First Time Homeowner? The Rundown on Home Comfort

First Time Homeowner? Time To Insulate Your Home

As a first-time homeowner, you get to experience a lot of new adventures. This is the beginning of the world of home maintenance. With no shortage of work to be done, there is a lot to take into consideration before the cold winter months hit. One of the most important ones includes creating a comfortable home while being energy efficient. Depending on the age of the home, it may require a lot of change in the insulation. As a new homeowner, it is hard to understand what type of insulation is needed in their home. That is why the experts at Home Solutions of Iowa are here to help you understand.

Insulation 101 As a New Homeowner

There are many aspects to creating a comfortable home. Here is a rundown on the most common types of insulation:

• Batt Insulation: This type of insulation is also referred to as “rolls”. There are several types of batt insulation with the most common type being fiberglass batts. A cheaper alternative, batt insulation is often found in walls, floors, ceilings, and attics.
• Blown-In Insulation: There is a variety of materials that blown-in insulation can be composed of. This is slightly more expensive than batts. We highly recommend this for attics and crawl spaces due to its filling nature.
• Spray Foam Insulation: A costly but best choice for any homeowner. Spray Foam has the longest lifespan and best energy-efficiency capabilities on the market. It has unique air-sealing properties, easily filling small gaps and cracks in building material. With many benefits to this type of insulation, it is a top choice among first-time homeowners.
• Air Sealing: Air Sealing is a type of insulation that eliminates leakage. Known as preventing air from flowing through holes, gaps, and cavities in the attic, walls, and floors; this prevents heat from leaking out.

What Insulation Is Best For My Home?

There are many factors that contribute to what insulation is needed for the home. With older homes, insulation has had more time to degrade and lose its overall effectiveness. In newer construction homes, we tend to see builders put the bare minimum in, providing comfort but still allowing coldness to seep in. The best advice you could get for properly insulating your home would be to reach out to a professional home insulation contractor for an experienced opinion.

Common Insulation Terms/FAQ For First-Time Homeowners

• What is R-Value? R-Value is defined as the capacity of an insulating material to resist heat flow. The higher the R-Value, the more effective the insulation is.
• What Is a Home Energy Evaluation? A home energy evaluation is a series of tests done around the home to form a better idea of air leakage, energy usage, and poor insulation. Having an experienced contractor out will help identify the problem areas and help create a proper plan for home comfort concerns.
• How Much Insulation Needs To Be Installed? There is no right answer to this question. Each home is unique in where and how much insulation is needed. A professional insulation contractor can help answer this question.
• What Is The Typical Area In The Home Where Insulation Is Needed? As we all know, heat naturally rises. The area that tends to lose the most heat during the winter and collect the most heat during the summer is the highest point in the home. The attic is a crucial spot to ensure that is properly insulated.

Turn To The Experts As a First Time Homeowner

Insulating your home can be a daunting task. Turn to the experts at Home Solutions of Iowa for help in creating the perfect home comfort. We have all the expert tools to identify heat loss and provide you with the best insulation services. Contact us today to get set up with a free Heat Map Evaluation.