Busting Home Insulation Myths

It is common knowledge that improving your home’s insulation will make the place more comfortable, and amount to some hefty savings on the electricity bill as well. There are, however, quite a few beliefs surrounding insulation that are also treated as common knowledge, despite being absolutely not true.

As your Toronto specialists in insulation, blown insulation, insulation removal and attic insulation in Mississauga, Hamilton and across the GTA, we bring you this article to debunk five of the most persistent insulation myths out there.

Topping up your insulation can only benefit your home during the winter time

Although most people tend to think of insulation more when the weather cools down and we enter the Winter months, proper insulation in your home is vital through all seasons. The role of insulation is not only to keep warm air in during the Winter, but also to keep your cool air from escaping in the Summer time. Regardless of the season, a properly insulated home can significantly decrease your energy bills all year round.

All Homes Need an Attic Insulation Vapor Barrier

Whether your home needs a vapor barrier depends on several factors, which include the local climate, your attic’s ventilation and the type of insulation you intend to install. Some foam products have a built in vapour barrier and therefore do not require an additional vapour barrier to be installed. Also, garage attics tend to be above unheated spaces, and by Ontario Building code do not require a vapour barrier to be in place. Consult your local insulation specialists before making the decision.

Adding Insulation to an Existing Home’s Walls Is a Massive Construction Project

Not necessarily. Laying batting insulation in walls or floors would require removing sections and then repairing them, but other types of insulation can be blown into walls through small drilled holes that can later be easily patched up. Adding loose-fill insulation to a fully constructed home can be relatively easy for example.

There is More to Insulation Efficiency than its R-Value

There is only one legal criterion that exists today to determine the efficiency of insulation, and it is the R-Value. While thicker insulation does tend to have a higher value on this scale, the connection is neither linear or absolute. It is possible for thinner layers of more advanced insulation materials to have a higher R-Value than thicker but older or less efficient insulation.

This is not to say that two products with the same R-Value are interchangeable. Insulation types vary in material and type, and have different applications. Fiberglass, foam, cellulose, rock wool and other types of insulation perform differently and are suitable for different purposes and situations.