Feeling chilly this winter and wanting to save money on your heating costs? The best way to reduce heating and cooling costs is to install insulation in your home. Effective and possible to DIY, insulation is a great way to save money and make your home feel more comfortable all year round.
How does insulation work?
Insulation materials are good at slowing down the flow of heat. Normally, hot air will move towards areas where there is cold air until there is an even temperature everywhere. This phenomena is not so nice when it’s a very hot day or when it’s freezing outside and you want your home to feel comfortable. You can turn the heater or air conditioner on, but they will end up using a lot of electricity to achieve a comfortable temperature.
Insulation helps keep your home more comfortable without using any electricity by slowing down the flow of heat. That means keeping hot air out in summer and preventing it from escaping in winter. If you have insulation and you turn on your air conditioner or heater, you will be able to more effectively and quickly heat or cool your home. That’s how insulation helps you save money in the long run.
What parts of the home should you insulate?
For the optimal results and maximum savings, you should insulate every part of the home, including the roof, ceiling, walls, underfloor and between floors for multi-storey homes. Having said that, some areas are more important than others.
1.Roof & Ceiling – The roof and ceiling are responsible for the greatest portion of a home’s heat loss and gain – as much as 35%! More than anywhere else in the home, these areas should definitely be well insulated if you want to see a significant difference in your home’s energy usage.
2. External Walls – The external walls of a home are responsible for up to 25% of a home’s heat loss and gain. Next to the roof, they are the most important area that should be insulated and will make a big impact on your home’s thermal regulation.
3. Under Floors – Often overlooked, the floor is actually responsible for up to 20% of a home’s heat loss and gain, depending on the way the home is built and what materials were used. Older homes are especially prone to heat loss and gain through the floors.
4. Internal Walls & Between Floors – Insulation in the internal walls and between floors of multi-storey homes can help you save money on your power bill by creating climate zones within your home for more effective heating and cooling. Homes with internal wall insulation and mid floor insulation can heat a particular room without that hot air escaping to other parts of the home. Vice versa, you can more effectively cool a room if you have internal wall insulation, meaning less energy spent and more money in your pocket!
Save more with higher R-Values
Insulating is an investment that will help you save money on heating and cooling, and the better the product is at resisting heat flow, the greater savings you will experience. That’s why the R-Value of an insulation product is a very important factor to consider when choosing which insulation to buy. The higher the R-Value, the more effective it is at resisting heat loss and gain, and the more potential savings you’ll be able to experience.
Need more advice about what R-Values to choose or which products will help you save the most money? Check out this guide on saving money with insulation this winter.
Choose the right type of insulation for your home
There are several different types of home insulation including rolls and batts; foam boards and insulation panels; and reflective foil insulation. Additionally, there are several different materials to choose from including glasswool, polyester, rockwool and polystyrene. Choosing the right product for your needs can help optimise thermal regulation and maximise savings.
Building or renovating? Insulate now and save money
The best time to install insulation is during the building or renovating phases. That’s because the cavities are open allowing easy access. Once walls, ceilings and floors are sealed up, you won’t be able to access the cavities for quick and effective insulation. If you are currently building or renovating now is the time to insulate as you might not have another chance for a long time.
Can you DIY home insulation?
Many insulation products are easy and safe to handle, making them ideal for DIY projects if you want to save on installation costs. Of course it is important that you familiarise yourself with the correct installation and safety procedures before starting a DIY insulation project.
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