Is your home insulation ready for Winter?
Winter should be about curling up with a good book and bundling up under blankets, not high electricity bills, air gaps and freezing pipes. Now is the time to check your home insulation and set yourself up for a cozy, relaxing winter in Southwestern Ontario.
The Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) compares a properly insulated house to dressing for the weather.
“A wool sweater will keep you warm if the wind is not blowing and it is not raining. On a windy, rainy day, wearing a nylon shell over your wool sweater helps keep you reasonably dry and warm. A house is similar,” the CMHC website says. “On the outside, underneath the brick or siding, there is an air barrier that does the same thing as the nylon — it keeps the wind from blowing through. Then there is the insulation (like your sweater) and a vapour barrier, which helps keep moisture away from the house structure where it can do damage.”
Adding insulation material to areas of your home is a great way to make your home more energy efficient. Attics and unfinished basements are ideal areas for this as they do not usually require demolition such as knocking down walls.
Signs your home in poorly insulated
Cold floors and walls in the winter and hot inside air in the summer, mould growth, high energy bills and uneven heating or ineffective cooling are all signs of a poorly insulated home.
Different types of insulation
There are many different types of insulation available. The type you use depends on where you are insulating or what R-value you require. Ever types of insulation used in homes these days from Fibreglass, Roxul, Cellulose blown-in to Spray Foam offers different features and benefits.
Below are the highlights of Cellulose blown-in and Spray Foam:
Cellulose: Being a loose-fill material; cellulose is mostly used in attics and wall cavities as it is denser than loose-fill fibreglass or mineral fibre (which are better used when blown into existing walls). When installed correctly by a professional cellulose will not lose it is energy saving abilities over time. Cellulose will not rot, decay or mildew, and it does not support fungus or mould growth It is the most popular choice for insulating in new construction over fibreglass.
Spray foam: Spray foam pulls double duty, it is an insulator with high R-value, and it also seals air leaks around windows, doors and those hard to reach places. Spray Polyurethane Foam Insulation solves building insulation design problems because it combines proven thermal protection while also offering superior air barrier properties. At Chase Insulation our team ensures we provided the quality installation with the full eco-benefits of spray foam every time!
All in all, if you are experiencing heat loss and insulation issues in your home, one of the best things you can do for yourself and your property is to have an insulation inspection performed. Our team can provide recommendations on areas to improve insulation in your home.
We are a full-service insulation contractor proudly serving Southwestern Ontario with experience in the installation and removal of all types of installation materials. Contact us today to learn more!