Posts made in February 2021

Insulation Helps Protect Your Home Year Round

Pittsburgh Insulation Companies There are many improvements you can make to your home at this time of year, but insulation companies will tell you that few home improvements offer the year-round benefits that insulation does. If you’re looking for a home upgrade that increases comfort, conserves energy, and saves money, now is the time to talk with one of your local insulation companies.

How Insulation Works

Insulation and air sealing are two related improvements that work together to control how heat and air travel through your home. Insulation helps slow the flow of heat through areas like your floors, walls, and roof. Air sealing closes up cracks and holes that let hot and cold air travel into and out of your house.

It is a common misconception that insulation is only important in the winter, but the truth is that it offers benefits year-round. In the winter, insulation keeps valuable heat inside your living spaces. Insulation companies also stress that in the summer, insulation keeps unwanted heat out. Knowing this, it won’t be surprising that the most crucial areas in the home to insulate and air seal are the walls, attic, and crawlspaces.

Benefits You Can Enjoy Year-Round

When insulation companies insulate a home, homeowners notice these benefits all year long:

Increased Comfort – No more cold floors and drafts along with an overall warmer home in the winter and a cooler home in the summer.
Energy Conservation – With more consistent indoor temperatures, the heating and cooling system will struggle less and won’t need as much energy.
Save Money – With lower energy usage comes lower utility bills from month to month.
Peace & Quiet – Because insulation reduces outside noise, many homeowners are surprised by how much quieter their homes are after upgrading their insulation.

Where is Batt Insulation Installed

Most homeowners looking for batt insulation in Pittsburgh know that it is made of fiberglass called mineral wool or rock wool. Batt insulation was traditionally manufactured in rolls, but these days it is manufactured and precut into industry-standard sizes. Batt insulation is installed either with facing (kraft-faced batts) or without facing.

The climate in which the home is located determines which type to use. In some climates, it’s helpful that the facing on batts can serve as the vapor barrier. A separate vapor barrier is required in other climates, and in these areas, unfaced batt insulation is installed. Batt insulation is manufactured in many different “R-values.” The R-value required for your building project will depend on your climate, local building codes, and the area of the building you are insulating.

Typically, batt insulation can be used in almost any type of insulation application. It can be used to insulate floors, ceilings, walls, and attics. Even though it can be used anywhere, sometimes other insulation types such as spray foam insulation or blown-in insulation may be better options.

The effectiveness of batt insulation depends significantly on how it is installed. To achieve full R-value, batt insulation should not be compressed or packed into a space. Professional insulation contractors have the experience and skills to install insulation properly to maximize effectiveness.