The fall season will soon end, and we will have to deal with the cold of winter. But before it does, ensure you take all the necessary precautions to protect your home from the cold and its accompanying damages.
Insulation is vital in keeping your house warm in winter and cool during summer without spending much money on energy bills. If you have gaps in your walls or floors, or if there are any leaks around windows or doors, then insulation can help dampen sound and stop energy from escaping.
If you’re unsure of what kind of insulation is best for your home, RGV Insulation is here to help. You can always contact us with any questions you may have as well.
We offer the best insulation in Mcallen, TX.
Also, here’s a breakdown of everything you should know. Listed below are the various insulation you need in your home:
Cavity Wall Insulation
This is the material that an insulation contractor puts over the walls of a house to trap thermal energy.
This ensures that your home cannot lose heat through its walls, would risk air leaks from freezing during extreme temperatures, and reduces sound transfer between rooms.
Insulation, therefore, prevents moisture from coming into contact with the walls, which, in turn, helps avoid warping.
Pipe Insulation
Insulating your household pipes helps prevent heat from escaping inside your home. Provided that you have a new double pipe system, it will isolate the warmer lines from the cooler ones.
You can also use pipe insulation in arches or staircases, preventing heat and noise from traveling through them.
Floor Insulation
When it comes to thermal insulation, the most prominent example is floor insulation. This is to stop heat from escaping through your home’s floors.
It may also help reduce sound and energy loss. The most popular material for floor insulation is fiberglass and spray foam.
However, other types of floor insulation are available for you, such as Rockwool.
Attic Insulation
If your attic is uninsulated, you can add insulation to it and use it as another living space. Many people do this to reduce heat loss and make their homes more energy efficient.
You can choose from many options, depending on what works best for your home’s needs – natural fiber insulation or fiberglass insulation.
Roof Insulation
If you want to keep your house warm and prevent ice dams from forming near the roof’s edge, then roof insulation is for you.
This will improve your home’s energy efficiency, particularly when temperatures drop. The most popular materials used for this purpose are polystyrene sheets and spray foam.
Wall Insulation
Walling insulation differs from cavity wall insulation in that the former is more external and can offer a weatherproof solution.
This kind of insulation is mainly for keeping your property warm and ensuring no gaps between the walls to allow heat to escape.
It can also be used for noise reduction, although this depends on the type of wall insulation you choose. For instance, if you buy mineral wool insulation, it will help reduce sound significantly.
Wall Taping
Another way to insulate walls is through taping, which involves using the adhesive backing on foam tape and taping it onto the wall. It provides good thermal performance against heat transfer.
With these areas insulated, there will be less chance of your home losing heat, which is vital during winter. But, to prevent and regulate these losses inside your home, ensure that you add insulation where needed.
The contractor you hire will, of course, wall you through your various options. But generally, there are four main types of insulation: Spray foam, Rockwool, fiberglass, spray foam, and cellulose.
Types of Insulation
#1. Spray foam insulation
- It has the highest R-Value of about 3.8 per inch for open-cell and 6.5 per inch for closed-cell
- Relatively good sound dampening for open cell
- Creates an airtight barrier
- Offers a more permanent solution
- Usable in floors, ceilings, roofs, unfinished attic floors, and new cavities
- Higher cost
- 80-100 years longevity
Spray foam insulation is a thermal insulator made of a two-component foam with a binder that holds the materials together. This makes it different from other insulating products because it allows heat to pass through while blocking sound and vibrations.
Spray foam insulation has an R-value rating of approximately 3.8 per inch for open-cell and 7 per inch for closed-cell.
It has more insulation value than Rockwool because it does not need cutting and shaping around the room or other building structures.
The two main types are open-cell and closed-cell spray foam insulation. Open-cell spray foam has an R-value of about 3.4 per inch, while closed-cell spray foam has an R-value of about 6.8 per inch.
This option is perfect for you if you prioritize energy efficiency and do not mind spending a little more to achieve that.
#2. Rockwool insulation
- It has an R-value of about 3.2 per inch
- Renewable and sustainable
- More environmentally friendly
- Extremely high sound-dampening ability
- Low flammability
- Lower cost than Spray foam Insulation
- 40-80 years longevity
Rockwool insulation is an insulator that uses long fibers to insulate walls. It almost entirely produces an airtight barrier and has an average R-value but high sound absorption capabilities.
The advantage of this choice is that it is reusable. It is also environmentally friendly because it comes from natural materials found on the earth and its manufacturing process is entirely non-polluting.
Rockwool has very low flammability, and it remains the same despite extensive heating or cooling by humans.
Rockwool costs more than most other insulations except spray foam, but it is reusable and environmentally friendly.
In addition, it makes a very effective sound deadener, which is essential if you want to reduce noise in your home. Rockwool is best for exterior walls, crawl spaces, and basements.
#3. Fiberglass insulation
- It has an R-Value of about 2.5 per inch and 4.3 per inch for fiberglass batt
- Lightweight
- 20-30% recyclable
- Best for odd wall cavities
- Low flammability
- Averagely low cost to install
- 80-100 years longevity
Fiberglass insulation is the best choice for you if you are looking for a fiber that can withstand heat and moisture and be used on walls and floors.
Because it is lightweight, fiberglass batts can easily be cut and tucked into crevices or along walls and floorboards to insulate around pipes and wires.
Fiberglass is not the best at sound-insulating capabilities since it is lightweight, however, it is relatively inexpensive and environmentally friendly.
This insulation has various types, the most common ones being the batts, and fiberglass blown in insulation
Fiberglass batt insulation is very popular for basement walls and floors because of its flexibility and durability, and higher R value.
Fiberglass can be recycled up to 30 percent of its original weight, another benefit of using the product.
#4. Cellulose insulation
- About 3.5 per inch R-value
- Good soundproofing
- Fairly flammable
- It can be harmful because of the dust it creates
- Inexpensive
- 20-30 years longevity
One of the advantages of cellulose insulation is that it is very inexpensive to install and is. Installing this type of insulation does not have many extra materials besides the cellulose product.
It also has a reasonably good R-value and can typically be installed in ceilings and walls. However, like all insulation types, this one also has its drawbacks.
Cellulose also has a shorter life expectancy than the other three products. It requires replacement after 20-30 years, unlike the other three options, which can last for 80-100 years.
Cellulose insulation is best to seal air leaks around
So, as you can see, insulation is essential to home energy efficiency. It’s vital to find a suitable form of insulation for your home – spray foam insulation, fiberglass or Rockwool insulation. So be sure to research and take advantage of information for all your insulation insulating needs!
Need Help with Your Insulation Needs? Let Us Help You
Consult our Top Insulation Contractors in Mcallen TX
RGV Insulation has been in business for over 30 years providing residential and commercial insulation services throughout Mcallen, TX and the surrounding areas.
We offer a complete range of insulation products from leading brands for your home or business. Proper insulation is crucial to maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home year-round.
The better you insulate in the winter, the less heat will escape through your walls, floor, and ceiling. This can save you money by reducing your heating bills.
We do:
Residential Insulation
Your home is an investment. Please keep it going strong with the proper insulation. You will pay more energy bills if you don’t get proper insulation installation.
Commercial Insulation
Whether you are preparing to build a new building or are retrofitting an existing one, RGV Insulation has a commercial-grade solution for your needs.
We believe in getting the job done correctly and serve all types of properties, from schools and offices to warehouses and manufacturing plants.
Our services areas include Pharr
- McAllen
- Mission
- Weslaco
- Harlingen
- Brownsville
- Rio Grande Valley
- And the surrounding areas
Don’t wait until something goes wrong with your insulation system. If it’s time for a replacement, contact RGV Insulation.
We have experienced insulation contractors and access to industry-leading products and technologies.
Reach us at 956-493-6264 for free consultation. We are ready to help you make the right choices for your home or workplace.
