Insulate (v.) - to protect from heat, cold, or noise by surrounding with insulating material
This is the literal definition. The environment defines insulation as reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from a home by 140 to 2100 pounds every year. Meanwhile, your wallet would describe the term as reducing the amount of money spent on heating by 20 to 30 percent. Having a professional apply spray foam insulation in the home is a fairly costly option. However, DIY Spray foam is a more cost-effective way to insulate.
How much is spent on Heating and Cooling?
According to Energy Star, over 40 percent of the average utility bill goes towards heating and cooling. The unwanted exchange of air tends to make the home less comfortable, causing constant tampering with the thermostat. As a result, heating and cooling costs amount to as much as $600 to $700 for the average homeowner every year.
Sealing air leaks with Spray Foam Kits positively affects the heating and cooling portion of the utility bill by giving you control. It seals the air that is in your home’s envelope. This decreases the amount of air that comes in and goes out. With more control over the temperature at home comes less energy expending to heat and cool the home.
What is DIY Spray Foam Insulation?
DIY spray foam insulation is a way to seal the cracks and gaps that are the source of heat loss in winter and energy loss in summer. The foam expands up to 30 times once it has been applied, ensuring a tight seal. This seal blocks undesired air flow as well as allergens, insects, and rodents. Once applied, the temperatures outside will have less of an effect on the temperatures inside.
The most dramatic air leaks are often the ones that are hardest to detect. When applying DIY foam insulation, start with the rooms that are not typically lived in, such as the attic, basement, or garage. These rooms tend to be poorly insulated, acting as a passageway for the unwanted exchange of air that so negatively affects home temperatures and energy costs.
Is DIY spray foam the best type of insulation?
There are other ways a person may choose to insulate a home. Fiberglass insulation is among one of the most common types of insulation available. A study conducted by Habitat for Humanity concluded that spray foam insulation is much more cost-effective. The home that contained fiberglass insulation paid more than $500 more in electricity costs than the home that contained DIY foam insulation. Surely you have already come up with a pretty good list of things you would rather be doing with this money.
Applying DIY spray foam insulation to the areas in your home that are experiencing dramatic air leaks is a great way to make reductions at home. It reduces the 150 million tons of carbon dioxide emitted from US homes every year as well as the amount of chemicals that produce acid rain. Savings on utility bills of as much as 50% have been reported with the use of DIY Spray foam, thousands of dollars within just 5 years. It is simple to apply, and leaves you with more money to spend however you choose.