What is Insulation and Why Does My Home Need It?
Our homes are our happy place, providing shelter and comfort and are a sanctuary at the end of a busy day.
While many things make a happy home, when it comes to the health of your home, there is one very important and often overlooked aspect - insulation.
But what exactly is insulation and why does your home need it? We look at what makes an insulated home healthy and why insulation is one of the most important and cost-effective investments you can make.
What is Insulation?
Heat escapes from your home by a combination of convection, conduction and radiation. The amount of heat lost from your home depends on the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures..
Insulation is a material that acts as a barrier. It works to reduce noise and provide resistance to heat flow. It keeps your home warm and dry while preventing heat loss as it transfers from one place to another.
Good quality insulation in areas like walls, ceilings, and underfloor are vital for keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer and is one of the most cost-effective, energy-saving investments you can make to keep your home as healthy and environmentally friendly as possible.
What kinds of insulation are there?
Insulation comes in various forms, including segment insulation, rolls, or loose-fill. The innovative insulation used by Insulmax®® is a soft, white-blown mineral fibre that provides thermal and acoustic insulation to your home.
The blown insulation is installed through your home's exterior cladding or interior lining via strategically placed holes smaller than a ten-cent coin. Once all cavities are filled, your home in finished to a durable, weathertight standard.
Why is insulating my home so important
Whilst most modern homes are built with sufficient insulation, many of New Zealand's classic weatherboard villas and mid-century brick and block homes find draughts, condensation and keeping a stable temperature throughout the year more of a challenge.
Thankfully, investing in good quality insulation can easily tackle many of these problems, saving you money and energy in the process.
BENEFITS OF INSULATING YOUR HOME INCLUDE:
Cost-effectiveness
Even if you have a heat pump, wood burner fire or ventilation system installed, if your home is not sufficiently insulated, you will lose heat.
Heating your home is expensive, but good quality insulation in your walls and ceiling plugs the gaps where heat can escape, meaning you are less likely to rely on heating appliances and lose the warmth captured in your home.
In addition, insulation will keep your home cooler in the summer, preventing air conditioning from overworking.
Healthy home
A healthy home is a happy one, and insulation provides benefits far beyond making your home comfortable. By keeping the temperature in your home stable, insulation can minimise condensation and protect your home from moisture, dampness and Mold that can impact your health and well-being and the structural integrity of your home.
Noise reduction
Not only does insulation help keep your home warm and dry, but it also helps to reduce noise disturbance. Wall insulation, in particular, is perfect for homes located near roads or in busy neighbourhoods, making your home a sanctuary from the outside world.
Environmentally friendly
By enhancing the overall energy efficiency of your home, insulation helps you to become less reliant on using electrical or gas appliances. Using less heating and air conditioning to warm and cool your home saves money and positively impacts the environment.
In addition, Insulmax®® insulation is made from natural materials and post-consumer materials. It is CFC and HCFC-free and classified as having zero Ozone Depletion Potential and zero Global Warming Potential, making it the perfect choice for you, the environment and your home.
Insulation that works for you
While insulation might not be a top priority for many homeowners, its benefits can not be overstated. Whether you have a new home or an older one that needs a little TLC, investing in good quality insulation is the greatest gift you can give yourself and your home, ensuring you are kept comfortable, whatever the weather!
How Insulmax®® can help
If you want to learn more about Insulmax®® and how our wall and ceiling insulation can help you enjoy a warm, dry and comfortable home, contact your nearest Insulmax®® branch today!