Home Insulation
How can you keep energy bills lower while keeping your home more comfortable? Ensure your home is properly insulated. With newer, advanced technology, many different types of insulation have been created to make things simpler, more economical, more environmentally friendly, and just better overall. So, how do you know which type of insulation is right for your needs? If you’re planning to re-insulate, insulate for the first time, or just fill in a few gaps, read this article and learn about the different types of insulation for your home.
What’s Insulation?
First, we’ll dive into what insulation really is. It’s a resistant material that protects your home’s inside conditions from outside conditions. It keeps outside temperatures out and helps to regulate humidity and comfort inside your home. Depending on the type, thickness, and density of insulation, you can receive better climate control and energy efficiency. However, you must have the right insulation for your specific home.
Types of Insulation
Insulation is made up of many resistant materials. The different types of materials in the different types of insulation may work more or less effectively depending on what areas of your home they’re installed. Common materials used in insulation in the Pensacola area include fiberglass, cellulose, foam, and natural fibers.
Rolled Insulation
Rolled insulation is a sheet of insulation rolled up for easy layout installation. Because it’s fairly easy to handle, rolled insulation works great for those looking to do the install work themselves. It’s also one of the most affordable types of insulation. Rolled insulation can come in pre-cut lengths and is installed in pieces that lie parallel to each other between wall and ceiling framing. This type of layout doesn’t leave much room for gaps which is another great benefit. Fewer gaps means better climate control.
Insulation Batts
Similar to rolled insulation, batts are installed from pre-cut sections between framing in walls, floors, and ceilings. Insulation batts are also very affordable and great for those installing the insulation themselves. Insulation batts come in several varieties based on material. They can be made from fiberglass, cellulose, mineral wool, natural fibers and recyclable materials. While an advantage of this type of insulation is that it’s relatively easy to handle, a disadvantage is that it may not seal gaps as well as rolled insulation.
Loose-Fill insulation
Loose fill insulation is just what it sounds like: loose insulation great for filling oddly shaped areas or tight squeezes. To install this insulation, you’ll need special equipment for blowing or spraying it into place. While it’s more expensive than the two options mentioned above, if you’re filling in corners, gaps, or oddly shaped spaces, this type of insulation is your best option. You can hire a professional to do this installation, or buy the necessary equipment to do it yourself. If you install it yourself, be sure to wear protective face and eye coverings, long sleeves, and gloves to avoid irritation.
Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam insulation can be used for insulating large areas or for filling in small gaps or odd spaces. If you’re using it for a large job, special equipment and protective clothing is required. If you’re using this insulation for a small job, you can get it in an easy-to-use spray can. The insulation comes out as a liquid latex or polyurethane foam, expands, and then hardens into place. This is the best insulation to use for ultimate climate control when filling in small gaps, sealing around doors or windows, and for oddly shaped places. Once it sets, it can even be trimmed and painted.
What Can I Do?
If you’re insulating your home yourself, first decide where you’re going to install the insulation. Walls and attics are the most important places you should have insulation, however, you could be losing energy from other areas of your home that need to be better insulated as well. Use an insulation calculator to figure out how much you need, or get an inspection from a professional.
Contact Us
Are you looking for ways to reduce home energy use and enjoy better performance from your comfort system in the Pensacola area? We invite you to contact us via our website to schedule a visit for air conditioning evaluation, maintenance, or repair.
Shannon’s Heating & Cooling is your independently owned American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning dealer serving Pensacola and the surrounding area. To contact us, please call 850-698-3101 or email us at info@shannonshvac.com.
