SOUTHERN TIER NEW YORK Blog

Insulation nuts and bolts in Corning NY

Insulation Nuts and Bolts: Where it’s Needed and Why it’s Important.

In this post we’re going to take a step back and look at the basics of insulation. Instead of diving into details of insulation types or installation techniques we’re going to examine the places in a building that need insulating, and why insulation is important in those areas.

Attic

Heat rises. Cool air falls. This is the old mantra known by every HVAC technician. Although heat can move in any direction, it prefers to move vertically. This is why the attic gets more attention than any other place in the home when it comes to insulation and sealing. Take care of the attic and you’ve taken the biggest bite out of the energy efficiency problem.

The Department of Energy recommends a top-down approach to insulation which confirms that the attic is not only the top of the home but it’s also at the top of the insulation priority list. Attic insulation performs two main functions. First, it prevents heat from vertically leaving the home during winter months and, second, it keeps the sun’s heat from vertically entering the home during the summer months.

In addition to limiting heat exchange with the great outdoors, attic insulation—depending on its type—can also seal against moisture, wind, and pests.

Walls

Exterior wall insulation performs the same functions as attic insulation. Heat is kept out in the summer, and heat is kept in during the winter. However, since heat prefers to travel vertically, walls don’t require as much insulation as the attic. In fact, an exterior wall may be properly insulated if it contains about 1/3 as much insulation as the attic.

Floors

Like the attic, floors are a vertical barrier to heat movement. Since they don’t have the same exposure to the sun and outdoor temperatures, floors don’t need as much insulation as the attic. However, floors do need insulating. Roughly speaking, a floor should be insulated to about half the R-Value of a properly insulated attic.

Floor insulation prevents unwanted heat movement between floors, and prevents air movement where floors meet outside walls.

Slab floors need special consideration beyond the scope of this post. If you have a slab floor, its best to consult with a qualified technician for reasons and ways to insulate.

Doors and Windows

Windows often are a hot topic regarding insulation. Many people think of old or damaged windows as the primary reason a home suffers heat loss. A window contractor will certainly try to convince you of this! However, windows (and doors) are just one part of the overall insulation picture. While it’s true that some windows may be in such bad shape that they need to be replaced, it’s often the case that properly insulating the rest of the home provides more energy efficiency than focusing on windows.

That said, windows are an important part of any home’s insulation picture. They can be a huge source of energy loss. But windows can be insulated rather than replaced. There may be gaps around the sashes that need filling. There could be damage to the window frame or ledge that needs to be repaired. These options should be explored before considering the expense of full window replacement.

Similar to windows, doors can be a significant source of energy loss. Even a brand new door, if not properly installed, can allow heat and air to flow through gaps around the edges. Door seals should be checked periodically for proper operation. Also, a door should be properly sealed at the bottom where it meets the threshold.

Outlets and Switches

Believe it or not, electrical outlets and light switches play a notable role in energy conservation—especially those located on exterior walls. Why? Behind each innocent-looking switch lies an electrical box mounted to the wall. That electrical box displaces wall insulation. In other words, the box is an un-insulated space. Heat can travel in and out of the edges of a light switch or outlet because there is no insulation behind the switch to stop it.

Try this experiment: In the colder months, place your hand as close as you can to a switch or outlet on an exterior wall without touching it. You will likely find that the area near your hand is cooler than the surrounding wall. This effect is more pronounced on the coldest and windiest of days. Any temperature difference you feel around an outlet or switch is money being pulled right out of your wallet.

Other Places

We’ve listed the most important areas that need high quality insulation. But there are others. And if we ignore the other areas, we miss out on the cumulative effect they have on the overall insulation picture.

Here’s a list of a few more places that require insulation:

• The attic access door
• Ceilings and walls of finished attic areas
• Foundation walls above ground
• Crawl spaces
• Portions of floors that are cantilevered beyond an exterior wall
• Band joists
• The basement

It doesn’t end here. A professional insulation technician knows all the ins and outs of where proper insulation is needed, and can ferret out every last nook and cranny that cause your home to be inefficient.

Further Consideration

We’ve touched on many of the places where insulation is needed in your home. We haven’t said a word about types of insulation or installation techniques. These are topics covered in other posts, but suffice it to say that there are multiple types of insulation that can be used in different areas of your home, and there are different reasons for choosing those different types. And, of course, a professional installation is critical to make sure the correct type of insulation is selected and that the insulation is doing its job the way it’s supposed to.

We also haven’t gone into the additional benefits of proper insulation, such as moisture control, freeze protection, and pest resistance. These topics are also covered in other posts.

As you can see, insulation is quite an involved topic—more than just throwing extra insulation in the attic or caulking around a window.

What Next?

You may feel overwhelmed at this point. There are numerous areas in your home that need proper insulation. Which area needs the most attention? What type of insulation should be used? Is the existing insulation in good shape, or has it seen better days?

An inspection by a qualified insulation expert and a consultation with that expert is the best thing you can do to start your journey toward peace of mind and energy efficiency. At Koala Insulation, our technicians are experts in all kinds of insulation materials and installation techniques. Our experts bring state-of-the-art equipment with them to thoroughly inspect your home or building top to bottom, inside and out. They will give you a detailed assessment of your home. They will design a custom solution to meet your needs, and will help answer your questions about the status of your insulation. And since every building is unique, your expert may suggest a combination of installation options to protect your home from noise, cold, heat, moisture, and pests.

Don’t forget that the investment you make today will reap years of energy-saving benefits. Contact us now to schedule a consultation to start your journey toward higher energy efficiency and better protection for your home.