Figuring out which type of insulation to use is so much easier when you have an idea of what the different types are, how effective they are, and where they are used. You want to make sure that you get the best product for the job that you can afford.

One of the slightly more expensive options out there is residential foam insulation. However, you will recoup your costs over time with the additional savings in energy costs that you will get through using expanding foam. Because it expands to fill any spaces where air and moisture might enter the home, it is one of the best types available. It is easily applied through a spray nozzle.

For something more affordable, you could get one of the forms of blow in insulation. Commonly used types include fiberglass (the most effective), mineral wool, and cellulose. You will need a thicker layer than you would if you used fiberglass or mineral wool batts, but this will save you some money and make it easier to insulate hard to reach areas.

More common in the UK, foam roof insulation is now becoming more popular in the US. In the past it wasn't used since it was believed that roofs needed to be vented. If your roof is vented you can still use it for your attic floor, however, it won't control the temperature of the attic as well.

One of the places you should be sure to insulate is your attic. Attic ceiling insulation is especially important since heat rises and you don't want all your heat in the winter to go right out through your roof. You want it to be trapped in the house and keeping your warm.

Although many people do not use garage door insulation, it can really help to regulate the temperature of your garage and make it a more useful place. You might also find that you save on your energy bill if you use it and have an attached garage. It is very easy to install yourself with kits available on the internet.

Anyone with a steam or hot water based heating system should also be sure that they are properly insulating their pipes with steam pipe insulation. Other types cannot withstand the temperatures of these pipes, and without the correct product you will lose heat quickly and it won't reach the farthest areas of your house.

Finally, cellular glass is a fire resistant, strong type of commercial insulation that is used for insulating roofs and special types of pipes and equipment, especially when there are either very hot or very cold temperatures involved or when it is important that the product be waterproof.

By: Simon Harris
Simon Harris writes about insulation at http://www.insulationanswers.com

Why is blown in insulation becoming so popular?

I think that one of the reasons why blown in insulation is becoming more popular is the fact that it is so easy to put in. This is especially true if you are trying to retrofit a home with insulation (i.e., after it has already been built) -- you will not have to do extensive tearing out of walls or ceilings or floors -- all that is really needed is enough of an opening for your contractors machinery to insert a flexible tube to blow in the insulation particles.

Which areas of my home can be insulated in this way?

Actually, you can use blown in insulation in many different areas of your home -- floors, ceilings, walls, attic crawl spaces -- all of these are good places to use it. Often times insulating your home can turn out to be a big expense if you have to insulate large areas -- because larger areas require more material. But blown in insulation is made from recycled material, which is much cheaper -- and it certainly doesn't take as many people to install this type of insulation in your home than with, let's say, fiberglass or rigid foam insulating blocks.

Advantages and disadvantages?

As I mentioned above, blown in insulation is very inexpensive -- and safe. It is also very environmentally friendly. Certain types of materials are rated as a Class I fire safety material (your insurance company will love that!) -- and insulation that is blown in can be done very simply by drilling a hole, pumping the stuff in, and then sealing the hole -- nothing could be easier.

But there are a few downsides as well. For example, if you need to seal up very small, restricted areas such as around electrical junction boxes or plumbing structures, this method will not work as well as expanding foam insulation will. Another thing to be aware of is that over time the materials which are blown in to your wall cavities or above your ceiling can settle -- and this can cause some loss in insulating effectiveness (not to mention the fact that the extra weight can cause your walls and ceilings to sag).

What types of materials are available?

A common material used as blown in insulation filler is cellulose. To make it safer, most cellulose insulation products that are sold in the US have been treated with a substance -- aluminum sulfate -- which acts as a fire retardant. You must make sure to keep this type of treated cellulose dry, as the effectiveness of the aluminum sulfate as a fire retardant will be lowered if it becomes wet.

If your contractor offers the option, you can select wet-spray cellulose as your filler material. Wet-spray cellulose has water mixed in with a special adhesive -- and the adhesive will help the small pieces of cellulose to adhere to each other once they have been blown in to your wall or ceiling cavity.

Other types of materials used candy fiberglass, vermiculite, slag wool and perlite, hemp, granulated cork, wood chips -- even corncobs! You must be very careful if you choose to use an all-natural material (such as wood chips or corncobs) as over time they may deteriorate or even rot -- especially if they become wet.

Can I install blown in insulation myself?

While there is nothing inherently difficult about installing this type of insulation, you probably do not have the necessary blowing equipment to get the job done. As your local building supply store probably does not have those units for renting, your best bet is to rely on the services of a professional installation contractor.

They not only have the necessary equipment but the added experience of having done perhaps hundreds of these insulating projects over the years, in many different types of homes and buildings. You should seek them out, ask for references and always get a written estimate before agreeing to allow them to do the work for you.

By: Simon Harris
This article provided courtesy of http://www.better-insulation.net.

With the rising cost of hydrocarbon fuel, we should look at ways to save money in the heating and cooling of our home. Insulation is the first thing that comes to mind. When talking about insulation, you hear the term R- value. The R-value is a measure of thermal resistance used in heat transfer problems. R-values can be calculated from thermal conductivity, k, and the thickness of the material, t: R = t/k. Thus, for 100 mm thickness, it is possible to calculate that a fiberglass blanket has a value of 2, whereas aerogel has a value of 5.9. I'm confused. Just think of it this way: the Higher the R - Value the Better it insulates you home from temperature changes.

Advancements in the area of insulations has come a long way baby. The first thing we think about is fiberglass batting or a blown in type. Fiberglass is an excellent form of insulation. It is easiest to install during the construction phase but can be installed or supplemented later in the attic or basement if your home has a basement. There are several other choices in the insulation of your home. Some of them include cellulose, rock wool, foam board and sprayed in foam just to name a few.

New construction is the best time to insulate. Before sheetrock is applied, access to all of your home's cavities is easy and can be insulated easily.

Installing insulation in the walls of an existing home especially if you are doing a major remodel is not impossible. If you are not doing a remodel, you should probably call a professional company. They drill holes (2-3 inches in diameter) in the walls between each stud. Some companies drill these holes at the top and bottom of the wall to insure the filling of the cavity is complete. Windows will have a cavity above and below that will need filling. Professional companies know how to do this and are very efficient at doing it.

Your first concern when considering insulation for your attic should be proper ventilation. Without proper ventilation, your attic can reach temperatures over 150 degrees and pressure can build in the attic just like a pressure cooker. This condition can actually push the nails holding down shingles out. Proper ventilation allows your home to breathe, exchanging the air in the attic on a regular basis helping to keep the temperature down and reduce the amount of moisture in the attic. If moisture in the attic is not kept down, mold can form in the attic. This moisture can also cause wood to rot. Either condition is not good.

When it comes to insulating the attic, the homeowner can do this. The best time to put insulation in the attic is in spring or fall. The reason for this is the temperature of the attic. In the summer the temperature in the attic can reach 150 degrees. This is not a good temperature for the human body. Heat prostration is a big concern at this temperature. To be safe, don't attempt it. If you must do this during the summer, let the professionals handle it. If you do this your self, there are two types of insulation the homeowner can install themselves. The first is batting. This is purchased in rolls. You simply unroll them in your attic and move them into the position you want them. When installing batting, make sure to get it to the edges of the roof. At the same time, you must leave room for air to travel from the eaves of the house into the attic. Special spacers are available to provide for this. They are easy to install and provide plenty of air passages which are necessary in the proper ventilation of your attic.

Blowing in insulation can be done by the homeowner. It is a very dirty job and should only be attempted by a physically fit individual. You are handling a 3 to 4 inch plastic hose that the insulation is flowing through while trying to balance on the ceiling joists, and trying to keep the depth of the insulation at a consistent level. This balancing can end up disastrous without proper planning. Let's talk about ceiling joists for a second. If you don't know what a ceiling joist is, look up. A ceiling joist is the dimensional lumber used to nail the sheetrock to. It is a 2 x 4, 2 x 6 or larger according to the span of the room. If while in the attic, you fail to step on this lumber, you will have the surprise of ending up in your house looking up at the very large hole in your ceiling, or setting on one of these joists with your foot or feet through the ceiling. This can be a balancing act when you consider the electrical wire that is everywhere in the attic and the wire sometimes used to tie up ductwork in the attic. The ductwork can be a major obstacle. If you are not sure of what obstacles are in your attic, go up and take a look and try to plan a route around and through your attic.

Insulation can save you energy dollars and help keep your home comfortable. You will recoup your investment in a few years in these savings. After that the savings will be money in your pocket. You will spend less on heating and cooling your home and the temperature of your home will be more consistent and easier to maintain.

The latest and supposedly greatest form of insulating your home is with sprayed in foam. This should only be accomplished by professionals. They have the proper equipment for spraying and access to the large quantity of chemicals required to do this. They will also have the proper personal protective equipment. The initial cost of spray in foam is about 20% higher. But, due to the higher 'R' value per inch of thickness, you should recover the extra cost in energy savings in about 5 years.

Don't miss the next article on "Winterizing the Exterior of Your Home".

By: Mountainman
Johnny Shaw (Mountainman) Born in a small Oklahoma town. He joined the Air Force in 1977. He retired in 1997 after 20 years of traveling the world. He has since moved back to Oklahoma. His rule: "Never give up, Never surrender". He has three Web sites: rfunstuff.com, http://www.woodstove.johnsspot.com, propertyforsaleinhotspringsvillage.johnsspot.com.

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