Insulation

Importance of Insulation

The average household uses 50% - 70% of its engery used for heating and cooling. Improper insulation and air leakage lead to a waste of energy for home owners. Conservation of energy is becoming more important with the rising cost of utilities. JWC follows guidelines set by Energy Star to ensure our clients their insulation will maintain a uniform temperature through out the house, reduce the amount of energy used to heat/cool their home and save them money on their utility bills.


FYI on Insulation

R-Value:  Is a measure used to described the rate heat energy is transferred through the insulation. The higher the r-value, the better the insulation.

Types of Insulation:  There are different types of insulation

  • Batts & Blankets: Rolls of glass fiber or mineral wool used inbetween wall studs, floor joist or in the attic. They must be hand-cut and trimmed to fit wherever the joist spacing is non-standard or where there are obstructions in the walls.  They are available with or without backings made of paper or foil that act as a vapor-retardent. Batts with a special flame-resistant facing are available in various widths for basement walls where the insulation will be left exposed.
  • Blown-in loose-fill:  Insulation includes cellulose, fiberglass, or rock wool in the form of loose fibers or fiber pellets that are blown using pneumatic equipment. This form of insulation can be used in wall cavities. It is also appropriate for unfinished attic floors, for irregularly shaped areas, and for filling in around obstructions.
  • Foam insulation: can be applied by a professional using special equipment to meter, mix, and spray the foam into place. Polyicynene is an open-celled foam. Polyisocyanurate and polyurethane are closed-cell foams. In general, open-celled foam allows water vapor to move through the material more easily than closed-cell foam. However, open-celled foams usually have a lower R-value for a given thickness compared to closed-cell foams. So, some of the closed-cell foams are able to provide a greater R-value where space is limited.
  • Rigid insulation: Is made from fibrous materials or plastic foams and is produced in board-like forms and molded pipe coverings. These provide full coverage with few heat loss paths and are often able to provide a greater R-value where space is limited. Such boards may be faced with a reflective foil that reduces heat flow when next to an air space. Rigid insulation is often used for foundations and as an insulative wall sheathing.
  • Reflective insulation systems are fabricated from aluminum foils with a variety of backings such as kraft paper, plastic film, polyethylene bubbles, or cardboard. The resistance to heat flow depends on the heat flow direction, and this type of insulation is most effective in reducing downward heat flow. Reflective systems are typically located between roof rafters, floor joists, or wall studs.
  • Radiant barriers are installed in buildings to reduce summer heat gain and winter heat loss. In new buildings, you can select foil-faced wood products for your roof sheathing (installed with the foil facing down into the attic) or other locations to provide the radiant barrier as an integral part of the structure. For existing buildings, the radiant barrier is typically fastened across the bottom of joists, as shown in this drawing. All radiant barriers must have a low emittance (0.1 or less) and high reflectance (0.9 or more).