Blown Foam Insulation

Blown in insulation There are multiple ways to “go green” and use less energy in your home. You can seal air leaks by caulking the cracks along windows and doors, replace your HVAC’s air filters every couple months, and make sure your home’s air ducts are fully sealed and unblocked. Another great way to maximize your home’s energy efficiency is to sufficiently insulate its attic, basement, walls, and floors.

How does insulation make such a big difference on a home’s energy use and energy bills? It’s simple: insulation helps your home resist heat flow. In doing so, it reduces draftiness and makes your home a more comfortable place to live. During summertime, for example, insulation protects a home’s air-conditioned air by keeping it inside and the hot outdoor air outside, where it belongs. And during wintertime, insulation protects a home’s heated interior air from the bitterly cold outdoors. Proper insulation means you’ll need to run your HVAC system less often, because the heated or cooled interior air will stay inside, and outdoor air will be prevented from seeping inside. This in turn helps homeowners save money on energy bills.

Blown Foam Insulation 101
Blown foam insulation is typically added to existing insulation to provide an extra layer of protection. If your home has small spaces or hard-to-reach areas that other types of insulation cannot fully protect, blown foam insulation is a great option. It is used to fill the gaps or cavities in a home that are susceptible to air leaks. With an ability to expand to fill any-sized cavity, blown foam insulation is a great way to keep your summer air conditioning bill and winter heating bill as low as possible. Plus it will make your home more comfortable during those months and increase its overall energy efficiency. To fully seal your home from air leaks, you can even install blown foam insulation in the cracks of windows and doors.

“Go Green” with Blown Foam Insulation

As previously mentioned, blown foam insulation is a great way to “go green,” because it helps to reduce a home’s energy usage. But guess what? The insulation itself is also environmentally-friendly! As opposed to other types of insulation, blown foam insulation is mostly made from recycled materials. So if you’re concerned over the possible health effects of using fiberglass insulation, blown foam insulation is a safer and healthier alternative.

Blown Foam Insulation Contractors

To install blown foam insulation, a contractor must use a special machine to blow the insulation into the space needing protection, whether it’s in the home’s walls, attic, or basement. Certified blown foam insulation contractors are readily available in your area, but it’s important to choose the most knowledgeable and experienced contractor possible.

Two things that a blown foam insulation contractor should be aware of are fluffing and voids. Fluffing happens when an installer fills a cavity with an inappropriate insulation density. This means the insulation will not act as a barrier to air, thus decreasing its effectiveness. Voids occur when the insulation installer fails to fully fill the cavity, or when the drilled fill holes are incorrectly located between framing studs. This too will decrease the blown foam insulation’s R-value and effectiveness.

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