A home that is not properly insulated will be less energy efficient and more harmful to the environment as well as the people living in it. It is therefore important for you to carry out a home energy audit and find out exactly how effective your home insulation is. One of the most effective ways you can insulate your home is by using rock wool, fiber glass or slag wool. You can also add a batt or blown-in insulation which is quite affordable and very important when it comes to improving the energy efficiency of your home.
Insulation is like a snug blanket around your house which stops heat in your house from disappearing outside. If your house is insulated properly, it will remain warmer even during the cold weather season. The insulation is usually placed in the ceiling of the house, the floors as well as the walls. The ceiling is usually accountable for the greatest heat loss in the house due to the tendency of the warm air to rise. You should therefore make sure that it is insulated if you want to benefit in terms of energy savings.
The walls of the house are responsible for approximately 20% to 30% of heat loss. Their insulation should be maximized during the construction of the building since upgrading later on may be quite difficult as well as expensive. The floor area accounts to approximately 10% to 15% of heat loss in the house. You therefore need to make sure that the floor has been fitted with effective under-floor insulation to eliminate the cold air layer that pushes the heat to the ceiling. If the under-floor insulation material is also a vapor barrier, it will prevent ground moisture from moving into the house.
If you need to insulate your house or improve your existing insulation, you will need to determine the type of insulation that will be most suitable for your house. For the ceilings and walls, you can use blankets or segments made from polyester, wool or fiberglass. Loose-fill insulation materials such as cellulose or foam insulation will also be perfect for these areas. In an existing house, you can only install them in accessible ceiling cavities.
For the floor area, reflective insulation systems such as aluminum foils will be effective for reducing downward heat flow. You can also use rigid insulation which can be made from plastic foams or polystyrene. When choosing the insulation products, be sure to take into account the R-value which is the measure of how well the insulation is resistant to heat flow. Insulation products that have a high R-value are the best since they are most efficient when it comes to slowing down heat transfer and keeping your house warm.
You should also consider factors such as the insulation’s pest-retardant and fire-retardant qualities as well as the levels of toxicity of the insulation material. Make sure that the material is dust-free, non-irritant and non-allergenic.