In recent years, many home builders and environmental groups have recognized the benefits of home insulation in improving energy efficiency and lowering carbon emissions.
Home insulation not only reduces the strain on your HVAC system, but it can help eliminate drafts, reduce allergens from penetrating your home, and provide sound-dampening benefits.
Unfortunately, many older homes in Northeast Pennsylvania tend to suffer from little to no insulation or old insulation, like asbestos, that is hazardous.
Choosing to upgrade your home’s insulation can be more complex than you realize, as there are several types of materials available and places where insulation could and should be installed.
Don’t worry; this home insulation guide is packed with useful information and guides to help you understand more about insulation, its benefits, different types, and ways to maximize its benefits.
How Does House Insulation Work?
Insulation is a material or system designed to reduce heat or thermal transfer between the inside of your home and the outside. Insulating materials are designed to block out unwanted air and maintain a desirable temperature so your HVAC system works less hard.
In general, three primary modes of heat transfer allow warm and cold air to enter your home.
- Conduction: The direct transfer of heat through materials (e.g., heat escaping through your walls or roof).
- Convection: Heat movement through air or fluids (e.g., warm air rising in your home and cool air sinking).
- Radiation: Heat transfer via electromagnetic waves (e.g., heat from the sun entering your home).
Insulation is designed to protect against conduction and convection, thus creating a thermal barrier that maintains a consistent and desirable temperature inside your home.
Why Should You Insulate Your Home?
There are several compelling reasons why insulation should be a priority for every homeowner, whether it’s saving money or achieving better comfort in your home.
1. Energy Efficiency & Cost Savings
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, properly insulating and air sealing your home can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs. Over time the savings you accrue from insulation materials will pay for itself via lower energy bills or by increasing your property’s value. Good luck trying to sell
2. Comfortable Indoor Environment
While cost savings may take more time to accrue, the primary benefit of insulating your home is to make it more comfortable during the changing seasons. While your HVAC does wonders to heat your home during the winter, you are basically inviting all of that energy to escape without proper insulation and cold drafts to enter on frigid winter days.
Proper insulation clears up cold drafts and maintains a consistent cool temperature across your home during the summer so that you don’t have to experience those frequent spurts of your AC turning on and off.
3. Soundproofing Benefits
Certain types of insulation, such as cellulose, offer excellent soundproofing qualities. If you’ve ever been in a home without insulation, you know that every creek and ding can be heard throughout the house. Investing in an insulation material like cellulose, fiberglass, or spray foam offers the dual benefit of keeping you warm and also partially soundproofing your home.
4. Fewer Allergies
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, insulating your basement and walls can prevent allergens from entering your home. Insulation can also block other irritants, such as pet dander, dust, and pollen.
5. Protection Against the Elements
Insulation doesn’t just keep you warm during the winter, but also your pipes so that you don’t suffer from pipe bursts or a lack of hot water. Likewise, insulation can prevent excess moisture from extreme heat in poorly ventilated areas of your home, saving you from interior damage to wooden fixtures and mold.
- Helpful Guide: 7 Year-Round Benefits of Insulating Your NEPA Home
The Types of Insulation Materials You Choose Matter
Insulation is a broad term encompassing many different materials and systems types. Some of the most common types of insulation available on the market include:
- Fiberglass Insulation: One of the most popular and affordable types, fiberglass is often used in attics and walls. Fiberglass comes in batts, rolls, and blown-in forms (the latter has to be professionally installed). Fiberglass offers adequate performance compared to other types of material and the rolls/batts are the most DIY friendly.
- Spray Foam Insulation: Spray foam is the most efficient material available and typically needs to be installed by a professional with access to a specialized machine. Spray foam not only has the highest thermal value, but it also plugs gaps. There are two types to choose from, including closed cell and open cell–the former being the most efficient.
- Cellulose Insulation: Made from recycled paper products, cellulose is a more eco-friendly option that can be blown into wall cavities and attics. Cellulose is treated with fire-retardant chemicals to prevent fires and is also pest-resistant.
- Rigid Foam Board: This type of material can be installed on walls, the underside of roofs, or rim joists to add extra protection against the elements. Rigid foam board typically needs to be sealed with spray foam to maximize its efficacy.
- Helpful Guide: 6 Most Common Types of Insulation for Walls and Attics
Look at Insulation R-Value for Performance
Each type of insulation you choose will come with a natural R-value (thermal resistance) based on the material’s thickness and thermal conductivity. For example, if you buy fiberglass rolls, they will come with a value of R15 or R30. Generally, the higher the R-value, the better the material.
Without going too in-depth, closed-cell spray foam offers the highest R-value, followed by fiberglass and cellulose. Our guide on R-value explains how much is recommended for different parts of your home based on NEPA’s climate and what materials offer the highest R-value per inch.
- Helpful Guide: What is the Best Insulation for Your Home? R-Value vs. Cost
Location, Location, Location
More important than what type of insulation you use is where you choose to insulate your home. If we were to devise a plan to insulate a home with no insulation, we would start with the attic and then the basement, followed by the exterior walls.
Since heat rises, attic insulation and air sealing will always offer the biggest reduction in energy use as you will prevent up to a quarter of your home’s heat from escaping. Likewise, basement walls allow heat to escape and cold air to be sucked in, thus making your HVAC system work harder. Basements and crawl spaces generally tend to be poorly insulated, so it’s always a good place to start after your attic.
From there, it’s ideal to work your way in from the outside. Start with exterior walls to prevent cold air from entering in the winter, followed by floors to prevent heat from rising, and finally interior walls for maximum comfort and soundproofing.
- Helpful Guide: Insulating Your House? Here’s Your 6-Point Plan
Determining How Much Insulation You Need
While there’s really no overdoing it when it comes to insulation, you want to be smart with your money and apply what’s necessary to achieve maximum savings and comfort. To determine how much insulation you need, you’ll need to determine the condition and r-value of your existing insulation and compare that to the recommended values found here on EnergyStar’s website.
- Helpful Guide: How Much Insulation Do I Need?
Signs Your Home Needs Insulation
If you notice uneven temperatures in your home, drafts, or consistently high energy bills, it may be a sign that your home lacks sufficient insulation. Additionally, if your house is older and hasn’t been updated, there’s a good chance it could benefit from additional insulation.
- Helpful Guide: 7 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Old Insulation
When Is the Best Time to Insulate My Home?
The best time to insulate your home is during construction or major renovations, as it will be easier and more cost-effective. However, if your home is already standing and furnished, there are several ways to retrofit your home with insulation.
Generally, we recommend installing insulation in the milder, transition months of spring and autumn as this will prepare you for the next season.
Lastly, we want to remind homeowners of the importance of choosing the right insulation contractor, as the quality of your installation matters greatly for its longevity and performance. For trusted insulation installation in Northeast PA, contact the experts at NEPA EnergySmart. With years of experience and loads of credentials, we can help you with all of your insulation needs. Give us a call to get started on a free consultation.
FAQs
Can I insulate my home myself?
Yes, some types of insulation, such as fiberglass batts or rolls, can be installed by homeowners. However, we recommend professional installation as insulation requires proper ventilation and application to ensure proper performance. Other materials like spray foam and blown-in insulation require professional installation. Be sure to check local building codes and ensure the insulation is installed correctly for optimal performance.
How long does insulation last?
Most types of insulation, such as fiberglass and cellulose, can last for several decades if properly installed. However, some materials like cellulose may settle over time, reducing their effectiveness. It’s a good idea to inspect your insulation every 10-15 years to ensure it’s still working efficiently.
Is spray foam insulation worth the cost?
Although spray foam insulation tends to be more expensive upfront, it provides excellent energy efficiency and air-sealing properties. During the coldest points of winter, you’ll notice the difference in your energy bills and the overall comfort of your home.
