Not all homeowners spend time thinking what’s behind their home’s walls. Now, that is a shame, given the important role proper insulation plays in achieving a healthy and comfortable home. Aside from making sure your home is warm enough for the cold Canadian winter and cool enough for the hot summer, insulation can lower your bills, minimize noise from the outside, and even prevent the growth of mold in your house.
How Does Insulation Work?
Insulation prevents outdoor air from getting into your home and conditioned air from seeping out. During winter, heat flows from your heated living spaces to the attic, garage, basement, and even the outdoors. Heat can also flow from the outside to your home’s interior. Your home’s insulation makes sure that the temperature in your home is just right.
Is Your Home Poorly Insulated?
So how can you tell if your house has poor insulation? If your walls and floors are cold during winter and the air inside your home is hot during summer, there’s a high probability that your home is not insulated enough. Also, high energy bills, ineffective cooling and uneven heating, and the growth of mold are signs that your home is poorly insulated.
What Types of Insulation are There?
There are various types of insulation available for your home. Here are some of the most common:
- FIBERGLASS
- MINERAL FIBRE
- CELLULOSE
- RIGID FOAM
- SPRAY FOAM
Where Should You Add Insulation?
Attics and basements that are unfinished are two areas that you should focus on when you decide to add new insulation. When those areas are already taken care of, you can focus on your walls (interior and exterior), floors, and around the doors and windows.
Before you decide to take on the project on your own and start knocking down walls to fix your insulation, you have to remember that most old homes have the vermiculite type of insulation in the attic, which most probably contains asbestos. Your old ductwork that’s wrapped behind your walls could also have asbestos. If you are unsure whether or not your home has this type of material for insulation, it is best that you call your trusted professional from George Kent Home Improvements. We can handle the replacement of your insulation for you. Also, know that improperly adding insulation can actually end up causing issues later. That’s why when it comes to your home’s insulation, it is always best to leave it in the hands of highly-trained pros.
Give us a call and we’d be happy to be of service!
