Most of us know that we have insulation in our homes. Many of us probably do not know if we have enough insulation or all of the important aspects of proper insulation.

What is Insulation?

Insulation is a barrier in different areas of your home that prevents the inside air from escaping outside. Heat always wants to move from warm to cold areas. Insulation prevents the heat from escaping during the winter, as well as prevents hot air from entering in the summer. Insulation also slows down the flow of air from inside to outside to help keep your home at a consistent temperature all year long.

Why is Insulation Important?

The overall intention of insulation remains the same, no matter where it is in your home. Different parts of the house need different amounts of insulation to give better protection. If you have cathedral ceilings, they must have proper insulation to ensure that the temperature of the ceiling remains close to the temperature in the room. This helps to make sure that the temperature throughout the house remains consistent.

If you have an attic, it needs enough insulation to prevent drafts from filling up your home in the winter. It makes the winter feel really cold in your house and the summer feel really warm. If you believe your house has enough insulation but still feels too cold or too hot, you may need better insulation in your exterior walls. If you live in a climate that is really cold, or more cold than hot, you may need extra insulation in your walls. If you do this, it can help save energy and decrease your energy bill. It can help to make the inside of your home feel more comfortable no matter what the weather is on the outside. It also helps to reduce condensation on the inside walls because they stay warmer.

An area of your house that you may not think needs insulation is your foundation. It can help the rooms of your house that are below grade to feel more comfortable. Proper insulation in the foundation can reduce problematic moisture, an infestation of insects, and help keep out radon.

Insulating your basement is important to keep your house dry and to save money on your energy bill. Your basement is connected to other living areas in the house making it a perfect reason to insulate it properly. Proper insulation reduces the amount of heat that is lost through your foundation. It can protect the damp-proof coating of your basement from getting saturated. Proper insulation can prevent drastic changes in temperature throughout the house which allows for a more consistent temperature. This helps the house feel more comfortable and prevents you from having to use extra sources of heat or cooling throughout the year.

You may still have some questions about the type of insulation that will give you the maximum amount of benefit. Check out this insulation R value guide to find out what type of insulation is best for your home.