy usage and subsequent wastage, air leakage, and poor insulation. A home insulation and energy efficiency contractor will identify the problem areas and help you to plan a proper solution to your energy and comfort concerns.
Air sealing is a process by which expanding foam--much like spray foam insulation--is injected into small gaps and cracks that contribute to air loss within the home. Common places to be air sealed include window trims, around doors, vents, fireplaces, and furnace flues among other areas.
Check out the Dr. Energy Saver website, or reach today for more information about insulation!
Here at Dr. Energy Saver, we know just how daunting it can feel to settle into being a new homeowner. That’s why we make it our business to provide not only top-quality customer service and trusted workmanship--but a wealth of readily available information as well.
If you’re interested in learning more about the various types of insulation and home energy efficiency services, visit Dr. Energy Saver’s website today!