Is your home sufficiently insulated? While many homeowners understand (at least partially) the benefits insulation offers, they aren’t quite sure what it looks like or where it is in their home. In addition to the attic, you most likely have insulation in your home’s walls and basement or crawl space. But what do the different types of insulation look like?
Here are some images of insulation that can be installed in both new and existing homes:
What Does Fiberglass Insulation Look Like?
Made of tiny glass fibers, fiberglass insulation can be installed in many areas of a home. Owens Corning fiberglass is pink, but this type of insulation comes in various other colors, from yellow to white to brown. It’s available in and blown-in (top image) and batt (bottom image) form.
What Does Cellulose Insulation Look Like?
Cellulose insulation is extremely environmentally friendly, made of up to 85 percent recycled materials. It is generally gray or brown in color.
What Does Rockwool Insulation Look Like?
Rockwool insulation looks like some types of fiberglass. This type of insulation is made of rocks and minerals spun into small, high temperature-resistant fibers.
Insulation Contractors Serving Visalia, CA & Surrounding Area
The team at Broken Drum Insulation of Visalia can help your home become more energy efficient and comfortable through expert insulation installation. Whether you need fiberglass batts or rockwool insulation, contact us!
Holiday parties are in full swing and temperatures are on the chillier side. Is your home prepared for the winter months? Insulation is one great way to maximize energy efficiency and save money.
Where should you start? You have a lot of different options! Let’s compare batt and blown-in insulation, two types of fiberglass, which is one of the most commonly installed materials.
The Difference Between Batt and Blown Insulation
Which one is best for your project? Professionals can help you determine that, but in general, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Generally installed in enclosed existing walls (retrofit projects) or open new wall cavities (new construction projects) and unfinished attic floors.
Good for adding to existing finished areas and around obstructions like wiring and pipes.
Blown into place using special tools.
Also referred to as “loose-fill” (loose-fill is a popular type of cellulose).
Learn more about batt vs. blown insulation—and get information on other types of insulation—on the Department of Energy’s website »
There is no “better” type of insulation—it all depends on where you need to insulate, how much insulation you need and more. A professional will be able to assess your space and determine the material that will work best.
Home Insulation Installation in Visalia, CA
Whether you install batt or blown-in insulation, it will help:
Reduce your energy bills.
Make your home more comfortable.
Improve the performance of your HVAC equipment.
We install blown and batt insulation and can insulate your attic, walls, crawl space or basement.
Contact the experts at Broken Drum Insulation of Visalia if you’re ready to insulate your home and start improving its energy efficiency and comfort—call 559-627-1032 or contact us online!
Nobody really thinks about their insulation on a day-to-day basis—it’s a set it and forget it project. But consider this: your insulation won’t do its job (and save you money!) if it’s old or damaged.
How do you know when it’s time for replace it? Call your local professionals, for starters (Broken Drum Insulation of Visalia if you’re in the Fresno, California area)! But it helps to have some basic information on the front end. When should you remove old insulation and install new materials?
How Long Will Insulation Last?
It starts with how old your insulation is. Just like anything else, insulation doesn’t last (and perform effectively) forever. If you just moved into a newly built house two years ago, you’re probably fine. Modern homes are well insulated and more energy-efficient than homes built even a decade ago! You should consider re-insulating and call an insulation company if your home was built in the 1970s or earlier or if you’ve been living in your home for years without ever checking things like insulation levels (especially if you’re not sure when the home was built).
Do I Need to Remove Old Insulation?
Insulation that has been installed for years can start to sag, deteriorate or get infested with rodents. This significantly decreases its effectiveness. In addition to old age, other signs you may need more insulation include:
Drafts (particularly near the windows) and uneven temperatures from room to room
Higher than normal energy bills for the time of year
Air conditioning or heating system running more than normal
Unusually warm second story (which indicates you may need more attic insulation)
Insulation Removal & Installation in the Fresno, Visalia & Surrounding Areas in CA
Do you need to remove old insulation in your home? Look no further. The Broken Drum Insulation of Visalia team can replace your old insulation with new fiberglass, cellulose or spray foam insulation. We look forward to helping you save money and live more comfortably all year long.
Contact us to learn more about our insulation removal services!
Homes in different parts of the country have different insulation requirements. Because our vast country has so many climates, homes in South-Central California will need different insulation than homes in Northern Maine. So, how do insulation companies determine how much insulation your home needs?
It comes down to a unit of measurement called the R-value. Different areas of the country have different recommended R-values, so let’s look at what the R-value is and how it can help you determine the best insulation for your home in South-Central California.
What Insulation R-Value Is & Why It Matters
As we mentioned, R-value is a unit of measurement that helps determine the effectiveness of a particular insulation material. R-value is based on the density, thickness and material itself. The higher the R-value of an insulation material, the better the thermal performance. This can help you determine the best and most cost-effective way to insulate your home.
The formula for R-value is R = l / λ. The I is the thickness of the material, and the λ is the thermal conductivity. To put it into perspective, solid wood has an R-value of 1, and since we include thickness, a three-inch board would have an R-value of 3.
Blown fiberglass has a thermal conductivity of 2.2 per inch, so 12 inches of insulation would give you an R-value of 26.4.
If you want to calculate the R-value for your attic, you can:
Measure the depth of your attic and note the type of insulation
Basement or crawl space: R-5 wall sheathing or R-13 batt
Choosing the Right Insulation Solutions
There are several types of insulation to choose from based on their R-values. Let’s look at some examples of the insulation types you can install in your home.
Request an Insulation Quote With Broken Drum Insulation of Visalia
If you need help insulating or re-insulating your home, reach out to Broken Drum Insulation of Visalia. Our experienced team can help you determine how much insulation you need and which types will work best in your home to reach your desired R-value. Choose us for a hassle-free experience every time.
As it gets (even) warmer here in the Visalia, California area, you may be thinking of ways to save and stay comfortable in your home. Insulation is one way to help keep the interior of your home comfortable all year long. But how much does insulation save you?
It’s a question a lot of homeowners ask. Although exact estimates are difficult to make because so many factors are in play, there are some online tools that can help you figure out approximately how much you can save by insulating your home.
Calculating Savings
You can visit CIMA (Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers Association) online to calculate insulation savings. You can measure the financial impact of increasing your insulation performance by entering your data into the insulation calculator—the size of your house, the cost of your energy, etc. With the calculator, you can see what you would be saving this year and in the future!
Here’s another home energy saver tool. It calculates all your energy bills using your current rates and personal information, such as where you live, the number of your household members, what year your home was built, whether you have a basement or not, the type of HVAC system you have, etc. After filling in your data, you’ll get back your current yearly energy costs and how much you can potentially save with upgrades.
Tips for Increasing Insulation Savings
There are some things you can do to make sure you get the most out of your insulation. We recommend:
Talking to a reputable insulation company: DIY insulation projects are not recommended. It’s best to talk to insulation professionals, who can ensure you not only are using the right material but that you’re also getting the right amount of insulation and insulating the appropriate areas of your home to gain the most energy savings.
Properly air sealing your home: Air sealing and insulation go hand in hand. A home that is properly insulated but not air sealed isn’t energy-efficient. Air leaks reduce the effectiveness of your insulation, so your home really needs to be both insulated and sealed.
Making sure other areas of your home aren’t hindering your energy efficiency efforts: You won’t be saving as much money as you could if your home is insulated but isn’t energy-efficient in other ways. For example, if your windows are old and leaky, you leave your fireplace flue damper open when not in use, your home still has energy-inefficient incandescent bulbs instead of CFL bulbs, etc., there is a lot of potential for savings. There are a lot of ways to save energy (and money)—and combined with bigger ticket items like insulation and window replacement, they can help gain significant annual energy savings.
Get Your Insulation Project Estimate!
So the question, “How much does insulation save?” doesn’t have a quick, one-solution-fits-all answer—it depends on many factors (where you live, the age of your home, etc.). But it’s easy enough to find out with online tools. Talking to a professional insulation company is the best course of action!
If you live in Visalia or a surrounding area in California, make Broken Drum Insulation of Visalia your first call! We’ve installed insulation for many homes and businesses and look forward to helping you too. Contact us for a free estimate, or call us at 559-627-1032!
Broken Drum Insulation of Visalia provides garage doors services.
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