Types of Home Insulation: Which Is Right for You?
Home Insulation: How It Can Help Your Home
Home insulation is incredibly important, as it can prevent air leakage—when outside air infiltrates your home—and prevent drafts. Insulation puts a stop to the chore of fidgeting with the thermostat to get your home to an ideal temperature. What’s more, insulation can help reduce stress on your HVAC system, which may lower your monthly energy expenses.
With all of these benefits, there is no doubt that insulation is a smart investment for any homeowner. However, this also leads to the question of which type of home insulation is the right choice. There are various options to choose from and each one may be applied in a different fashion.
When considering types of home insulation, keep these options in mind:
Different Types Of Home Insulation
Air Sealing
Made up of a strong caulk and foam mixture, air sealing insulation is ideal for filling cracks and holes found throughout your home. It can also be applied to:
- Plumbing and wiring through floors, walls, and ceilings
- Attic access hatches and drop-down stairs
- Gaps around window and door trim
- Electrical outlets and switches
- Rim joists in basements or crawl spaces
Cellulose
Cellulose insulation is a great choice because it is environmentally friendly, made up of recycled materials that have been treated for fire resistance, and administered to tight spaces in your home.
This type of insulation is normally blown into the attic and wall cavities. It can also fit into small openings around beams, wires, and pipes. Additionally, with cellulose, you don’t have to be concerned about coming into contact with the material, as it does not contain fiberglass and will not cause skin rashes or irritation. Because of this, cellulose is commonly used for walls, unfinished attic floors, and various open spaces.
Rim Joist
The subfloor of your home is constructed with a plywood frame and supportive joists. Reinforcing the frame and providing lateral support are rim joists, which lay perpendicular to the supportive joists.
With rim joists, gaps and cracks are common and often result in air leakage. Common methods for closing these openings include air sealing and rigid foam boards.
In the winter, rim joists can become cold and condensation can develop. This may result in mold growth and rot. However, with rigid foam insulation in place, your rim joists will be protected from moisture and safe from these issues.
Which Home Insulation Is Right for You?
When it comes to choosing which insulation is right for you, it is important to first identify the culprit of your home’s air leakage. By contacting a home improvement company you can trust, such as Home Solutions of Iowa, these problem areas can easily be identified, and a comprehensive solution can be put in place.
At HSI, our skilled and experienced team can pinpoint where insulation is needed and we will flawlessly install it for you. Contact us today to learn more about the insulation services we offer.
