Do you notice substantial difference in the comfort levels in your home or business during the high winter and summer days? Are you bogged down by increasing utility bills? If the answer to these questions is yes – we have a solution – a periodically overhaul of your insulation system.
Faulty insulation may do more harm than good. It allows the conditioned air to leak, eroding comfort levels. Besides increasing utility bills,it also exposes the home to serious problems like seeping moisture, humidity, mold and fungal growth.
However, if you are facing problems after cleaning or replacing your insulation you might have made the wrong call. More often than not, we opt for insulation systems that are not right for our needs. Here are the top mistakes to avoid when selecting attic or crawl space insulation:
- Selecting the Wrong Insulation: It is important to understand that not all types of insulation can be installed everywhere. The right type of insulation for your needs will be determined based on the climate, overall layout/structure and budget. Furthermore, attics, crawlspaces, basements and living spaces – all have a unique purpose to serve; therefore the type of insulation will vary. Installing the same insulation in each of these areas is a big mistake! It brings down efficiency levels, instead of increasing them.
- Focusing only on R-Value: The R-Value statistically denotes the performance quotient of the insulation. The higher the R-value the greater the effect. But it would be wrong to say that R-value is the only thing to be considered. Air leaks, seeping moisture, and quality to fight mold and pests attacks, holds equal value.Before you start laying down new insulation, you must check for air-leaks, moisture or mold, if you want to achieve maximum efficiency.
- Price Based Decision: As products of equal R-Value are propagated to perform equally, people generally tend to make a decision based on the final price tag. However,air leaks, moisture, mold, escalating energy bills are often ignored, and the price difference between the basic insulation and advanced insulation would become irrelevant over time.
- Faulty Installation: While some insulation materials come as a DIY, ready to go packages, seeking professional help is always beneficial. It’s not just the quality of the material that matters, the actual workmanship and quality of installation will determine the effectiveness of the insulation.
Call the attic and crawl space experts at 201-205-2042, 973-536-1013 and take simple steps to make your homes effective and efficient– for years to come!
