What you need to know about home insulation

TORONTO While most homeowners dont give much thought to whats behind their walls, proper insulation is of key importance to having a comfortable, healthy home. Besides keeping your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, insulation can help lower your energy bills, prevent mold growth and also keep unwanted noise out.

Insulation helps keep outdoor air from getting inside your home and conditioned indoor air from escaping. This is achieved by trapping pockets of air and slowing down the in/out process.

In winter, heat flows directly from all heated living spaces to adjacent unheated attics, garages, basements, and even to the outdoors, the U.S. Department of Energy states on its website. Heat flow can also move indirectly through interior ceilings, walls, and floors wherever there is a difference in temperature. During the cooling season, heat flows from the outdoors to the interior of a house.

The Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) compares a properly insulated house to dressing for the weather.

A wool sweater will keep you warm if the wind is not blowing and it is not raining. On a windy, rainy day, wearing a nylon shell over your wool sweater helps keep you reasonably dry and warm. A house is similar, the CMHC website says. On the outside, underneath the brick or siding, there is an air barrier that does the same thing as the nylon it keeps the wind from blowing through. Then there is the insulation (like your sweater) and a vapour barrier, which helps keep moisture away from the house structure where it can do damage.

Insulation is rated based on a measurement of resistance the material has to the movement of heat. This is most commonly referred to as an R-value. The higher the R-value the more effective the insulation is. Local building codes list recommended R-values for each area of your house (these R-values are required for new construction). Improper installation of insulation can lower the R-value of the material you are using so its a good idea to follow the manufacturers instructions or hire a professional to do the installation.

Cold floors and walls in the winter and hot inside air in the summer, mold growth, high energy bills and uneven heating or ineffective cooling are all signs of a poorly insulated home, according to the CMHC.

There are many different types of insulation available. The type you use depends on where youre insulating or what R-value you require. Below is a rundown of the most common types of insulation used in homes these days.

Fibreglass: This is the pink stuff most people think of when they think insulation. Fibreglass in batts is available at most home improvementcentres and is easy to install, offering an R-value of 3.0 3.7 per inch, according to the CMHC. Loose-fill fibreglass is also available, but requires to be blown into the space youre insulating and should be installed only by a professional in order to get the most benefit from it.

Mineral fibre: Like fibreglass, mineral fibre in batts is easy to work with and available at most home improvementcentres (this is usually a sturdier material with a brownish colour). While mineral fibre has a lower R-value (2.8 3.7 per inch, according to the CMHC), benefits include better fire resistance and sound-proofing capabilities. Loose-fill mineral fibre is also available, but like loose-fill fibreglass, it should be installed only by a professional as well.

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What you need to know about home insulation