There are so many kinds of insulation on the market, that when it comes time to install insulation to your home, it can be hard to choose the right type for your needs. You, no doubt, know that you want to select the most energy efficient type that you can afford, but what other specifics should you know? Refer to the following Modern Mechanical handy insulation guide for Northern Virginia homeowners.

If you are retrofitting your house, you likely are upgrading your insulation to keep your heat in. One of the easiest ways to retrofit your home is to use the drill & fill method to add insulation to your home. You drill a small hole between studs in the wall, and then you blow loose-fill insulation into the wall cavities. In fact, this insulation can be blown into the wall’s cavities from inside your home or from your home’s exterior. 

Types Of Insulation

There are several types of insulation available, and a key factor to consider when you select your insulation is the R-value (resistance to heat flow). If you’re not sure what R-value you need, consult the U.S. Department of Energy’s ZIP Code Insulation Calculator. Here’s a quick rundown of some forms of insulation that you might consider:

• Spray foam typically is the most versatile and energy- efficient insulation available. It enables you to insulate small spaces that other forms of insulation cannot reach, and it helps keep out drafts, which lowers your energy costs since you’re HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system isn’t working overtime to maintain your desired temperature. Additionally, homes that have spray foam insulation typically have higher resale values.
• Blown-in insulation is a cost-effective substitute to spray foam. For the majority of applications, loose fiberglass will be blown into your attic, and it offers uniform coverage, and fills in any small nooks.
• Fiberglass batts are very common, and are made from very fine fibers of sand and recycled glass that are woven together to make thick pads or batts. These batts are generally 16 inches to 24 inches in size, and fit the standard-sized cavities in most homes. Batts are soundproof, and will not absorb or hold any water. 

One key point to remember is that improperly installed insulation can result in significantly lowered efficiency, sometimes by as much as 50 to 100 percent. Therefore, we recommend that you seek professional assistance to ensure that your insulation installation goes smoothly, and that you receive the best results possible.

For more information, contact the professionals at Modern Mechanical. We proudly serve residential customers in Northern Virginia and Maryland, and look forward to helping you with all of your heating and cooling needs.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Modern Mechanical services the Northern Virginia and Maryland areas. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!