Proper home insulation key to keeping warm
The clock strikes 6 a.m. You wake up cold and check the thermostat — it's set to 68 degrees, but it's only 62 inside. You hop on the computer to pay the gas or electric bill and it's $30 more than it should be. As you're leaving for work, there's an icicle dangling perilously above your head.
This might happen any year, but industry experts say it doesn't have to. The best way to insulate your home from the effects of Old Man Winter is, well, insulation.
Yes, that bright pink stuff was only installed 15 years ago and can last for many years. But through the years, it's gotten wet, been clogged with dust and fallen down a little bit, creating gaps where the heat that new energy-efficient furnace has created can escape.
Often, one of the first signs that insulation is going bad is snow melting on the roof or icicles hanging from the eaves.“A lot of people don't realize, but you lose about 70 percent (of heat) out of your ceilings and then 30 percent out of the walls,” said Shawn Nagy, owner of Affordable Insulating. “Once it starts melting the snow off of your roof, it comes down and starts dripping and forms icicles overnight.”Some other signs of deteriorating insulation include a constantly-running furnace, higher energy bills and condensation on windows.“If your windows are getting condensation, that could be a problem because the cold air and the warm air could be trapped and creating condensation,” Nagy said.The average U.S. family spends around $1,500 annually on energy bills, with about 44 percent of that cost going toward heating and cooling, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Making the home more energy-efficient can reduce energy bills from 10 to 50 percent, the Department of Energy said, saving families up to $750 annually — and insulation is a major contributor to energy efficiency.
But before adding new insulation, it's important to understand the different types. According to the Insulation Contractors Association of America, a national trade group, there are four major types of insulation: fiberglass, rock and slag wool, cellulose and foam.Fiberglass is that pink stuff, made from combining sand or glass with inorganic materials. Rock and slag wool is similar to fiberglass, but instead the base ingredient is natural rock and blast furnace slag.Cellulose is made of paper combined with flame retardants. Foam is most often made of two chemicals that, when combine, create a polyurethane foam.Nagy said his company uses stabilized cellulose insulation, which he says is safer than traditional fiberglass, as it's fire-resistant and environmentally friendly. He added that it's likelier healthier to have around than fiberglass.“If it gets wet on you, it's going to dry out,” he said. “It's not going to create any mold like your fiberglass will.”If a major renovation is in the future, though, the Department of Energy has an online list of where different types of insulation can be best on new wall cavities and unfinished walls, ceilings, roofs and floors.
After determining what type of insulation is best, Nagy said it's best to figure out what level of insulation is necessary, which is signified by an R-value, essentially a measure of thermal resistance.According to the Department of Energy, the R-value right for a specific home depends on the heating and cooling system, what part of the house to which insulation is being added and, of course, climate.Most of Pennsylvania falls under the department's fifth zone, for which it recommends an R-value of roughly R49 to R60 for an attic currently uninsulated, R25 to R30 for floors and crawl spaces, and R13 to R21 for exterior walls.
If this isn't a DIY project — and for most materials it isn't — then it's key to find a good contractor.According to the Insulation Contractors Association, the contractor should determine what types of insulation and what R-value are necessary for the specific project. The trade group warns to beware of contractors who use vague language like “plus or minus” when referring to R-values or quote the job in terms of thickness, rather than the level of thermal resistance.In fact, federal regulations require insulation contractors to present a contract or receipt detailing the coverage area, thickness and R-value for all parts of the house in which insulation is installed.Nagy has another tip: Be wary of contractors offering steep discounts.“People that are offering discounts are usually looking for work, because they're not getting any,” he said.And, as always when looking for a professional to help with a home project, Nagy said, ask for referrals and be sure they're licensed, bonded and insured.
