Insulation Products Suppliers: 4 Factors To Consider When Buying Insulation Products
Posted on: 8 July 2022
Insulation improves energy efficiency by preventing air-conditioned air from escaping. Thus, insulation can help lower your heating and cooling bills by reducing the overreliance on an HVAC system.
But, the effectiveness of insulation depends on several factors. Thus, you should conduct due diligence when buying insulation products. Furthermore, an insulation products supplier can help you pick the best insulation for your home or commercial building. But, it is still advisable to understand the various factors determining the best insulation for your property.
Here are four factors you should consider before buying insulation products.
1. Thermal Performance
An R-Value is a rating that expresses the thermal performance of an insulation product. But, different insulation products have varying levels of thermal performance. Thus, the higher the R-Value, the better its thermal performance.
Nonetheless, the ideal R-value rating for you depends on where you intend to install the insulation and the temperatures in your area.
For example, if you are installing insulation in your walls, you should opt for insulation products rated:
- R13-R15 for two-by-four walls
- R19-R21 rating for two-by-six walls.
If you live in areas where temperatures fall below zero, you should use insulation products with the highest R-Value. But, if the temperatures in your area are warm all year round, you can opt for insulation with a lower R-Value rating.
2. Sound Insulation
Depending on where you live, you may want to consider if you need sound insulation. For instance, installing sound insulation can help reduce the outside noises if you live in a noisy neighborhood.
But, the level of soundproofing you get depends on the insulation material. Common insulation products include:
- Fiberglass
- Mineral wool
- Spray foam
Fiberglass and mineral wool insulation absorb sound waves much better than spray foam insulation. Hence, if you want the best soundproofing for your home, you should consider buying fiberglass or mineral wool insulation.
3. Health Impact
Some insulation products, such as spray foam, contain isocyanates. Isocyanates are chemical molecules that facilitate or trigger asthma attacks. Hence, it is advisable to avoid spray foam insulation if you have asthma because it can lead to more frequent asthma attacks.
But, mineral wool and fiberglass insulations do not contain any isocyanates. Hence, they are ideal insulation options for asthmatic people.
4. Moisture Retention
Insulation absorbing moisture can become an ideal breeding ground for molds. Hence, if you live in a humid or wet area, you want to pick insulation with a low water retention rate to avoid mildew.
Cellulose insulation can absorb up to 130% of its weight in moisture. Hence, it is not ideal insulation to use in wet or humid areas because it facilitates mold growth.
Fiberglass insulation doesn't absorb any moisture, and thus it doesn't allow molds to grow. Therefore, fiberglass insulation is ideal for wet and humid areas because it prevents the development of molds.
For more information, contact an insulation product supplier such as All Seasons Building Materials Company, Inc.
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