Home Insulation Improvement – How to Insulate Your House

Insulation makes up one of the most important systems in your house. It serves dual purposes, by keeping the house cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Home insulation is designed to keep us comfortable in our homes all year long.

Heat is transferred in one of three different ways: convection, conduction and radiation. Insulation is designed to prevent all three of these. When hot air moves to a cooler area, it is known as convection. Insulation simply prevents the movement of this air. Warm objects will radiate heat to cooler surroundings. Radiation can be directed, although it cannot be completely prevented. Insulation is not a conductor of heat. Because of this, it can prevent heat movement by being placed between objects that are conductive.

The quality of insulation is rated by a factor call the R-value. This measures how resistive it is against heat transfer. Obviously, the higher the R-value, the more heat resistant it is.

There are several factors to take into consideration when choosing an R-value for your home. Climate, construction quality of the home, as well as the types of walls, ceilings, floors and windows you have should all be factored into the decision. As always, local building codes should be followed as well.

You may think that the highest R-value is always better, but this is not necessarily the case. If your home is sealed up to tightly, it can pose certain health risks to you and your family. Your house needs to breathe. Do some research on what the best options are for your specific situation.

Home insulation typically is found in two types: weather stripping and foam.

Weather stripping is a type of rubber molding placed around doors and windows to prevent air from entering or leaving through the cracks and seams. This type of insulation is simple to install and replace. Just tear off the old stuff and stick the new stuff on.

Foam generally comes in two types, sheet and particle.

Sheet foam insulation comes in rolls and is similar in look and feel to cotton candy. It is a woven, non-conductive fiber with built in air pockets for added resistance against heat transfer. Often, these rolls are backed with some type of paper or foil-like material.

If the area is easily accessible, the installation of this type of material is easy. Simply roll out the material between the support beams in the attic or wall or whatever the case may be. In attics, be sure to only walk on the beams.

There are other types of insulation that must be installed by professionals. This involves using a machine to blow the insulation into the appropriate areas. You can, however replace small amounts of this type of insulation yourself. These materials include fiberglass, cellulose, and silicates, and are often available in bags.

Plan on enough insulation to cover the area at least a few inches deep. Again, take into consideration your climate and building codes when deciding on the type and amount needed. Your local building supply store can help you out with this.

For attic jobs, put on some gloves and simply distribute the insulation by hand in the necessary areas. The insulation isn't harmful, but over time it may irritate and dry out your hands. Again, be careful to only stand on the support beams.

Let the insulation lay and fill up the area naturally. If you pack it down you are eliminating the natural air pockets that are necessary for proper insulation results.

         

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