How Spray Foam Insulation Can Save You Money

No matter where you live, heating and cooling a home can be a costly convenience. A poorly insulated home makes it even more costly which is why every homeowner should pay attention to the quality of insulation in their home. Like appliances, insulation receives a rating based on efficiency. In insulation terms, the R-value of a product refers to its ability to reduce heat transfer. Essentially, the higher the Rvalue, the more efficient the insulation is. Older homes are especially likely to be insulated with outdated, under-performing insulation with lower than standard R-values. With proper updated insulation, you can save hundreds of dollars in energy costs – both in the heating and the cooling season.

The most common areas where energy loss occurs are in the attic, through windows and in the walls. If you consider that brick alone has an R-value per cubic foot of less than one, while insulation of any type has an R-value of at least two or higher, it stands to reason that insulation reduces energy loss. If there is nothing between your walls, your ceilings or your roof and the outdoors, you can bet you are throwing away good money. Foam insulation has the highest R-value of all common insulation types and many advantages, including cost-savings.

Spray foam insulation has an ability that other types of insulation lack – the ability to seal out air. While a reduction in heat transfer is the primary objective of insulation, air leaks also let warm air out and cold air in during the winter and vice versa in the summer. Without stopping air leaks, you are still letting money go right out the roof.

By most estimates, the time it takes to recoup the initial cost of insulating through energy savings is two to four years. Of course, actual cost savings are dependent on a number of factors, including the age and condition of the home, the age and type of windows and doors, and average year-round temperatures. The installation of a higher rated insulation product, such as spray foam, can also create an additional costsavings difference over lower rated products. When you couple new insulation with additional energy efficient measures, such as sealing gaps in windows and doors and switching to energy-efficient heating and cooling mechanisms, the savings can really add up.

Spray foam insulation has unique benefits in terms of application because it is easier to insulate around obstructions, such as pipes, vents, duct work, electrical wiring, and so on. Batted insulation sold in rolls is designed to be rolled out flat between studs and floor joists and can be cumbersome, if not impossible, to install around obstacles. Blown insulation is easier to get into awkward areas but won’t seal out all air and is messy to install.

Spray foam insulation, free of dangerous chemicals, is also absent of the health risks associated with other types of insulation. Fiberglass insulation can pose a skin and respiratory hazard when the fiberglass particles become airborne. Some insulation products contain chemicals that can pose a variety of health risks when the chemical particles are distributed through air ducts. And unlike closed cell spray foam insulation which is water resistant, many insulation products can retain moisture and become a source of mold.

Additionally, the use of spray foam insulation that is free of dangerous chemicals, like ureaformaldehyde (UF) and CFCs, is considered environmentally friendly, providing additional cost benefits. Green building and sustainability are two factors that are playing a larger role in the market value of homes. Homes that have utilized green technology for energy efficiency, environmental friendliness and sustainability have a higher value on today’s market.

Dollar for dollar, with its energy efficient R-value, green value, effectiveness and installation ease, spray foam insulation is a money-saving home improvement that will pay for itself season after season and year after year, simply by reducing energy bills. You may even qualify for an energy tax credit that could save you additional money.

For new home insulation or for an existing home update from older, ineffective insulation, whatever product you chose will reduce energy loss and help keep your utility bills under budget. Choosing the right product with the most effective performance only increases your savings potential. Best of all, with DIY installation kits available from Foam It Green at www.sprayfoamdirect.com, you can save even more money by tackling the project yourself.