Insulation Myths

Along with questions about insulation come a few misconceptions. There are some big myths out there about insulation and they’re holding homeowners back from realizing great energy savings and home efficiency improvements. Let’s talk about the “Nots” of insulation.

 

Most homeowners think of insulation as a thick warm winter jacket for their home – buffering the heated air inside against the cold weather outside.  Like a winter jacket, they pack it away in the mental closet when the weather warms up and forget about it until autumn.

 

Contractors, however, know that insulation is more like a thermos – it keeps warm things warm, and keeps cool things cool. Improving insulation in a home has a dramatic effect not only on your heating bills in the winter, but also on your air conditioning usage in the summer. 

 

Homeowners can reduce their energy bills by up to 25% in the summer months, and almost 50% in the winter months simply by upgrading or retrofitting insulation into their homes.

 

Having a warmer or cooler home, with lower energy costs and higher energy efficiency is great, but it’s not the only value insulation brings.

 

One of the most overlooked values of insulation is simply sound proofing. Particularly in semi-detached homes, larger homes with high ceilings, and homes with small children, sound proofing is an important benefit of improving insulation, and improving the satisfaction of living in that home.

 

The second most overlooked value of insulation is resale value. If you are considering selling your home in the next 5 years, improving the value of insulation and then sharing the resulting lowered utility bills with your potential homebuyer can be a valuable tool in selling your home faster and for more money. Savvy homebuyers look at the carrying costs of a home and lowered utility costs (particularly for large homes) can make or break a quick sale.

 

Myths and misconceptions about insulation often hold homeowners back from moving forward with improving their homes and achieving lower utility bills and more energy efficient homes. When in doubt, talk to your local contractor about how improved insulation, installed properly, could benefit your home, your family and your pocketbook.