How Does Insulation Work?

Building insulation is just any material in a structure used primarily as insulation for some specific purpose. While most insulation in general buildings is only for thermal purposes, this term also includes acoustic insulation, flame insulation, and pressure insulation. These materials are usually combined with a vapor barrier installed in between two or more walls of the structure. Insulation is a blanket, whether it is applied on the interior or exterior side of a structure. It provides an essential shield from the elements, often subjected to changes that cause heating and cooling to decrease and change direction.

Insulation

Insulation can be both attractive and functional. When insulation works with proper planning and design, it can make a difference in keeping a house comfortable during the coldest months of the year. During summer, when the windows and doors open wide to provide ventilation to prevent warm air from collecting in the room, the home will have higher energy costs, especially when the weather is warm. Windows that close tightly will also take more energy to keep cool in a room. Proper insulation should be a part of the overall plan for home energy savings.

There are three types of insulation used to achieve high levels of thermal resistance and energy savings. They include fiberglass batt insulation (also known as facts), spray foam, and mineral wool. Fiberglass batt insulation is the most effective at blocking heat transfer. Because it is so efficient in gathering heat, it is often used in basements, where it acts as the best barrier against heat transfer.

Spray foam and mineral wool are types of cellulose-based insulation materials. Although they are made of the same ingredients, they are manufactured through different processes. Cellulose-based materials may seem similar to natural fibers, but they are not the same. In addition, there are differences between them regarding their structural makeup.

Fiberglass batt insulation provides high levels of thermal resistance but is not as dense as foam board, which makes it less dense and less effective at trapping heat within a structure. The cost of spraying foam and mineral wool is also much more than spray foam or mineral wool. In fact, these two types of insulation materials are the least effective in stopping the spread of heat through a structure.

When insulating a room, many homeowners choose to use fiberglass batt because it is inexpensive but provides poor thermal insulation. If the room is not located in a well-ventilated area, then fiberglass may not even be a good option. It will simply act as a giant barrier to air, which means that it will not help to keep heat inside a room. Fiberglass is a man-made product that was not designed for proper insulation. The FDA has even deemed some types of fiberglass to be dangerous.

Foam board comes from natural gas, natural rubberwood, or compressed air, but the best types of insulation come from compressed air and polyurethane foam. This form of insulation works very well for keeping heat flow throughout a home. The best types of insulation work with conduction. Convectional and radiant heat flow is the key to efficient insulation work.

The best types of insulation materials are able to trap air pockets, which is where radiant heat gain is maximized. These air pockets are created by the movement of heat through your home. If you want to save money on your air conditioning bill, then you should consider insulating your home properly. The R-value of the material will allow you to keep your rooms cooler while still protecting your home.