It's easy to forget about the insulation in your home since it's out of sight. However, if it seems like your energy bills are always high or if you have a hard time keeping warm or cool in your home, bad insulation could be to blame. If you're not sure if your home has enough insulation, consider having an energy audit done. Adding more insulation or getting all new insulation might make a noticeable difference in your comfort. Here are four common types of residential insulation to consider buying.
1. Fiberglass
Fiberglass insulation is common because it's affordable. Plus, fiberglass batt insulation is easy to install, so you could even put it in yourself. Besides batt and roll insulation that you stuff between the floor joists and wall studs, you can also have fiberglass bits blown into your attic or behind an exterior wall.
Fiberglass insulation is manufactured from sand and recycled glass. It's naturally noncombustible, and it resists moisture and mold. Fiberglass has been used as residential insulation for decades, and it's still a good choice for your home.
2. Spray Foam
Spray foam insulation might be worth considering too. It can be sprayed on your attic or crawlspace walls to block heat transfer and improve insulation. Spray foam can also be used on exterior walls. This kind of insulation is hard once it cures, so it's different from soft, fluffy insulation. Since it's hard, the insulation can add structural support to areas that need it. Spray foam is harder to install, so you'll probably want to hire an insulation contractor if you choose this type of insulation.
3. Cellulose
Cellulose is used with blown insulation. This is a popular type of residential insulation since blowing insulation in your attic or between walls provides better coverage than trying to close gaps with blanket insulation. The bits of cellulose can fall in cracks to close gaps, and it can fill areas with unusual shapes.
The contractor blows the insulation to the far corners of your attic to provide a fluffy blanket of coverage on the floor with no gaps for air leaks. Cellulose is treated with fire retardant and chemicals to repel bugs, so it's safe to have in your attic or wall voids.
4. Mineral Wool
Mineral wool is another popular type of residential insulation that comes in blown and batt forms like fiberglass. Mineral wool isn't related to wool fabric. Instead, it's spun from stone fibers from volcanic rock or from molten slag, which is a waste product from steel production. Mineral wool is made from recycled products, and it has several good qualities.
The insulation doesn't compress over time and lose insulating ability like fluffy insulation. Instead, it maintains a constant ability to reduce heat transfer over the years. Mineral wool is also fire-resistant, and it is an effective sound barrier.
Share23 April 2021
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