One reliable way you can save energy on your home is through proper insulation. But, how do you know what is best for your family's health? We look at the pros and cons so you can choose the best home insulation for your health. Types of Home InsulationWhen making a decision about the best home insulation, there are generally three different types to choose from: Fiberglass, Cellulose and Spray Foam. Because every home is different, we like to provide our customers with information on all of their options and let them choose for themselves. But, before you decide, you want to make sure you fully understand the pros and cons of each option. It is important to weigh your energy-saving needs with your family's health sensitivities and needs. The Most Well-known Choice: Fiberglass InsulationAs one of the most common choices for insulation, fiberglass also has some of the biggest health concerns. The most evident problem is as a skin and eye irritant. Blown fiberglass is made up of tiny fibers of glass. When touched, it can irritate the skin and eyes, becoming very itchy and uncomfortable. If inhaled, the small fibers can become lodged in the lungs, causing serious respiratory issues. While this may be an issue mainly for the person installing or removing it, those fibers can also get pulled into your air ducts. The potential for fiberglass fibers to enter your air ducts stresses the importance of a proper and complete install. When properly installed and sealed, fiberglass poses minimal threats to a homeowner. However, fiberglass has a lower insulating value (or R-value) compared to other types of insulation, making it a less energy-efficient option. If your goal is to save the most amount of energy, cellulose and spray foam insulation are often better options. A Greener Choice: Cellulose InsulationAs you are choosing the best home insulation for your needs, you may want to consider the material your insulation is sourced from. What natural resources is it using? How many chemicals are involved in its manufacturing? Does your insulation produce more waste or reduce it? Fortunately, there is an option that takes these questions under consideration: cellulose insulation. Made from recycled paper products, cellulose also has a higher R-value, helping to insulate your home better than fiberglass. Blown-in cellulose is treated with borate as a fire-retardant and to keep critters at bay, but this can be an irritant for those sensitive to that chemical. This treatment is necessary for overall safety but can leave some wondering how "green" or healthy it is despite its ability to better insulate your home and re-purpose waste materials for 85% of its composition. A Great Energy Saver: Spray FoamOne of our best insulation options is also one that has the most questions regarding health. Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) is typically applied to the roof decking of a house, keeping heat or cold out directly at the site of entry. While it has the highest R-value of our three options mentioned here, it also contains chemicals known to be hazardous to our health. These chemicals cause the greatest harm to the installer or people present during the curing process. This is why we request that homeowners stay out of the home for 24 hours to allow the materials to cure and for the risk to dissipate. The biggest risk from SPF is from isocyanates that are present during the mixing, on-site of the two materials. An experienced installer like Green ID assures that these materials are mixed properly and that all precautions are taken. A Thorough Install=Better HealthAt Green ID, it's important to us that you make the healthiest and most efficient decision for your home. Weighing the pros and cons of the material you choose to use in your home is one issue. The other is having your new insulation installed safely and correctly. The biggest risk with fiberglass and cellulose insulation is when dust or fibers enter your air ducts. They can disperse throughout your home and increase the risk of allergies. Ask your installer to check your ducts for leaks before working on your insulation. This will help ensure your A/C and heat are working at full efficiency while also preventing airborne allergies. If you are planning on installing SPF, be sure to leave your home during installation and preferably for 24 hours afterward. Allowing time for SPF to cure will reduce your risk of exposure to the chemicals used in this process. You can even use it as an opportunity for a short staycation! When you return home, your home will be tightly insulated and ready to save you costs on your energy bill. You may also like...
8 Comments
2/16/2021 01:17:44 pm
I can see how a business could really benefit from getting the right insulation in order to be a lot healthier, and warmer. Thanks for explaining how the material that insula is made from can reduce, produce, waste, and can be made with chemicals. Making sure that they can get some help from a professional could allow them to be more effective.
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3/29/2021 11:40:01 am
My dad has been thinking about getting some insulation in order to have a warmer home. He would really like to get it installed by a professional in order to be safer. Thanks for explaining why cellulose insulation is a greener choice.
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5/7/2021 05:44:20 pm
My sister has been thinking about getting some better insulation for her home because it will help her to be more energy-efficient. She would really like to get the materials installed by a professional because it will allow them to be warmer. I liked what you said about how spray foam, and cellulose can be more energy-efficient than fiberglass.
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7/26/2021 08:00:09 am
I want to make sure that I get the best insulation for my home. It makes sense that I would want to get a professional to help me choose! They would be able to help me consider the different pros and cons to different insulation options.
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3/1/2022 09:49:12 am
Thank you for explaining that spray foam insulation is one of the best options for insulation, but should be avoided during the curing process. My husband and I are thinking about getting some better insulation up in our attic. We'll be sure to talk to our installer about this and see what steps we'll need to take to stay safe while getting the best insulation for our home.
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It really helped when you said that we should stay out of the house for 24 hours after the new home insulation installation to ensure that the materials will cure and will not dissipate. I will keep that in mind when we get that kind of service this year for the garage. It's because I noticed that the car really gets hot which concerns me if it might have a bad effect on its parts in the long run.
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5/13/2022 09:27:21 am
My wife and I just moved to another house, so we'd like to insulate it before summer arrives, and we start using our AC system. We liked that you mentioned how it'd be wise to know about our insulation materials and their environmental impact, so we'll look into it before buying the equipment we need. Thanks for the information on home insulation and what to consider before investing in it.
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9/30/2022 09:18:56 am
Thanks for mentioning that cellulose insulation has a higher R-value. I would really like to get new insulation for my attic before winter. My old insulation is letting in too much cold air, so I want to get that taken care of.
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