If you want to improve the energy efficiency of your home, insulation plays a key role. Spray foam insulation is the most suitable type for several reasons. Be it a newly constructed home or an existing one being remodeled, in both cases with the help of spray foam insulation and energy efficiency can be improved, utility bills can be reduced, and your home can remain comfortable year round . But what is with it that makes it the best choice? In this blog by PolyCon, let us check just how spray foam insulation works, its advantages, and why it is also the number one choice for an energy-efficient home.
What is Spray Foam Insulation?
Spray Foam Insulation is a type of liquid insulation that is sprayed on and expands and dries to create a long-term and airtight seal. It is made of two chemical compounds—polyurethane and isocyanate—blended in a mixture to create expanding foam that enters into every nook and cranny, even those hard to reach spaces.
How Spray Foam Insulation Improves Energy Efficiency
- Improved Air Sealing
The reason foam insulation is effective is that it can create a seal that is air-tight. The other options like fiberglass and cellulose do not seal and create gaps and joints that air is able to flow through. When you put in spray foam, it expands and fills up all of the gaps and cranny areas that are left open, resulting in reduced winter heat and summer heat gain. This means your heater and air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to make your home comfortable and as a consequence reduce energy costs.
- Increased R-Value
The R-value is used to determine the amount of heat flow resistance that is offered by the insulating material. The higher the R-value, the greater the amount of insulation. One of the greatest that can be found on the market is closed-cell spray foam (around R-6 to R-7 per inch) and it is by far greater than traditional methods of insulation. The thermal resistance will keep your home quite well both for cold and hot weather.
- Mold and Moisture Prevention
Not only will spray foam heat and cool your house, it will also keep water away. Closed-cell foam is water-resistant and therefore there will be no chance for mold and mildew. This is great for houses that are situated in areas with a lot of rain or humidity. Keeping water out not only will keep your air cleaner to breathe, it will keep water out of structural components for so long.
- Reduced energy costs
The energy-efficient home consumes less energy to heat and cool. By reducing your load on your air and heating system, you can save enormous amounts of energy—typically reducing energy bills by as much as 50% or more. That translates to enormous savings on your costs in the long run while reducing your home’s overall carbon footprint too.
- Increased Structural Strength
Unlike almost all other forms of insulation products, closed-cell spray foam is a bonding agent that glues walls to and across ceilings and roofs. When it is set, it reinforces your home structure to better withstand extreme wind, extreme snow load, and even minor earthquakes.
Other Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation
- Improved Indoor Air Quality
By preventing possible air leaks and obstructing contaminants and allergens and outside pollutants from getting into your home, spray foam improves indoor air quality. It is especially useful for individuals with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory ailments.
- Noise Suppression
Open-cell spray foam is also a very effective sound absorber and can be used as a good choice to reduce sound transmission between space and out. That would make it best to be used on residential homes or skyscraper buildings with a soundproofing problem.
- Longevity and Strength
In contrast to fiberglass or cellulose that settles and sags and degrades with time, foam insulation still functions decades after it has been put in place. It doesn’t move position without compromising on insulating factors with long-term energy efficiency.
Is Spray Foam Worth Investing In?
While spray foam insulation is more expensive to initiate compared to traditional insulation, it is well worth it by a return on investment. By conserving money on bills, increasing comfort, and extending the life of the home, homeowners are able to pay for themselves in no time. Most national and state energy conservation incentives offer rebates or tax rebates for having spray foam insulation, which further helps to reduce the price.
How to Get Started
If you’re considering upgrading to spray foam insulation, this is where to start:
- Assess your Home’s Insulation Requirements – Identify spaces that are to blame for heat leakage or air leakage, such as attics, crawl spaces, and walls.
- Have a Pro –Let a qualified insulation professional like PolyCon do it to get it right and do it safely.
- Choose the Right Type of Spraying Foam – Depending on your requirement, you can utilize open-cell or closed-cell sprays for foam insulation. Take any energy savings into account when making these calculations.
- Estimate possible energy savings to enable you to work out the benefit for a given timescale. The ultimate energy efficiency champion is spray foam insulation.
Looking for the final touch upon transforming your home into a treasure trove of energy efficiency? Look no further than PolyCon’s spray foam insulation for your home!