What You Need To Know About Insulation: A Homeowner's Guide
Insulation is an important energy-saving building material. Modern homes have many different types of insulation. For homeowners who want to maintain their property and reduce their utility bills, it helps to know something about modern insulation materials and methods. This guide is designed to help homeowners protect their house and keep it comfortable throughout the year.
Where Is Insulation in the Home?
Insulation is found in nearly every part of the home's structure, including the floors, walls, basement and attic. A form of insulation can even be found in gas-filled windows, which are becoming more popular with time. Insulation is especially important in the exterior walls of the home, because these walls shield the home from the outside. Insulation may be wrapped around some parts of the home like the ducts and the water heater.
How Can You Tell if You Have Enough Insulation?
There are many ways that homeowners can tell when their home is under insulated. A home that does not have enough insulation will get very warm in the summer and very cold in the winter. A home that is well insulated will be less vulnerable to temperature fluctuations, making it more energy-efficient. Rising utility bills are another sign that a home is lacking insulation. As the house ages, the utility bills will get higher and higher. Insulating the home can help prevent this from happening. Finally, drafts and uneven temperatures throughout the home are also a sign that there is not enough insulation.
What are the Consequences of Not Having Enough Insulation?
A home that has poor insulation can experience a variety of problems including ice dams and frozen pipes. Ice dams occur when "hot spots" in the attic cause the snow on the roof to melt. When the melting snow reaches the eaves, it refreezes in to a dam of water that backs up under the shingles. Ice dams can cause leaks, wood rot and mold. When the outside temperatures get very cold, poor insulation can also cause the pipes to freeze. Usually pipes freeze when the temperature outside drops below about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The pipes most at risk of freezing are those that are found inside the exterior walls of the Jonathan's Landing home.
Where Are the Best Places in the Home to Install Additional Insulation?
One of the easiest places to install additional installation in the home is in the attic. More insulation is needed if the level of insulation falls at or below the the tops of the joists. To add more, homeowners can install loose fill insulation by hauling it up into the attic in bags and spreading it around manually. This type of insulation can also be installed via a blower.
Either way, it's important for the homeowner to wear a respirator. Homeowners should consult with an expert before adding any insulation to their home to ensure that they don't install it where none should be (for example, around the attic vents).
Who Can You Turn To For More Insulation?
The best way to install more insulation in the home is to hire a contractor. A contractor can install insulation around the ducts, inside the walls and in other difficult to access places in the home. If you're a homeowner seeking more information about insulation, contact an experienced contractor in your area.