Energy & Water Conservation Blog » Insulating Foam

Foam Door Sweeps for Exterior Doors Make Insulating Simple

Conservation Mart — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:23:32 +0000

Some consider insulating to be difficult work, a task to be left for the pros. Others consider insulating to be an option available only to homeowners, not renters. These both couldn’t be farther from the truth. There are many simple solutions to drafts in the home. One of the easiest places to insulate is the door. The door lets air into the home and sucks air out whether it is left wide open, or locked tightly. Foam door sweeps for exterior doors help eliminate this problem with little effort on your part.

Sometimes referred to as a door draft seal, this type of insulation can be installed in three simple steps, and stays in place, gliding with the door:

With a pair of scissors, cut the foam tubes to the desired length
Place each foam tube into a fabric sleeve
Slide the insulator under the door

There are many benefits to this form of door insulation. Once this has been installed, there will be a reduction in the amount of unwanted air exchanges that occur through the doors, leading to a reduction in energy costs. In addition to being simple to install, it can be removed easily by sliding it from beneath the door, and is machine washable. The door draft seal can be installed over linoleum, wood, carpet, or tile. For all of these reasons, foam door sweeps for exterior doors are ideal for any homes that need insulation at the door.

Closed Cell Foam Vs. Open Cell Foam: What’s The Difference?

Conservation Mart — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:19:30 +0000

Applying spray foam insulation to ceilings and walls is one of the best ways to insulate the rooms that act as a passageway for drafts and outside air during extreme weather months; rooms such as the attic and basement. Sealing up the cracks and gaps in these rooms with spray foam insulation helps reduce the amount of energy used to heat and cool the home, as well as the amount of money spent on doing so. Closed cell and open cell Touch N Seal foam are two types of spray foam insulation that can be used for insulating these rooms.

Closed cell Touch N Seal foam gets its name because the foam cells are packed together and closed. The strength and density of this foam allow it to be resistant to water absorption. Additional important details about closed cell foam include:

Expansion: up to 30 times when applied at 1” thick
Density: 1.75 +/- 0.2 pounds per cubic feet
R-Value: 7.12 per inch

In contrast, the cells in open cell foam are not closed completely or packed close together, and this type of foam readily absorbs water. Keep in mind these important details about open cell foam when deciding which type you need:

Expansion: 100 times the liquid volume
Density: 0.4 to 0.5 pounds per cubic feet
R-Value: 3.5 per inch

Closed cell and open cell Touch N Seal foam are different in a number of ways. While open cell foam typically costs less, the strength, density, and higher R-Value of closed cell foam makes it the more advantageous of the two.

Spray Foam Insulation: An Economical Way to Insulate Your Basement

Conservation Mart — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:47:27 +0000

As we approach winter, are you among the homeowners who are thinking of how to limit the amount of indoor drafts that are common during cold weather months? Reducing the amount of cold air coming in the home as well as the amount of warm air leaving can be done by insulating the rooms that are the greatest sources of air leaks. Among these is the basement. Spray foam insulation for basement use is a cost-effective way to solve the issue of air leaks in this room.

Spray foam insulation for basement use blocks both cold and hot air from entering the basement (and then the living area). The foam does this when applied to basement exterior walls, joints, and in corners. It creates a thermal barrier that prevents air leaks and does not retain any moisture, which can lead to molding problems. Using closed cell foam is especially effective since it’s a denser material and is more efficient at insulating than open cell foam.

Applying foam is simple enough to be a DIY project, and cost-effective as well. A 600 board foot spray foam kits costs roughly $600. So that gives you 600 square feet of insulation at 1 inch thick.

Spray Foam Insulation is designed with the DIYers in mind. Foam is dispensed from pressurized tanks using a gun hose kit. To start using, test the foam out a few times to get the hang of using it. Spray foam insulation for basement use is ideal for insulation projects being done on a budget. In addition, it pays for itself in a matter of months with the savings on heating and cooling.

How to Weatherproof Your Electrical Outlets

Conservation Mart — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:29:06 +0000

There are many places where energy may be escaping the home: the basement, attic, and garage to name a few. Electrical outlets and wall switches are sources for air leaks that are very often overlooked, meanwhile accounting for 2 to 5 percent of home energy loss. Electrical outlet insulation comes in either a foam gasket or an outlet cover with a foam gasket installed.

Foam gaskets insulate outlets by blocking the unwanted exchange of air coming in and out of the home through this source. To install, remove the wall plate, and place the foam gasket behind the plate of the electrical outlet or wall switch that needs to be insulated. If you choose to insulate outlets this way and would like to fit the gaskets into decora-style plates, the foam can easily be reshaped for this purpose.

The other type of electrical outlet insulation is the wall plate that comes with the foam already installed. Simply remove the current outlet or switch cover, and in its place, install the cover with the foam gaskets behind it. Insulated switch plates are available for a variety of applications, such as single and multi-switch plates as well as cable and phone jacks.

Electrical outlet insulation is good for not only your home, but pockets too. Once sealed, you no longer have to worry about the unwanted exchange of air from this source and the effect it has on energy bills. Each foam gasket costs as little as 10 cents, and the plate covers cost less than a meal at your favorite fast food place. Also, they could not be easier to install. If you can turn a screwdriver, you can insulate the outlets in your home.

Spray Foam Insulation Kits: Worth the Weight in Foam

Conservation Mart — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:25:57 +0000

Have you noticed during summer the temperatures in the attic and basement areas are hot enough to barbeque in (sans grill!)? Each room in the house should be inviting, but during extreme weather months entering these areas seems more like self-inflicted torture. If you are profusely shaking your head in agreement, may I suggest that now is the time to consider proper insulation? Spray foam insulation kits seal your home from this unwanted air, and with the acquired savings in heating and cooling costs; the kit pays for itself within a year.

Spray Foam Insulation Kits

Weighing in at 120 lbs. and allowing for a tax credit of up to 30% is what we like to call the spray foam insulation kit. Spray foam insulation kits are essentially two tanks of chemicals which expand up to 30 times when applied to walls and floors, which then work to close up tricky air leaks in a home. You may not realize it, but over the course of 5 years these leaks can cost up to $3,400 (Somewhere out there is an endless list of much better ways to spend that money). The spray polyurethane foam kit continues to save you money long after it has paid for itself, as you will no longer need to tamper with the heating and cooling system in your home.

When choosing to insulate a home, tackle the attic and basement areas first. Once you have used a spray foam kit to seal the largest sources of air leaks, the energy spent (and money needed to provide that energy) will noticeably decrease. As if this wasn’t good enough, the spray polyurethane foam kit also prevents molding and helps keep bugs out. The time has come for you to conquer your fear of that blazing hot room. If you feel yourself faltering, just consider how happy your wallet will be once this task is done.

Calculating Board Feet with Spray Foam Insulation

Conservation Mart — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:06:15 +0000

When applying spray foam insulation it will tell you how much board feet it covers. e.g. two part foam kit for 200 board foot. What does that mean exactly?
Will it cover 200 feet? How do you calculate how much you would need for you job?

Board Feet has it’s origins in the lumber industry- it is a calculation of lumber volume. So 1 board foot
would cover a square 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 inch.

So 200 board foot spray foam insulation kit would cover 200 squares that are 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 inch.
Now suppose you want to calculatehow many two part foam spray kits you would need to cover 400 square feet.
The first thing you need to determine is level of thickness. So say you want to spray it on 2 inches thick.

spray foam insulation

So you would need four 200 board feet spray foam insulation kits- here’s the calculation:
two 200 board feet kits will cover 400 sq feet 1 inch thick. For 2 inch thick you double the quantity.
That is the minimum you would need and to be on the safe side- maybe add another kit because spray foam kits give the board feet coverage under optimum circumstances such as
1)applicator is a pro and knows how to apply it perfectly
2)the temperature is warm

Give that won’t always be the case, it’s better to get a little bit extra to cover the entire area properly.

2 Part Foam Insulation- How to Work with it in Colder Temperatures?

Conservation Mart — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:49:46 +0000

When 2 Part Foam is sprayed onto your walls, floors and ceilings, the shell of your home becomes protected. It’s this protection that blocks heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter, thus preventing dramatic temperatures changes in the home. Correctly installed, insulation delivers comfort and lower energy bills during the hottest and coldest times of the year. But working with it in the winter time is a little tricky since the core temperature should be above 70 F.

2 Part Foam Insulation comes in two tanks- A and B. The key to getting good yield and foam that actually sets up properly is an even stream between the “A” and “B” tanks.

2 part foam insulation

The way you get that is getting the foam up to temperature. The “A” chemical has the consistency of milk, the “B” chemical has the consistency of molasses. Warming up the “B” chemical thins it out considerably, so it can flow at the same rate as the “A” chemical.

Once it gets up to temperature, it will take quite a while for it to cool. But it’s critically important to get the foam up to temperature before you begin use.

Keeping it in the warmest room in the house and using an electric blanket is usually your best bet. One tip is to build a little “hot box” with rigid insulation, and drop a 40 watt incandescent light bulb between the tanks, and leave it overnight.

Polyurethane Foam Machines

Conservation Mart — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:38:01 +0000

Polyurethane foams provide insulation in homes throughout the year. This foam is sprayed throughout the home onto ceilings, walls, and floors in an attempt to provide protection from the fierce heat of the summer as well as the biting cold of the winter. When properly installed, the insulation results in a comfortable living space and lower energy bills. Polyurethane foam machines

Polyurethane Foam Machine

use gun/hose formations along with air compressors to distribute high expansion foam resulting in more consistency and a better flow.

Among the most efficient polyurethane foam machines is the CPDS (Constant Pressure Dispensing System) 1000. This system allows the attachment of 120’of hose for better reach, total and even dispensing of foam (through the air compressor), and has a tank yield of 750 board feet. In addition, polyurethane foam machines, such as the CPDS 1000, conveniently have tanks and compressors items placed on wheels. This saves time as well as a few dollars that otherwise would have gone to the chiropractor in an attempt to correct the back problems that would likely result from all that lugging.

Polyurethane Spray Foam For DIYers

Conservation Mart — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:27:06 +0000

spray foam kit

You know the world is a crazy place when anyone with a DIY-handicap can sing the praises of polyurethane spray foam insulation! Fixing drafty attics floors, basement walls, and other oddly opened areas has never been easier.

What’s in a Spray Foam Kit?

Spray foam kits for DIY projects generally consist of: foam (obviously), instructions (undoubtedly), a hose (maybe) and a spray gun (occasionally). Conservation Mart offers an excellent spray foam kit in the 2 Part Polyurethane Foam Kit 600.

Spray Foam Kit Specifications

* Spray foam has an R value that ranges anywhere between 6.2 and 7.12 per inch.
* There are different sizes and different types of polyurethane spray foam kits available.
o You can choose a standard or a standard and fire retardant kit (considering my skills with DIY projects, I’d opt for the flame proof set).
o Spray foam can be bought in an open cell or closed cell form (we learned in a previous post what the difference between the two is).

Common Places for Spray Foam

The following areas are common areas for spray foam touch-up:

* Air Ducts
* Attic Floors
* Basement Walls
* Crawl Areas
* Roofs

Benefits of Spray Foam Kits for DIY Projects

Using polyurethane spray foam kits for DIY projects are beneficial, allowing you to insulate your home:

* In an environmentally friendly way
* Inexpensively (when weighed against your long term savings on energy costs)
* Independently (it is always beneficial to learn how to properly care for your home)
* With products that efficiently insulate your home (namely, the only foam capable of air sealing, the closed cell polyurethane high density foam)

What was your experience with installing polyurethane spray foam? How has using spray foam kits transformed your home? Leave your comments below!

Closed Cell Polyurethane Foam vs. Open Cell Polyurethane Foam

Conservation Mart — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:15:20 +0000

So what’s the difference?

90% closed cell polyurethane foam, R value of 6.8

The easiest way to think of foam is to think of it liked whipped cream in a can. Two components involved: the cream and air.

If you increased the amount of air in the product by 10x, you would get a lot more coverage but it would be a lot less dense. And since air is free, you’re paying less per ounce.

If you decreased the amount of air by 10x, you could cover less space, but it would be more dense. And since there’s less air, you’re paying more per ounce.

With foam, the more dense the product, the less water it can absorb.

So…

• Open cell foam is cheap, it expands more than a hundred times the liquid volume, it has a lower R-value, and it absorbs water readily.

• Closed cell foam is more expensive, it expands about 30 times the liquid volume, it has a higher R-value, and it doesn’t absorb water readily.