Insulation is a crucial component of healthy living and working environments. It helps to reduce energy costs, prevents moisture issues and also improves indoor air quality by minimizing pollutants.
Poor indoor air quality can cause a variety of health symptoms, including respiratory diseases and headaches. It is especially important for young children and people with respiratory illnesses to have proper insulation in their homes.
Reduces Heat Loss and Heat Gain
Insulation prevents the transfer of heat (or cold) from one area to another, keeping your home at a comfortable temperature and saving you energy. It also cuts down on outside noise and makes for a quieter living environment.
Insulation can be made of different materials but all contain millions of tiny pockets of air which make them effective at preventing heat transfer. Generally, the higher the R-value, the better the insulation.
Heat can flow through a building or enclosed space in several ways including radiation, convection and conduction, but the most common way is through the walls of your house. When the indoor temperature of a structure is warmer than the outdoor temperature, the heat will flow into or out through gaps and cracks, especially around doors and windows. In a typical uninsulated home, the loss of heated air from walls and windows accounts for over 40% of heating bills.
In a well-insulated home, heat loss is reduced and the air conditioning system has to work less often. The savings on energy costs can offset the initial investment in insulation over time.
There are a variety of insulation options available to help reduce the transfer of heat, with cellulose and fiberglass being the most common types used in new homes. These materials are made from recycled material and come in the form of panels or loose-fill which is blown into wall cavities. Foam insulation is also available and works in the same manner, sprayed or injected into open cavity areas such as attics, crawl spaces and rim joists.
Prevents Moisture from Building Up
Moisture build-up is the source of many problems in a home, such as unsightly and hazardous mould and mildew. When these microorganisms are in the air, they release spores and toxins that affect respiratory health and cause allergies and other health complications. Insulation prevents moisture build-up by keeping indoor temperatures stable and reducing humidity levels, therefore limiting the growth of harmful microorganisms and improving indoor air quality.
A healthy choice for insulation materials are those that contain low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Unlike fiberglass insulation, natural fibre products such as cotton, wool and cellulose are sustainable and renewable, and contain no harmful chemicals. These types of insulation are also more resistant to condensation compared to other common insulation options like glass wool and polystyrene.
A good way to check that your insulation is still performing well is to inspect it for any signs of degradation, such as water stains or discolouration. These are early signs of moisture penetration and should be treated quickly. In addition to that, proper insulation maintenance ensures that the ventilation system can work effectively by preventing air leaks. This helps in maintaining optimal indoor air quality and energy efficiency, resulting in long-term cost savings.
Prevents Allergens from Entering
Insulation is often thought of as a summer or winter essential, but it plays an important role throughout the year in maintaining comfortable temperatures, mitigating moisture issues and improving indoor air quality by restricting outside allergens and dust from entering. It also prevents excess moisture from introducing mold and other pathogens.
Insulate your home to protect yourself and your family from common allergens like dust mites, pet dander and mildew spores. These are the most common culprits behind itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing. Insulation can help reduce the allergens that trigger these reactions by filling or blocking the tiny gaps and cracks in the walls, ceiling and attic that allow these particles to enter the living space.
Regularly inspecting and addressing any leaks in your insulation is essential to maintain good indoor air quality. Insulation materials such as fiberglass contain glass fibers that, if they are not sealed properly, can release these irritating particles into the air when they come into contact with moisture. This is why choosing an alternative such as cotton, mineral wool or spray foam insulation with low-VOC options is ideal to minimize off-gassing.
Besides restricting the flow of air, insulation can also provide sound-absorbing properties and enhance indoor comfort by reducing noise pollution. In addition, by preventing air leaks and sealing these holes, insulation allows ventilation systems to operate at their best, optimizing airflow throughout the house and minimizing outdoor pollutants that can infiltrate living spaces.
Reduces Noise
Insulation helps keep your home quiet, especially if you live near a busy road or other noisy areas. It also provides a barrier against noises from other rooms in your home, such as a family’s conversations or the TV or music.
The acoustics of your home are enhanced by insulation because the materials that make up the insulation itself are good sound absorbers. Insulation reduces the transmission of sounds through walls, floors and ceilings by creating a sound-deadening barrier between the source and your living spaces.
This is why it is important to choose the right type of insulation for your home. Depending on the insulation material and its R-value, some types of insulation provide better noise reduction than others. For example, while fiberglass batts are one of the most popular and affordable types of insulation, they tend to be less effective for soundproofing than other, higher-density options.
Additionally, reflective insulation such as radiant barrier doesn’t reduce noise at all; it reflects heat from the sun, which keeps your home cool, but doesn’t prevent airborne sound waves from entering your space. This is why you want to make sure that your attic contractor installs the best insulation for your unique needs. They may even recommend other home upgrades, such as installing weather stripping or upgrading hollow doors, to further reduce noise pollution.