Insulation FAQ: What Are the Benefits of Insulation? 

If someone was to ask you why a house needs a roof, you would be able to answer that question without thinking too hard. A roof offers protection from the elements and is vital to the overall structural foundation of a house. But if someone was to ask you why your home needs insulation, the answer is not as obvious. And unless you work in the home improvement business or have completed a major house renovation before, chances are you might be unfamiliar with this important element of every house. 

That is why in this article, we will be explaining exactly what insulation is, and the myriad of benefits of this humble material. Let’s dive straight in.

What Exactly is Insulation?

At its core, the purpose of insulation is pretty simple: insulation sits between the inside walls of your home and the outside walls. This includes the roof and floors too. Insulation works as a barrier to heat flow and is the essential ingredient in keeping your home comfortable year-round – that is warm in winter and cool in summer. You might be wondering why this is important when you can just use heating and cooling systems throughout to keep your home comfortable. Keep reading to find out the top benefits of insulation and why it is a vital element of every home. 

Lower Your Energy Bills

One of the greatest benefits of insulation is that it can significantly lower your energy bills. By making sure heat stays inside your home during winter, and that heat stays out of your home during summer, you will be reducing the number of times you switch on your heating/air conditioning. Of course, this will greatly reduce your utility bills across the year. Not to mention the less energy your home uses, the more you are helping the planet. 

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

On the topic of helping the planet, having a well-insulated home will drastically lower your carbon footprint. Your carbon footprint is directly related to energy consumption, so the less energy you use, because your insulation is doing the hard work for you, the more environmentally friendly your home is and the lower your carbon footprint. That is what we call a win-win. 

Boost the Value of Your Home

Some of the best home improvement projects are the ones that offer you a good return on investment. Insulation not only offers a good return on investment (ROI) on the money you save on your energy bills but in the event you sell your house, having a quality insulated home can boost your asking price. The thing to remember is that older homes often have less insulation than modern homes, but a simple insulation project can add value to the oldest of homes. Meanwhile, adding insulation to a new home can pay for itself within a few years. Even if you do not plan on selling your home in the near future, its value will still steadily increase over time until you are ready to one day sell.

Greater Noise Control

And finally, insulation is a great way to lessen outside noise permeating into your home. If you live on a noisy road, or perhaps have social neighbors, insulation can make a major difference in terms of controlling the noise pollution that enters your home. Also, insulation controls the noise that escapes from your home, which is handy if you like to have the TV at full volume or throw the odd party or two yourself.

Does Every Home Need Insulation?

Does every single home really need insulation? Absolutely! Insulation is cost-effective, it is energy-saving, it is good for the environment, it increases the comfort of your home and it is an excellent noise controller. Whether you are renovating, building, or replacing your old insulation, there are plenty of insulation options to suit your requirements. 

How to Choose the Right Insulation

Insulation is measured by its R-value, which is basically its ability to resist heat leaking in or out. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation. The amount of insulation you need will depend on your home’s current state, and where you live. It is vital to remember insulation that has not been installed properly can result in it not achieving its R-value, which is why you need to find a qualified and professional insulation contractor for the job.