Home Insulation

Your home will be more comfortable and energy efficient with the right insulation. Insulation helps reduce your energy bills with added benefits such as noise reduction and fire safety.

 

R stands for resistance to heat flow. The greater the R-value is, the greater your insulative power.

 

The function of insulation is to minimize the radiation and convection transfer of heat with a minimum of solid conduction so that our homes stay warmer in the winter and cooler in summer.

 

ATTIC INSULATION

 

The attic is the easiest place to add insulation and it will improve your comfort and the energy efficiency of your home . No matter what kind of insulation you currently have in your attic, one quick way to determine if you need more is to look across the span of your attic. If your insulation is just level with or below your floor joists (i.e. you can easily see your joists), you should add more.

 

When adding additional insulation to your attic, you do not need to use the same type of insulation that currently exists. You can add loose fill on top of fiberglass batts or blankets, and vice versa. If you use fiberglass over loose fill, make sure the fiberglass batt has no paper or foil backing - it needs to be "unfaced." If you choose to add loose fill, the application requires the use of a blowing machine.

 

BASEMENT INSULATION

 

Insulating basement and crawl spaces calls for a different type of insulation than attic or walls use. Unfortunately, basement and crawl space are more susceptible to moisture seepage, which can lead to problems such as mold which is a serious health risk. Water vapor moves easily through most materials used in construction, including brick and concrete block. A basement wall that is not adequately insulated AND has a moisture problem, needs extra consideration. To check for moisture problems, wait until the basement walls and floor are thoroughly dry then tape a square-foot piece of plastic to the basement wall or floor. Leave it in place for one week. Pull the tape off. If condensation is present under the plastic, you have a problem that needs to be solved before you insulate.

 

Contact ANDERSON CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, LLC for more information about how to solve your particularly moisture problem. Anytime moisture is present, there is always the potential for mold to grow. ANDERSON CONSTRUCTION IS A CERTIFIED MOLD INSPECTOR.

 

 

HOME VENTILATION

It’s amazing how few people know that proper ventilation of your home can save them money on their energy bills. Insulation and ventilation work together, to achieve a proper flow of warm and cool air thoughout a home. In winter, attic vents ( figure A ) allow cold air to flow into the attic, preventing ice dams and keeping moisture from building up. In summer, ventilation allows hot air in the attic to escape. Be sure that the ventilation in your home is adequate. You may need to add more. Here are some examples of proper attic ventilation:

• Soffit vents along the edge of the roof allow air into the attic between rafters.
  
• Box vents or a ridge vent , allow air from the attic to escape through the roof. A ridge vent can be challenging to install in an existing home but is highly recommended for new home construction or if you're replacing an old roof.
  
• Gable wall vents are located on the gable ends of the attic. These allow air to flow in and out of the attic, depending on the season.

Your home will be more comfortable and energy efficient with the right insulation and ventilation. Insulation and proper ventilation helps reduce your energy bills with added benefits such as noise reduction and fire safety.

 

Contact Anderson Construction Services, LLC today for a free home inspection of your insulation and SAVE big money on your energy bills this year.