Learn Insulation Types For Your South Texas Home

Installing the right insulation in the right place is one of the most effective ways to keep your Coastal Bend home comfortable without wasting energy. If you’re planning on improving your home’s insulation this year, there are several insulation types to consider.

• Blanket – Also called batts or rolls, this type of insulation comes in flat strips of from 4 to 8 feet long and 16 to 24 inches wide. Fiberglass is the most common material, but cellulose, mineral wool and natural fibers such as cotton and sheep’s wool are also used. This form of insulation is best suited to the spaces between wall studs and floor joists in the attic and elsewhere. It’s one of the easiest insulation types to install.
• Loose-fill (blown-in) – This insulation is made of shreds or pellets of fiberglass, cellulose or mineral wool. These small pieces fill irregular spaces and prevent air leakage better than batt insulation. Loose-fill insulation can be used nearly anywhere, but it’s especially well suited for tight spots such as closed walls and around pipes and wiring. Installing this insulation requires a blower hose.
• Spray foam – This polyurethane or polyisocyanurate material is applied between wall studs and in floors as a liquid that expands into gaps as it solidifies into a hard foam. Open-cell and closed-cell foams are available. Closed-cell foam has a higher R value (insulating capacity) than open-cell foam, but it doesn’t let water vapor pass through. For this reason, closed-cell foam shouldn’t be used on wood.
• Rigid board – Available as solid foam boards and molded pipe coverings, rigid insulation can be used in almost any part of the house. Insulating foundations and walls are the most common applications. The insulation is cut to shape and fit into place with no need for special equipment.

If you’re not sure which parts of your home need more insulation, an HVAC expert can conduct a home energy audit to help you find out.

For more professional guidance on choosing between various insulation types and other energy-saving products, talk with us at CCAC, Inc. We provide superior-quality HVAC services throughout the Corpus Christi area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about insulation types and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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