Perth Insulation is an essential part of your home, whether it’s new construction or a renovation. Learn about insulation types, costs, and do-it-yourself (DIY) options.
Most traditional insulation is made of fiberglass, though other materials like cotton, sheep’s wool, and recycled denim can also be used for eco-friendly insulation. Polyurethane foams that can be sprayed on are another option that can reduce energy bills and noise.
Insulation is a building material that slows heat transfer, keeping your home cool in summer and warm in winter, helping to reduce energy bills. It can be installed in new homes or used to insulate existing walls and floors, reducing air leakage and increasing comfort while decreasing energy costs.
Uninsulated or poorly insulated homes generate energy losses that are equal to leaving a window open all year round. This wasted energy results in higher heating and cooling bills, extra wear and tear on equipment and a less comfortable living environment. By insulating and sealing air leaks, homeowners save a national average of 11% on total energy expenditures and up to 15% on heating and cooling costs alone.
Quality insulation is made from eco-friendly products and is available in a wide variety of styles. You can choose from loose-fill or batt insulation, rigid board insulation such as fiberglass or cellulose, and spray foam insulation. Some of these types are also made with recycled newspaper or even cotton, and some are formaldehyde-free. There are even a number of options that are made from renewable and sustainable materials such as silica gels or plant fibers.
During the day, sunshine heats your home and at night, your heating system removes that heat. Without proper insulation, that heat easily escapes through the attic. However, with a layer of insulation in the attic, that heat is kept inside where it belongs, lowering your energy bills, making your home more comfortable and improving air quality.
In addition, the insulation we offer is a more efficient option than a blanket or pillows in the attic, as it prevents the movement of hot and cold air through cracks in the ceiling. These air leaks are more common than you might think, and can cause your heating and cooling systems to work harder than necessary.
When you insulate your home, the energy savings can actually pay for the installation of the insulation over time. Not only that, but a well-insulated home adds value to your property and helps keep your electricity bill under control.
Keeps Your Home Cool in the Summer
Many people think of insulation as an important winter essential for their homes, but it’s just as necessary to keep your home cool in the summer. Insulation regulates temperatures by preventing heat from entering or escaping, reducing the need for air conditioning, and keeping your energy bills low.
Without proper insulation, your home will lose a significant amount of its cooled air to the outside during the summer. Insulation keeps the conditioned air you pay to produce inside your home where it belongs, cutting down on your energy bills and reducing waste.
Insulation prevents heat from entering your home, especially the attic or ceiling. If you have an uninsulated attic, it will act like an oven during the summer, heating up your home from the top down. Insulation keeps the hot attic air from spreading to the rest of your home, keeping the indoor temperature cooler and resulting in 20-60% energy savings.
The walls of your house also need to be insulated to keep the conditioned air inside your home. Insulation is installed in the walls to seal the gaps and cracks that can let in hot or cold outside air. With properly installed insulation, the walls of your house will remain at a consistent cool temperature all through the summer.
In addition to keeping your home at a comfortable temperature, insulation reduces the amount of unwanted noise from outside entering your home. Whether it’s from the neighborhood kids playing or your noisy neighbors, insulation helps to reduce the noise transmission and creates a more peaceful living environment in your home.
Not only does insulation reduce outside noise, but it also improves your indoor air quality by limiting the transfer of dust, pollen, and other allergens into your home. Insulation fills in the small cracks and gaps in your attic, walls, and floors that allow these contaminants to enter your home and can irritate your family’s skin, eyes, and lungs. This is one of the most common reasons why people choose to install insulation in their homes, enhancing their indoor air quality and improving their health.
Keeps Your Home Warm in the Winter
Insulation helps your home maintain an optimal temperature all year round, which reduces energy bills. Insulation also prevents cool air from escaping your home in the summer, which can help your AC system run less often to keep your home comfortable. Insulation is also a great way to keep your home warm in the winter, so you can use your furnace or heat pump less, which can save you money on your energy bills.
Insulators come in a variety of forms and types, but all work by using dead air spaces or cells to slow the flow of heat. Some insulators can be purchased at your local hardware store and installed by the homeowner, while others require professional installation. If you choose to do it yourself, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety precautions carefully.
Many homes lack enough insulation, which can cause high energy bills and make it difficult to stay warm in the winter. The good news is that adding insulation to your home doesn’t require any major renovations. It can be blown in or sprayed into walls, floorboards, and ceilings. You can even find spray foam insulation that is designed to fill gaps and cracks, making it ideal for retrofit applications.
You can improve your home’s insulation with simple steps, such as installing a door sweep to seal the gap between the bottom edge of the door and the threshold, and placing a rolled-up blanket over a drafty window or door frame. However, if you’re interested in making significant changes to your home’s insulation, consider calling a Worthy Home Inspector. They can inspect your home and determine if it needs more or less insulation, and provide recommendations for the appropriate R-values.
Properly installed insulation can save you a lot of money on your energy bills and make your home healthier, safer, and more comfortable. Contact Worthy Home Inspection today to schedule a home inspection and see if your home could benefit from more insulation. We offer insulation services throughout Bucks County and Philadelphia, PA. We also perform home improvement and repair services, including plumbing, electrical, roofing, and general contracting.
Reduces Noise
Insulation is not only good for regulating your home’s temperature, it also reduces unwanted noise pollution from inside and out. Sound-absorbent insulation is ideal for spaces that produce the most noise, such as bedrooms and game or playrooms. Insulation that blocks sound, on the other hand, is best for minimizing external noise pollutants, such as traffic and airplanes if your house is in a flight path.
To truly block and absorb sound, the material that makes up your insulation must be heavy, dense and free of holes or cracks. This is why cellulose and mineral wool are popular options when it comes to soundproofing insulation. Both can be installed as a board or in a blown-in form (depending on your specific needs and the type of home you have).
When choosing insulation for sound reduction, it’s important to consider its NRC rating. NRC stands for Noise Reduction Coefficient and it describes how much sound the insulation can absorb, compared to its ability to reflect or transmit sound waves. Basically, the higher the NRC number, the more sound the insulation can absorb.
Many insulation products boast a high NRC rating, but the only way to ensure that your chosen product will do its job is to use it in accordance with its manufacturer’s instructions and safety precautions. For example, a fiberglass batt or a mineral wool insulation rated with ROCKWOOL’s Safe’ n’ Sound can be installed in walls to drastically reduce the transmission of sound, because of its density and ability to slow the movement of sound vibrations through your home.
While a lot of people think that any type of insulation will reduce noise, it’s essential to choose the right one for your home and lifestyle. Your local weatherization specialist can help you decide which type of insulation is right for you and can provide installation services as well.