| Insulation Frequently
Asked Questions |
|
| Why
hire a professional to install insulation?
Why should I insulate my home?
How much insulation do I need?
Where should I insulate?
If I add more insulation, do I need to remove what's
already there?
Are there incentives currently available for installing
insulation?
What is the difference between fiber glass and cellulose
insulation?
What types of fiber glass insulation are available?
What is the difference between a thermal batt and
an acoustic batt?
Can a home be sealed too tightly?
|
| Why hire a professional to
install insulation? |
If you're
a home builder, you can build faster for less. An insulation
professional will save you time on the front end and back end
of a job. Experienced installers can insulate your homes faster
than framers or general contractors, so you can keep your craftsmen
focused on what they do best. Plus, you can be sure the job will
be done the right the first time, eliminating callbacks. A professional
contractor's expertise can help you in other ways too. A pro has
access to extensive information about codes OSHA requirements
and the most effective application techniques. They're not only
familiar with how to insulate a variety of framing and construction
techniques but how to provide proper ventilation around attic
insulation to prevent structural damage.
If you are a home owner, hiring a professional installer
makes sense. Properly insulating your home really pays-not
only by reducing your utility bills but by also adding comfort
and value to your home. A professional installer will save you
time and money you wouldn't otherwise installing yourself. They
have the specialized products and technical expertise to insulate
your home quickly, making sure your home delivers the greatest
comfort and highest energy savings possible. For example, a professional
installer will know your proper installed R-value as well as have
the latest information on building codes.
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| Why should I insulate my home? |
Insulation increases
the overall comfort of a home and adds to its resale value. It
keeps a home cool in the summer and warm in the winter because
it resists the flow of heat. Heat is a form of energy and always
seeks a cooler area. It flows out of the home in the winter and
into the home in the summer. By reducing heat flow, a properly
insulated home uses less energy for heating and cooling. When
installed in walls, floors or ceilings, fiber glass insulation
also acts as a sound absorber to reduce the transmission of sound
from one room to another or from the outside.
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|
| How
much insulation do I need? |
The amount of insulation
you need depends on where you live.The U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE) has established thermal (or
R-value) recommendations for homes based
on geographic zones. Or, check with your utility company or
state energy office.
|
| Where
should I insulate? |
Typical areas to
insulate are attics and outside walls. However, you should also
install insulation in areas including basement walls, floors above
vented crawl spaces, cathedral ceilings, floors over unheated
garages or porches, knee walls, and in between interior walls,
ceilings or floors for extra sound control.
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| If I add more insulation,
do I need to remove what's already there? |
There is no need
to remove what you already have since R-valueare
cumulative. For example, if you layer two different batts of R-19
together, you get the combined R-value
of both batts (R-38). You might want to consider using unfaced
R-19, R-25 or R-30 fiber glass batts and laying them cross-wise
to the existing insulation covering the joists.
|
| Are there incentives currently
available for installing insulation? |
Financial incentives
are offered in many states for the purchase and installation of
insulation. Find
out about ones available New Mexico or go to
www.simplyinsulate.com
for your state.
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| What is the difference between
fiber glass and cellulose insulation? |
Fiber glass is made
mostly of inorganic materials and, therefore, is naturally non-combustible;
it is installed dry and does not absorb or retain moisture; and
it has nearly no settling (less than 1%) which means the R-value
is stable over time. In fact, i t takes three times more cellulose
material by weight than fiber glass to insulate a typical home.
Cellulose, on the other hand, is made up of newspaper which is
organic and naturally flammable (approximately 20% of the finished
cellulose product is comprised of fire retardant chemicals); it
is often installed damp and needs to fully dry after installation;
and it can settle as much as 20% or shrink causing the R-value
to deteriorate over time. Additionally, there has been very limited
testing on the health and safety impacts of the chemical treatments
and potential emissions from cellulose.
|
| What types of fiber glass
insulation are available? |
Fiber glass insulation
is available in two types: loose fill (blown in) and blanket.
Loose fill insulation comes in bags. Blanket insulation comes
in batts and rolls in various
R-values
, widths and lengths.
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| Does fiber glass insulation
contain any recycled materials? |
| Fiber glass insulation
typically contains 20-40% recycled glass, depending upon the manufacturing
facility and product type. |
|
| What is the difference between
a thermal batt and an acoustic batt? |
Thermal batts are
manufactured to a specific R-value
and acoustic batts are manufactured to a specific thickness. Thermal
products can be used in sound control applications, and sound
control products can be used for thermal applications if they
are labeled with a specific R-value.
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| Can a home be sealed too tightly? |
A certain amount
of fresh air is needed for good indoor air quality and there are
specifications that set the minimum amount of fresh air needed
for a home. An energy specialist can perform an air leakage test
with a "blower door" if you are concerned. If your home
is too tight, fresh air ventilation can be added.
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