Are you planning to insulate your home? It is a great plan and definitely a smart investment that will pay back in 3 to 5 years. Home insulation can significantly reduce your energy bills through summer and winter. There will be a drastic change in your power consumption and it will almost cut down to half.
The best time to plan for your home insulation is during the construction itself. In the worst case, you can opt for it at the time of renovation. Check out the bunch of tips and ideas for effectively planning and insulate your home.
To fully enjoy the benefits of insulation suppliers, we highly recommend you insulate every part of your home. However, the most important areas would be the ones that gain maximum heat/ cold during the respective seasons.
But, it is vital to note that ceiling and roof spaces are the biggest culprits. They allow up to 30% or more of heat loss or gain. Next, the exterior walls are responsible for more than 25% of heat loss and gain. Later, we have the floors at 10%. Additionally, also consider insulating the space between the floors or walls. They are known as mid-floor and interior wall insulation respectively.
Mid-floor insulation is necessary between the floors of a multi-story building. You can also use special acoustic insulation to add warmth and a more welcoming environment for your living space.
It is very important to opt for the right R-value. You can check the R-value necessary for your home from Government’s Energy Reports. However, we highly recommend you to go for a slightly higher value for better insulation efficiency.
R-value is the measure of the thermal resistance available in any insulation batt. Hence, you can enjoy greater insulation properties with a higher R-value.
It is very easy to install insulation for a newly built house. Furthermore, it is very convenient to do so at this stage only. Insulation batts are fit in place between timber joists. The process is complete and secured even before the flooring is laid or the plaster is hung on the walls or the ceilings.
Again get the minimum energy rating before you choose to insulate your home. Hence, it is easy to pick the right insulation R-value for different parts of your home.
New insulation can help the conditions of your place if it is an old house or doesn’t have the necessary insulation. They only add to the comfort of your indoors while improving the energy efficiency significantly.
You can add ceiling or underfloor insulation any time if there is required access to those particular areas. However, if you already have ceiling insulation in place, there is no harm in checking if they are sufficient. You may want to add another layer of insulation depending on the condition. Or you can choose a complete replacement. It is vital to remember that insulation for your home is more of an investment and less of an expense.
Ensure that any insulation in your place is not wet, moist, or moldy as this will compromise the performance. However, the appropriate time for full house insulation is during a complete renovation. The insulation batts must be in place while the cavity is still exposed and before the plaster is hung up.
It is important to leave it in the hands of experienced professionals. They will perform a better job with a high-quality finish and the installation will be pretty reliable.
You can opt for insulation during construction or during a renovation. However, there are always other ways to improve the warmth and comfort of your home.
Here are some methods to reduce draughts and minimize energy loss of the home from unexpected places:
1. Ensure your home is airtight – By creating an airtight atmosphere, you are making sure
the home is draught-free. You have to stop losing energy through cracked doors,
windows, or through the floor. Use Sealant strips around door frames and putty/sealer for
the floors and windows.
2. Use double glazed windows – Double glazed windows are a great investment. They help
you save lots of energy and moderate the noise transfer from the exterior to the interiors
of your home. The sealed air-gap between two layers of the window acts as an added
layer of insulation for the home. You can insulate your home this way to reduce the heat
loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
3. Insulate plumbing pipes – Save money by insulating around hot pipes as they prevent
heat transfer to the surrounding air. They not only conserve your energy costs but also
dampen the trickling and clucking noise from your pipes.
4. Opt for curtains – You can prevent the heat to escape in the winters by keeping curtains
and shutters closed. They help in controlling air-draughts. Install shutters to help you
keep the heat out during summers and heat in during winters.
Don't let another season pass without maximising the comfort and value of your property. Pricerite Insulation at 0444 511 783 and discuss how we can make adifference for your home or business.
At Pricerite Insulation we supply and install a huge range of insulation products to the residential and commercial building industries.