13 Insulation Facts That Every Homeowners Must Know

One of the most cost-effective ways to save money on your energy bills is to have enough attic insulation in your home. Aside from the financial benefits, attic insulation keeps your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer, providing you and your family with year-round comfort.

Nearly 90% of homes, on the other hand, lack adequate attic insulation. “Out of sight, out of mind,” as the phrase goes! Don’t overlook the importance of getting the correct quantity of insulation for your home.

So, before hitting further for any insulation process in your home, it is always important to know some of the important facts about insulation.

So, here’s the list of facts that might astonish to you.

Are you ready?

Let’s explore further…

  • Update Your Insulation

If you want to save energy or keep your garage warm, it’s worth paying the extra money to convert from extruded polystyrene to polyurethane insulation. The R-value of a garage door measures how well it insulates. The greater the number, the more effectively it insulates. Upgrading from 2-in. polystyrene to Clopay’s Intellicore (polyurethane) boosts the insulating value from R-9 to R-18, according to Clopay. That’s a lot of value for your money.

  • If at all possible, stay away from paper-faced insulation.

If you’re insulating a wall, don’t buy paper-faced insulation. Cutting the batts is tough due to the paper facing. With paper-faced batts, it’s also difficult to build a tight vapour retarder.

  • Mold thrives in the absence of insulation.

Warm air seeks out gaps in the insulation, and when it comes into contact with colder surfaces as it exits or enters the house, water condenses, feeding mould. Outside walls near floors or windows, in corners, and around outlets and lights are common sites for these places. Just keep an eye on it if the mould goes away after cleaning it and lowering indoor humidity with a dehumidifier or vent fan. If the situation recurs, open the wall and resolve the issue.

4) Add Attic Insulation

Adding attic insulation will reduce heat loss in most homes, but notably in older homes. Attic insulation should be between R-22 and R-49 at a minimum (6 to 13 in. of loose fill or 7 to 19 in. of fibreglass batts). To find the appropriate amount for your location, contact your local building department or go to EnergySavers.gov.

Measure the amount of insulation you have by sticking your head through the attic access door. If you don’t have enough insulation or only have the bare minimum, adding extra will help you save money on your heating bills. Even if you currently have fibreglass, use loose-fill insulation instead of fibreglass batts if you need to add more.

  • Itch Remover

A sticky lint roller removes those irritating insulation fibres from your skin and clothes, as well as reducing itching.

  • Insulate Pipes

Condensation leaking from chilled pipes could be the source of basement water troubles. Wrap cold water pipes in foam pipe insulation to avoid condensation. Insulation foam is inexpensive and easy to cut with scissors.

  • Use Foam or Caulk for Small Gaps

As you walk around working on the bigger air leaks, have your can of expanding foam and caulk gun accessible and cover the apparent electrical cable holes and fixture boxes. Make sure you reach the plumbing vent because the gap surrounding it is often rather considerable. Follow the 2×4 top plates (framing) of interior walls, keeping an eye out for electrical cable holes and unclean insulation, which could suggest a gap or long fracture between the drywall and the wood plate. Caulk should be used to seal these.

  • Use Mold-Resistant Building Materials

Use materials that resist mould growth and aren’t affected by water if you need to create or rebuild an area where moisture has been a problem. Build walls out of pressure-treated wood and hard insulation, then cover them with paperless drywall to prevent mould from growing.

  • Seal Small Attic Holes With Foam and Caulk

Because hot air rises, ceiling leaks are even worse than wall leaks. This airflow through the ceilings and into the attic is the primary source of heat loss in many homes. An incense stick can be used to check for leaks around ceiling light fixtures and the attic access door. Other leaks, on the other hand, can only be found by crawling up into the attic, pulling down the insulation, and looking for them.

  • Cut Fiberglass Batts to Exact Widths

It’s simple to insulate your walls using fibreglass insulation (at least when they’re open! ), but to obtain the best results, you’ll need to pay attention to the details. Heat or cold can escape through any crevice and compressed batt.

  • Avoid Stuffing

Avoid cramming full-width batts into too-tight areas. Uninsulated air pockets are created when batts are crumpled to fit into tight areas. The R-value of packed insulation is also lower.

  • Notch Batts Around Electrical Boxes

Notches should be cut into batts to allow them to fit snugly around electrical boxes. Gaskets in airtight boxes seal against the drywall.

Place the batt in place and snip around the box with scissors. Snip the insulation plug and tuck it behind the box. Wrapping fibreglass batts around electrical boxes or stuffing full batts behind them is not a good idea. As a result, there are gaps and air convection pathways all throughout the box.

  • Split Batts near the Cables and Pipes

To receive the full value of the insulation, cut the batts apart to fit around wires and pipes. The vertical weaving of fibreglass batts makes it easy to tear them open for insulating around electrical lines.

Conclusion

Well, with the above-mentioned facts, it would be easy for you to head with the insulation process in your home. However, if you’re in search of a professional help, www.massenergyexpert.com is right a call away. You can contact us to know more about saving home energy.

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