Considering how long insulation lasts, it’s a worthwhile long-term investment. The three key benefits of insulating a home are energy efficiency, enhancement of comfort, and an increase in your home’s resale value.
On average, insulation can help you save around 10% of the total insulation costs and approximately 20% of cooling and heating costs.1
How Do You Ensure That You Get the Most Out of Your New Home Insulation?
You Need Proper Installation in Order to Get the Most Out of Home Insulation
A Harvard study estimated that proper home insulation in the united states would reduce asthma attacks by 6500, premature deaths by 240, and sick days by 110,000 annually.2 So many American homes are under-insulated which means that few homes are reaping the full benefits of a properly insulated home.
Ensure that the insulation is installed people and that there are no air leaks left behind.
Learn About and Use the R-Value
The R-value is the unit of measurement for an insulation material’s heat flow resistance. If your insulation has a high R-value, then it will be more effective and lead to even lower energy bills.
The type of insulation material you pick should be dependent on where you live and which section of the house you are insulating. People who live in lower climates should go for insulation materials with a higher R-value.
Get the Most Out of Your Home Insulation by Picking the Right Type of Insulation Material
Why you are insulating your home should dictate the insulation material you should use. For instance, if the sole purpose of the insulation is for thermal conductivity, you should pick an insulation material with thermal insulating properties.
There are times when homeowners use insulation to block unwanted outside noise. In this case, insulating material with sound absorption properties should be used.
Get the Right Person to Do the Job and Get the Most Out of Your Home Insulation
DIY projects are fun and save you money but the downside is that they may end up costing you more money. There is a possibility that you might leave gaps in the insulation or you won’t properly install it. You will then incur extra costs in terms of energy bills and replacement of faulty insulation.
Hire an attic insulation expert to conduct an energy assessment of your home to determine the state of your existing insulation. Based on a couple of factors, they will also determine the best insulation material for your home and install it professionally.
Get the Most Out of Your Home Insulation
As a homeowner, you cannot afford to overlook the value of having a properly insulated home. One lesser-known benefit of home insulation is that it creates some sort of moisture barrier that prevents excess moisture from getting into your home. This reduces the levels of condensation, preserving the structural integrity of the house.
Finally, to get the maximum value out of your home insulation, make sure that your house is neither under-insulated nor over-insulated.
Links to sources used
- Guide to Home Insulation – https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/guide_to_home_insulation.pdf
- Harvard PDF Web Layout v5 – Insulation Institute – http://insulationinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/NAIMA036.pdf