subject: Winterizing Your Home With Insulation [print this page] Insulation is a very important part of home construction. Many homes, however, are outfitted with cheap or ineffective insulation, and the homeowners then have to pay for that cheap insulation by paying for huge energy bills during the winter months.
The Importance of Winterization
Winterizing your home is a very important procedure that can save you hundreds of dollars on energy costs during the harsh winter season. If you live in a climate where the winter months are exceptionally cold, winterizing your home can mean the difference between a comfortable winter and a frigid winter. If your home is not winterized with insulation, you may see a huge energy bill because your heater will be running constantly to replace the heat that was lost through your home's walls and ceilings.
What is Insulation?
If you are not a home contractor or builder, you may not have a lot of knowledge about home insulation or the importance of insulation. Insulation is a formulated material that is used between the walls of homes and above the ceilings to prevent hot or cold air from escaping from the home.
Most homes are equipped with HVAC systems that can heat or cool a home in harsh weather conditions to make it comfortable, even in extreme weather. However, if a home is not properly insulated, the HVAC system will have to work overtime to properly cool or heat the home. This is why insulation is so important. If you notice that you have been receiving huge energy bills when you run your heater or air conditioning unit, you might have an insulation problem. If you have an older home, your insulation may have broken down or deteriorated, and a new insulation installation may be in order.
Where to Install Insulation
Depending on when your home was built, you may already have insulation installed in between the walls of your home and possibly in your attic. Insulation is a thick and fibrous material that can be identified by its bright yellow or pink color. If you walk up into your attic and do not see any insulation, you may be able to benefit from installing insulation in your attic. There are two basic ways to install insulation in your home.
First, you can buy bolts of insulation fabric that can be laid out in between the rafters of your attic and against the walls. This insulation will prevent cold air from rushing through the walls of your attic and into your home. It will also help keep warm air in your home, instead of simply allowing it to escape into the outside world.
Many consumers opt for a simpler method of insulation installation, however. There is a type of spray insulation that can be installed professionally by contractors. This insulation begins in a liquid form, but once it is touched by air, it expands and solidifies into an impermeable substance that provides excellent home insulation. You can get this spray insulation applied in your home for a very reasonable price. Installing insulation in your home can make a huge difference in your energy bill this season.
