| Sufficient and proper insulation in the home is | | | | of 3.14. Consequently an R-value of R-19 batt |
| critical for keeping your home both toasty warm | | | | insulation is approximately 6 inches thick. |
| during the winter months and comfortably cool | | | | There are four main types of insulation used in |
| during the summer months. | | | | the home and they include: |
| When buying a new home, make sure the home | | | | Batt or Blanket insulation - This is your standard |
| inspection includes an assessment of the insulation | | | | fiberglass or Rockwool insulation material. It is |
| situation within the home. Make sure the insulation | | | | used frequently in homes, and slides easily in |
| is compliant to your local building codes, and | | | | between wall studs and floor and ceiling joists. |
| preferably to the U.S. Department of Energy | | | | Rigid foam insulation - This is used frequently |
| insulation R-Value guidelines. Note that there are | | | | against basement walls. |
| different R-value guidelines for different portions | | | | Blown in Insulation - This is chemically treated, |
| of the home, e.g. walls, ceilings, in between floors. | | | | shredded newspaper that is blown into walls, |
| The U.S. DOE also provides different R-value | | | | attics, and between floor joists. |
| guidelines for different regions of the country. For | | | | Spray Insulation - This is a two part liquid material |
| example in the upper New England area the | | | | that is sprayed onto walls, and between attic and |
| recommend attic R-value is R-49, whereas in | | | | flooring bays. As it hits the surface area it quickly |
| Florida it is R-38. | | | | expands and hardens to form a tight and highly |
| Note that R-value is a term for describing the | | | | insulated barrier. |
| resistance level to heat flow. The higher the | | | | So whether you are looking to buy a new home |
| R-value the higher the resistance to heat flow | | | | or continuing to live in your current home make |
| transfer. Depending upon the type of insulation | | | | sure your house is properly insulated. You'll save |
| used, the R-value varies between a value of 3 | | | | on annual energy bills and live more comfortably in |
| and 4 per inch of insulation thickness. For example | | | | your home during those cold winter nights and |
| a typical fiberglass insulation batt has an R-value | | | | sultry summer days. |