If you have just purchased a house, one of your first thoughts might be, “How do I go about insulating my home?” Or, you may just want to understand the insulation that it already has and whether it is adequate. It is possible you have already realized that there are many different types of insulation. Each type has its own characteristics and R-values, and one that works well for one purpose may not work well for another. The following list will give you short descriptions of some of the more common types of insulation homeowners might encounter.

Blanket Batts And Rolls

Made of various flexible and easily handled materials, such as fiberglass or plastic, this product is fitted between joints and beams. It works well in walls, ceilings or attic spaces. Do not compress it as you place it, since this will decrease its efficiency.

Foam Board

Foam board is a rigid material that is suited for use on unfinished walls, floors and ceilings. It must be covered in indoor applications with gypsum or similar material for fire safety, but outside it should be covered with weatherproof facing material.

Loose Fill

Made of a number of different materials, such as cellulose or fiberglass, this type of insulation is blown into a wall space or attic floor using air pressure. It is useful for insulating existing structures, such as older houses that are under-insulated.

Sprayed Foam Insulation

This type of insulation is either sprayed from small canisters, or from larger units using pressure sprayers. This also works well for existing structures, and can get into difficult to reach spots.

Reflective

Reflective insulation is most often used by do-it-yourselfers. It consists of plastic or foil covered craft paper or cardboard that can then be placed between beams, studs and joists.

Judging the insulation in your home and installing more or better insulation is a big project. If you have any questions about home-comfort issues, feel free to contact us at Powers Heating & Air. We service the Fayette and Coweta county areas. Our experts will be happy to help you.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about insulating your home and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Powers Heating & Air serves Peachtree, GA and the surrounding areas.  Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!