If your energy bills are going up and your home doesn’t feel as comfortable as it used to, that could mean your home needs more insulation. Over time, insulation can settle or deteriorate, resulting in a colder home in winter and a hotter one in summer. It can also mean that your energy bills skyrocket as your HVAC tries to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.
To add insulation to your home, you don’t have to take down walls. There are several options available to install insulation in closed walls without the mess, expense, and hassle of opening up entire walls. The best options for adding insulation to closed walls are:
Spray Foam
Spray foam, also known as injection foam, is an expanding foam that is sprayed into the wall through small holes put in the wall. It expands inside the wall to fill gaps and cavities inside the walls. Spray foam is a popular method for adding insulation because it’s a relatively easy and clean process. The foam can also easily fill gaps around wires, nails, screws, joists, and other irregularities inside the walls. Foam insulation is also resistant to mold and mildew.
Loose-Fill Blown-In Cellulose Insulation
Blown-in cellulose is a fill material made from recycled paper pellets. Like injection foam, the pellets are inserted into the wall by creating small holes and then using a machine similar to a blower to force the pellets into the wall. Because cellulose is made from recycled paper, it’s an environmentally friendly material. Boric acid, added to the pellets to help maintain their shape, is also an excellent natural pest repellent. Loose-fill blown-in cellulose can settle over time, requiring regular reapplication of new insulation to maintain its effectiveness. And it may not be able to fill in all the gaps and hard-to-reach areas inside the home’s walls.
Blow-In Blanket Insulation (BIBS)
The Blow-In Blanket System (BIBS) is a type of insulation installation that utilizes blowers to inject fiberglass insulation into walls. BIBS helps to bridge the gap between injected insulation and roll insulation. But, walls must be opened up to install this type of insulation.
Roll Insulation
You’re probably already familiar with roll insulation. Roll insulation is the traditional method of adding insulation to the cavities in walls. However, to install roll insulation, the drywall needs to be removed, and the walls need to be stripped down. After the insulation is installed, you’ll need to redo the wall with new drywall and paint. Fiberglass is a popular type of roll insulation.
Make Your Home Comfortable And Energy Efficient With New Insulation
For existing homes, injection foam or blown-in cellulose insulation is the most popular choice. However, if your home has a large surface area, high ceilings, or other architectural features that require substantial insulation, roll insulation or BIBS may be a better choice.
Contact the experts at Anderson Insulation of Maine today to learn more about your insulation options for an existing home with closed walls and receive expert guidance on determining the best type of insulation for your home.