Using Spray Foam Insulation To Protect Your Energy-efficient Investments

If you were one of thousands of Americans that took advantage of tax credit savings

by installing a high-energy efficient furnace or air conditioning unit, you may or may not have thought about protecting that investment. Definitely congratulate yourself for taking a step towards reducing energy use and costs but if your home is poorly or inadequately insulated, your potential long-term savings are greatly minimized.

According to DIY home renovation pioneer Bob Villa's website, the average homeowner wastes over $3,000 in energy costs due to air leaks every five years. That's an average of $600 each year in wasted energy. Air leaks can occur in any home - new or old. While it's probable that many older homes are more poorly insulated than newer homes and may have trouble areas and air leaks simply due to age, any home can leak air.

Air leaks can occur through small holes and cracks, some less than an inch, found in various seals throughout a house. Air can also leak from cracks and crevices around doors, windows, through the roof, and even from floor to floor. Insulation serves the purpose of keeping heated air separate from cool air, which in turn reduces the frequency at which a home's heating or cooling source operates. Many different forms of insulation exist, ranging from rolled batting to blown cellulose. Any type of insulation is better than having none at all but spray foam insulation is superior for sealing air leaks.

Just one inch of spray foam insulation can seal air leaks. It can be applied to any surface, including ceilings, to maximize coverage. Best of all, it can be applied anywhere, even in cracks and crevices where other forms of insulation simply wouldn't be effective. These features make spray foam insulation an ideal choice for home insulation, especially in older homes.

The resurgence of Do It Yourself home improvement projects, coupled with the increasing desire to practice a "green" lifestyle, means that homeowners are looking for ways to reduce energy use (an environmentally-friendly practice in its own right) and for products to use that are ecologically friendly. Polyurethane spray foam insulation is not only effective at sealing at air leaks; it doesn't produce toxic fumes, is carbon offset and performs exceptionally well in most zones.

Spray foam insulation is also pest resistant. It holds zero nutritional value for any pest, so it doesn't attract them or sustain them - a huge benefit in any home. Additionally, closed cell foam doesn't hold moisture, making it mold resistant as well. Restricting the growth of mold reduces airborne toxins that can aggravate allergies and asthma.

As a DIY project, installing spray foam insulation is simple for most homeowners. Any homeowner that has used a spray paint gun or similar tool can install spray foam insulation. It can be used in attics, crawlspaces, between floors, and in other nooks and crannies where other types of insulation would be awkward and time consuming to install.

Perhaps of bigger concern than the installation advantages of spray foam is its effectiveness. The approximate R-value of spray foam is 7, meaning that in addition to its other benefits, it is a highly effective insulating product. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation will perform. This rating is similar to the energy efficiency rating of your furnace and translates to mean the higher the rating, the more energy efficient it is. For example, an insulation product with an R-value of 3 is less efficient than a product with an R-value of 5. Similarly, a 95 percent energy-efficient furnace is more effective than an 85 percent energy efficient rating. However, without the most effective insulation, there can still be wasted energy caused by air escaping through leaks. This waste can occur regardless of how efficient your furnace is.

The best way to protect your investment in your home's new high-energy efficient furnace or air conditioning unit is to make sure your home is adequately insulated with a quality product. The combination of energy-efficient appliances and adequate insulation will ensure the biggest reduction in energy use possible. This means you save as much money as possible and your appliance can perform to the best of its ability.

by: Mark Munns.

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