Your home might have insulation, but if it’s not properly insulated, you could still be wasting money every month on utility bills or having issues with water. It’s easy to forget that insulation plays an essential part in every home due to it being hidden inside walls, the attic, and the crawlspace.
With that said, how can you know whether your home is properly insulated or if it needs an upgrade?
Measure Room Temperatures
One of the easiest ways to check on your home’s insulation is to measure the temperature in every room in your home.
If some of the rooms in your home are hotter or colder, regardless of how much you run the AC, then your home’s insulation is probably not as good as it should be. Noticeable temperature differences are a major sign of insulation issues.
The Age of Your House
Even if insulation is made to last for decades, it doesn’t last forever. If you live in an older house, your insulation might have deteriorated and become less efficient with time.
If you live in a home that was built more recently, the chances of your insulation failing are much lower, although it’s still possible if it wasn’t made with high-quality materials.
Booking a professional to inspect your insulation is always a great idea and could reveal a lot of information.
What You Should Know About Insulation
If you’re not convinced your home has good-quality insulation and you’re looking to improve it, there are a few things that you should know before you start a renovation project.
What’s R-value?
R-value is the unit with which you can measure the effectiveness of insulation. The higher the R-value of a product, the greater its resistance to conductive heat flow, meaning that it does a better job at keeping the warm air inside and cold air outside during the winter. In the summer, less cold air escapes your home, and less hot air enters.
If you live in an area with a climate that changes rapidly or spikes to extremes, you should look into getting your home a higher R-value.
What Types of Insulation Are There?
Whenever you’re insulating your home, you should use the best type of insulation for your needs. Each type has some benefits and drawbacks, so you should be informed about every type before you make a choice.
Fiberglass Insulation –made of fine strands of glass woven into the insulation material. It’s very effective when installed properly, has a high R-value, it’s non-flammable, and it’s affordable. This type of insulation is most commonly installed in attics and crawlspaces.
Mineral Wool Insulation – this type refers to several products, including glass wool made from recycled glass, rock wool made from basalt, and slag wool created from steel mill slag. It’s effective for insulating large areas in the home, but it’s not fire-resistant.
Spray Foam Insulation – also known as polyurethane foam, this type has a very high R-value and acts as both an air and moisture barrier. The foam is created on-site and sprayed into the desired area, where it fills all the cracks and crevices. It’s one of the best choices on the market, but it’s also more expensive than other alternatives.
Cellulose Insulation – an eco-friendly form of insulation that’s made from recycled materials that are effective at minimizing fire damage. This type of insulation makes for a great supplement to fiberglass, spray foam, or mineral wool insulation.
When in Doubt, Contact a Professional
Even if you check on your own, you still might not be able to figure out whether your home’s insulation is good enough. Sometimes it’s best to contact a professional that has all the required equipment and knowledge to inspect your home and give you a detailed review of how good your insulation is.
YourHomeFix is one of the best places to get in touch with an expert contractor. We can arrange a free inspection with a professional at a time that’s convenient for you. They’ll come to your address, inspect your home, and give you feedback.
Having a properly insulated home can save you hundreds of dollars every year, and it can increase the comfort of your home noticeably. It’s one of the best investments you can make.