Choosing the right insulation is crucial for enhancing energy efficiency and maintaining a comfortable living environment in your home. Here are some important things to keep in mind when picking the right insulation:

1. R-Value:
   You’ll see this mentioned frequently. The R-value measures an insulation’s thermal resistance. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation’s ability to resist heat flow. Different regions have different climate conditions, so choose insulation with an appropriate R-value for your area. It is very important to remember that a higher R-Value does not necessarily mean better for the area you plan on using it, as it can make things too hot which could create other risks. This is most often seen when too high R-value insulation is placed in wall cavities that may contain hot water or heating pipes, the heat generated has difficulty escaping.
   
2. Insulation Type:
   There are various types of insulation available, including fiberglass, cellulose, spray foam, rigid foam, and mineral wool. Each type has its own pros and cons, so consider factors like cost, effectiveness, and installation requirements. This is particularly important to consider because generally, fiberglass batt can only be installed when sheetrock has not yet been installed. Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose on the other hand can be sprayed in pre-existing walls by punching several holes into a wall. You may have to perform a significant amount of renovation if you have preference for batt vs. blown-in (assuming the space you’re thinking about is not an attic).
   
3. Location:
   Consider where you want to install the insulation. Different parts of the home, such as walls, attics, basements, and crawl spaces, may require different types of insulation due to varying moisture levels and structural considerations.
   
4. Installation:
   Think about the ease of installation. Some insulation types are more suitable for DIY projects, while others may require professional installation. This especially applies to point #3. If you wanted to install batt fiberglass insulation into pre-existing walls, you would have to factor in the cost of demolishing those walls, installing the batt, and then installing new walls.
   
5. Allergens and Chemical Sensitivities:
   This is one of the most important considerations that many people forget to look into. Some insulations including loose cellulose and fiberglass (blown-in) have been reported to cause allergies or chemical sensitivities. Be certain to research the insulation you plan on selecting for cases of allergic reactions, respiratory issues, or sensitivities that might apply to you or your family.

Taking these factors into account will help you make an informed decision that best suits your home’s specific needs and contributes to improved energy efficiency. It’s also wise to speak with a few PROs to get a variety of ideas as they regularly work with these products. You can find high quality PROs on HutSolver. Simply take a picture of your project, post it, and start getting feedback and meeting high quality PROs.

Sign up to HutSolver – it’s free to join and use! We believe you’ll solve many of your home projects with creative ideas and knowledgeable Home Improvement PROs.

About HutSolver
HutSolver is a marketplace for home projects where homeowners share their projects (create project posts), receive creative feedback and build relationships with qualified home improvement professionals (PROs). Post, Hire, and Manage your project all on HutSolver.

The post Top 5 Things to Consider When Picking Insulation appeared first on HutSolver Magazine.

A casual Google search for ideas on how to make your home more energy efficient will inevitably have you considering adding more insulation. We would caution you to be very careful with that idea because it is not as straight forward as it seems.

The general concept of home heating and cooling mentioned in various areas of the internet is that usually, more insulation is better. The answer to this, like most things in life, is it depends, and in many cases, adding insulation may not be the overall solution, but it might be a part of the overall solution.

Picture this, in the winter, your home is freezing, and you think, “Gee, if only I had more insulation to keep the heat in, I’d be much warmer!”. Or in the Summer, you could think, “Gee, if only I had more insulation to keep the air conditioning in, it would be much cooler!”. This common sense thinking is mostly true, however, a very important question should be asked.

Does your home already have insulation? This is a crucial question to find the answer to and here’s why – it’s often forgotten that homes need to breathe. Throughout your home, there are essential air gaps built in. Homes are not made to be airtight boxes (and nor should you want them to be). Most of these gaps are found in your walls and in and around your roof system. These systems tend to consist of air barriers, channels, soffits, and attic vents. These vents allow warm air to escape through the top of your home and fresh air to enter. This constant exchange of air is vital for the home to maintain an ideal indoor air quality balance.

If you or your contractor adds too much insulation, which often happens when homeowners want to add insulation to a home that likely already has some (most homes built after the 1980’s), important air gaps could easily be permanently blocked. This tends to happen because the only straightforward way to add insulation to the walls and attic of a home would be with “blown-in” insulation (i.e. cellulose, fiberglass, etc.), and in some cases, foam. The problem tends to be that contractors might overfill wall cavities and/or the attic, blocking essential vents.

Exploring the avenue of adding insulation is a reasonable one; however, it’s important to work with PROs that understand how to maintain or enhance a home’s breathing nature, while knowing how not to over-insulate a house.

When considering adding insulation, it’s wise to speak with a few PROs to get a variety of ideas as they regularly work with these products. You can find high quality PROs on HutSolver. Simply take a picture of your project, post it, and start getting feedback and meeting high quality PROs.

Sign up to HutSolver – it’s free to join and use! We believe you’ll solve many of your home projects with creative ideas and knowledgeable Home Improvement PROs.

About HutSolver
HutSolver is a marketplace for home projects where homeowners share their projects (create project posts), receive creative feedback and build relationships with qualified home improvement professionals (PROs). Post, Hire, and Manage your project all on HutSolver.

The post Thinking About Adding Insulation to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient? Consider this Before Taking the Next Step! appeared first on HutSolver Magazine.