With many people becoming more environmentally conscious, home insulation is a topic that is being spoken about more frequently. If you haven't been involved in building your own home, you may wonder why it is so important. Does the insulation in your home really make a difference to the environment and in what way? How well your home is insulated will affect how much energy you use in keeping it warm or cool. In turn, the resources used have a direct impact on the environment. The better the insulation, the fewer energy resources are used and the better it is for the environment. This is why it is so important to have good insulation in your home.  When looking at the insulation in your home, there are few things to keep in mind.

When Was the Existing Insulation Installed in Your Home?

Ten or 20 years ago, different materials were used to insulate homes. One of the most popular forms of insulation was fiberglass matting. If you have this insulation in your home, it may not be the most effective insulation in your home. The mats would be typically installed in the roof to reduce the amount of heat lost through the natural way  heat rises. When compared to more modern forms of insulation, fiberglass matting is not the most efficient insulating material available. This is because it has a relatively low density or R-rating compared to other materials such as spray foam. The R-rating reflects how much heat is transferred through the insulating material. The higher the R-rating, the better the insulator performs. Fiberglass mats usually have an R-rating of 3.5. Compare this to spray foam which has an average R-rating of 7. Even open cell spray foam which has the lowest R-rating still comes in at 4, higher than the R-rating of fiberglass mats.

Do You Frequently Use Heating or Cooling Systems in Your Home?

No matter where you live, it almost certain that in most seasons you will either be trying to keep you home warm against the winter chill or cool it down from the summer heat. In many of the southern states, air conditioning is almost standard in most homes. Without it, the summer months ban become unbearably hot. Good insulation in your home ensures that your air conditioning doesn't use more energy resources than required. It also makes sure that your air conditioning is as efficient as it can be.

It may seem like an unnecessary expense to redo the insulation in your home. After all, it is something that no one will really see so why does it matter? It matters because it can have a direct impact on how much you spend on your energy utility bill each month. By installing the most efficient insulation available in your home, you will quickly recover the costs in the form of savings on your utility bill. When looked at from a long-term perspective, you may find yourself wondering why you didn't improve your insulation sooner.

Added Benefits of Good Insulation

When you use spray foam to insulate your home, there are many added benefits. Certainly improving the energy efficiency of your home is one of the biggest benefits, but there are others that are equally valuable. Spray foam forms a tight seal over the area it is insulating. This can help prevent the buildup of mold or moisture in your home. You can get specific spray foams that have microbial ingredients. This helps to prevent spores from multiplying and settling in your home. Spray foam can also prevent insects and vermin from getting into your home and creating nests there. It can be easily installed in ventilation ducts and other tiny crevasses where creatures such as rats like to make their nests.

Spray foam is relatively easy to apply and dries really quickly. The installation can be done by professional contractors or you can buy a DIY kit. This means that there is a more affordable installation option if cost is a concern. If you are using spray foam to insulate walls, it can improve the overall strength of the wall structure. At the same time, the spray foam helps to form a sound barrier. If you have a TV or entertainment room that is partitioned off from the rest of the home, it is worthwhile to consider insulating the room using spray foam. This means that the sound from the television won't carry through to the rest of the house.