Most people assume that insulation is something that makes a home warmer in cold weather. While this is true, the real action of insulation is to slow the movement of heat between different spaces. This means that in the summer, the insulation will prevent your home from overheating. So you won’t have to rely on the continuous operation of the air conditioner or stand close to the fan to feel comfortable. Without proper insulation, the heat will simply travel through the roof and walls and make you feel uncomfortable in your own home.
Here are five benefits of a well-insulated home:
1. You save money by reducing the energy required to satisfactorily heat your home in the winter and cool it in the summer. In fact, roof insulation alone can reduce annual heating and cooling costs by up to a third. Without insulation, you waste a lot of money on inefficient heating and cooling.
2. Insulation makes your home more livable. It can lower summer temperatures and keep winter temperatures higher.
3. Makes your home quieter – reduces outside noise coming in through walls and ceilings.
4. Increases the value of your home. A well-insulated home is preferred by many buyers.
5. Helps protect the environment. Insulation reduces energy use, which in turn reduces the burning of fossil fuels needed to produce energy. The result is lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Here are some signs that your home needs insulation:
1. Fluctuating temperatures. If the temperatures in the rooms are different – say, you are freezing in the kitchen and your living room is too hot.
2. Heating and cooling bills are high.
3. Cold walls, floors and ceilings. Do a touch test – if the walls are damp and cold, the insulation is not sufficient.
4. Freezing pipes in the wall is also an indicator that you have an insulation problem.
5. Attic rooms are too cold or hot.
The choice of insulation material is not straightforward. The home is a complex system. The type of material and the place where it should be installed is a matter of consultation with a specialist. He can recommend the most suitable option for your home.
