What Home Insulation is Right for Me?

Ottawa residences are all looking to make a huge difference in home energy bills each winter. For many, this means installing energy efficient light bulbs. While that smaller effort can be beneficial, if you live in a draft home, having well insulated and properly ventilated house can both save money and add comfort. Most homes already have insulation, but homes with moisture in the basement or poor ventilation often have failing insulation.

Signs of Insulation Problems:

• Cold walls and floors to touch
• High heating costs
• Uneven heating levels within building
• Mold growing on walls

• Uncomfortably hot inside air
• High cooling costs
• Ineffectiveness of air conditioning system
• Mold growing in basement

Insulation provides a barrier between your sealed home and the outside weather in Ottawa. As such, you should know what insulation is right for your home as well as where it should be properly installed.

Exterior Wall Insulation
Exterior Wall Insulation (loose fill and some foam insulation) is typically blown into the cavities through holes that have been drilled through the drywall or siding. Remember the cost of getting at and repairing the walls is a significant part of the work and cost of the project. Some insulation, such as foams, can provide reasonable air barriers themselves.

Attic Insulation
Often the most cost-effective place to add insulation is in the attic. Usually, an insulation contractor in Ottawa blows loose fill into and over the top of ceiling joists. Check ceiling light fixtures, the tops of interior walls and penetrations such as plumbing stacks for air leakage.

Basement/Foundation Insulation
A properly insulated basement can save you money on heating and provide a dry, comfortable living space. The preferred method is to insulate the wall on the outside with rigid insulation suitable for below-grade installations. The basement walls are kept at room temperature, protecting the structure, reducing the risk of interior condensation, and increasing comfort. The disadvantages are the disturbance of landscaping, the need to cover the insulation above grade, and the relatively high cost.

Other key areas that should be considered include insulating floors above unheated garages, crawlspace insulation, slab-on-grade insulation, cathedral ceiling insulation, and duct insulation.

If your Ottawa home is poorly insulated, it usually pays to upgrade the insulation. If you are building a new home, it makes sense to insulate well now, so you don't need to retrofit later. The O’Reilly Brothers have been insulation experts since 1967 and know that “Insulation is a vital component to any property’s efficiency.” To get the most out of your home, and to create a warm, dry and safe home for your family call the O’Reilly Brothers for environmental-friendly insulation products today at 613-224-1677.