Having a properly insulated house keeps you warmer in the winter, and cooler in the summer. Good insulation prevents cool air from escaping your home in the summer, and keeps the warm air in during the winter, as well as limiting the noise that gets through your walls. If your home is 15 years or older and hasn’t had additional insulation installed, it may be time to upgrade. Also, if any damage has been done recently to insulation during construction or repairs, or any has been removed, you should have it redone. In general, insulation settles over time, or compresses when things are set on it.
Any licensed, professional contractor will be able to help you, and in some cases it may be something you’re willing to tackle yourself. Besides just lowering your energy bills, another incentive is federal tax credit for adding insulation. Currently, the Energy Star website reports a tax credit of 10% of the cost (not including installation), up to $500. Many energy companies will also give you a rebate for adding insulation, but in some cases you will only be eligible for the rebate if you have the work done by a contractor approved by your energy company, so it is important to check with your energy company before making any decisions.
What is insulation?
Insulation is any type of material that prevents unwanted heat loss and gain between the inside of a home and the outside environment. However, it can also help keep noise pollution from outside to a minimum, and even help reduce vibrations from outside. Insulation is usually water and flame resistant as well.
Where in my home might I need to upgrade my insulation?
Wall insulation: Adding insulation after the walls of a home are already built can be tricky, but in older homes where energy efficiency has gone down significantly over time, it may become unavoidable in order to reduce energy costs. Insulation does settle over time, and other factors can reduce its efficacy as well. These days when new homes are being built, fiberglass batting is the most common insulating method, and it is simply added in sheets when the walls are being put up. However, in older homes where insulation has to be retrofitted, the usual method involves drilling holes into the wall and blowing insulation material into each wall cavity.
Attic Insulation: Compared to wall insulation installations, attic insulation upgrades are much more likely to be reasonable DIY projects. In the attic, if your insulation is level with or below the attic floor joists, you may need to add more. Also, look for dirty insulation. This indicates that the insulation has air flowing through it, which means it isn’t getting the job done. Make sure to add plenty of insulation behind kneewalls. Insulation should be evenly distributed with no low spots. If you want to install insulation all the way out to the eaves for the best coverage, you also need to install attic vents to ensure that air can still flow into the attic through the eaves. Also, there can be a few potential complications with attic insulation installations that you should be aware of. Unsealed and non-IC-designated (not designated for IC, or insulation contact) recessed “can” lights need to have a certain amount of space around them, free of insulation. This problem can be circumvented by products specifically designed to cap or cover these light fixtures. Finally, look out for vermiculite insulation in older homes, which could contain asbestos. It is pea sized and flaky gray.
Types of insulation
There are various types of insulation that can be used, depending on the application. This includes: injectable foam, cellulose, spray foam, fiberglass batts, blow-in fibers, or pour in place insulation.
The “R value” is an important feature of insulation. It states how deep the insulation is and how well it insulates. Your home should have a minimum of R-15, as anything less is considered inefficient, but these days an R-value of 38, or 10-14 inches of insulation, is ideal to achieve the best energy efficiency. It is recommended to have a contractor come out and do an evaluation of your home before starting any insulation upgrade project to determine what your needs are.
Each type of insulation has advantages and disadvantages, and which type you choose will depend on your budget and needs. For example, some are less irritating to the skin, but less efficient over time. Some are great thermal insulators as well as inexpensive, but can be significantly reduced in efficiency if they get wet. There are different methods of filling in the insulation material based on what you choose, so be sure to do your research on methods for installing it, and make sure you’ve hired a reputable contractor with good experience. A contractor can help you determine the best solution, and will help you safely and properly install it.
Remember, anytime you work around insulation, no matter what the material is, it is important to wear the proper protective gear.
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