During this latest cold snap our heating systems have been working harder than usual. We’re thankful for the warm air that circulates and keeps our homes toasty when it’s frosty outside.
When we think about home heating we think furnace. Yet a most important component of home heating rarely gets talked about.
Insulation, or lack of it, in large part determines how efficiently we are able to heat our home. One can have the best furnace on the market, yet without proper insulation that warm air disappears through cracks and crevices in walls and ceilings.
A properly insulated home makes your heating (and cooling) system more efficient. Higher efficiency equals lower energy bills. A well-insulated home is also much quieter. Insulation absorbs sound. That keeps the conversations, music and audio technology from bleeding through into the next room.
Some specialty companies like Bonded Logic make roll out and batt insulation from shredded cotton fibers. Completely natural, it can be handled and installed with bare hands. The fibers are coated with boron to make them fire resistant. It makes a wonderfully efficient sound barrier and is often used in recording studios that require good acoustics.
Cellulose insulation is a loose insulation that is typically blown in through small holes drilled in the outside walls. This type of insulation can conform to any open space without having to deconstruct the walls or attic space. While roll out/batt insulation is easily used in new construction, cellulose is often used in retro fit situations where an older existing home is in need of insulation.
A type of insulation growing in popularity is sprayed foam insulation. Some can have an R-Value twice that of typical roll out/batt insulation. The advantage is that spray foam fills every exposed space, even the smallest ones. Because air leaks are one of the biggest causes of heat loss, spray on insulation makes an effective barrier.
Spray foam installations typically cost more than regular roll out/batt insulation, yet the long-term energy savings of higher efficiency can offset the higher initial costs. One caution on spray foam insulation: if used in an attic it can create a lack of oxygen flow for your furnace. Always seek the advice of a professional HVAC company before using spray foam insulation in your attic.
Your friends at Sinclair want your home heating system to be operating at peak efficiency. Call us today and we’ll make sure you’re getting the most from your heating dollar. 806-749-2665.