HOLLYWOOD Blog

How insulation can combat allergies

Avoid suffering from persistent allergy or asthma symptoms at home with proper insulation. When it comes to allergies caused by dust and mold or just regular seasonal allergies it can always be a pain, especially for the little ones. Did you know that insulation is the perfect solution for those pesky allergies and asthma problems? About 50 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies every year – that’s one out of five people in the United States. In fact, Florida’s warm climate results in very high levels of pollen and its year-round warmth means that the state suffers from a prolonged and more powerful allergy season than the rest of the United States. Today, it is estimated that 47.1 million people struggle with allergies and 15% of allergy sufferers are actually allergic to certain elements in their own homes, mainly because pollutants enter the home and get circulated around. Our insulation can do more than just maintain a comfortable temperature in your home and lower your energy bill - it can actually provide relief from those allergies and help you keep pollen out of your Hollywood home. 

Your health could be at risk because of old insulation

Most people don't realize the importance of replacing old insulation. Since old insulation causes dirty airflow, this can come with some serious problems that can put you and your family’s health at risk. Although an unpleasant topic, it is important to realize how many pollutants, bacteria, pollen and animal feces have collected in your attic insulation over the years. Think about how many particles of this dirty air have leaked inside of your home by unwanted airflow from the attic coming through the little gaps. Your family is likely breathing this dirty air every day without realizing it. If someone that lives with you suffers from allergies, you can imagine how much more they may be affected from years of pollen collecting above the ceiling. Getting the old insulation out of your home is really beneficial for eliminating these air particles and making your home feel brand new again. 

Insects, Critters & Allergens

It’s estimated that the average American spends about 90% of their time indoors. For this reason, indoor air quality is incredibly important. The insulation in your walls and attics serve a number of functions, including keeping your home at a consistent temperature. But insulation also serves as a barrier to the outside world, sealing the walls and cracks, where pollen and other pollutants can find their way into your home. In your attic or crawl space, insulation prevents little critters, rats, mice, cockroaches or bats from taking up residence in your home where they leave droppings that can also trigger your allergies. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, saliva, feces and shedding body parts of cockroaches acts like dust mites and can trigger allergies when they are kicked up in the air.

What is The Best Kind of Insulation for Allergy Season?

If you don’t have any insulation yet, installing it will help you keep allergens out of your home (and lower your energy bill!) and offers some other pretty amazing benefits. Out of all the insulation materials, spray foam reigns supreme in terms of not only dramatically reducing infiltration from allergy-causing irritants but also maintaining temperature and reducing noise transmission it also has some other pretty amazing benefits:

• Reducing dust in your homes atmosphere by up to 65%
• Resists to mold and mildew
• Fire-resistant
• Provides excellent thermal performance
• Lowers energy bills while increasing your home’s value

One of the most beneficial types of insulation for people with allergies is spray foam. Spray foam is a versatile spray-applied foam plastic which builds a protective barrier to insulate any new or existing structure. It also reduces the entry of airborne dust and pollen, along with insects and pests. Spray foam is mold-retardant and acts as a vapor barrier, keeping moisture from penetrating your walls, attic, or crawl space, preventing mold & mildew growth and reducing allergic reactions. The completely antimicrobial foam that is sprayed inside of your home (usually the attic) where it hardens to keep all moisture, air, and animals out which means that it increases the comfort of your home and protects its structure. The foam has an industry-leading R-value per inch, which means that the material’s ability to resist heat flow is extremely efficient. Spray Foam will keep the air inside your home clean and healthy for your loved ones.

Not only does air sealing and insulation help to dramatically improve your home’s indoor air quality, but it also aids in making your home more comfortable year-round and reducing your monthly home heating and cooling costs.

Improve your home’s health and comfort for the entire year. Call your local Koala Insulation of Hollywood for the highest-quality application in spray foam insulation if you are a home or property owner in Florida and are in need of new or updated insulation. Contact our team and find out which type of insulation is best for your home with our complimentary insulation evaluation.