During the colder months, affectionately coined “the most wonderful time of the year,” people seem to generally be in higher spirits, right? Unfortunately for many homeowners, this elevation does not begin and end with emotions. The colder months of the year are also a time when energy loss and energy costs are noticeably on the rise. The average homeowner spends as much as 600 dollars every year on heating and cooling alone. By insulating with DIY spray foam insulation, the amount of energy loss experienced can be greatly decreased, decreasing energy bills in the process, and increasing the level of comfort in the home.
Decreasing energy loss
The most beneficial type of DIY spray foam insulation is referred to as closed cell foam. The cells in this type of foam insulation are closely packed together, and closed (hence the name). These characteristics make the foam both strong and dense, in addition to resistant to water absorption. Expanding up to 30 times once applied at 1-inch thickness, DIY spray foam insulation effectively closes the gaps that let air from outside in and air from inside the home out.
Foam insulation creates a barrier between the home and outside. This barrier stops the unwanted air exchanges to reduce energy loss in addition to the carbon footprint of the home. Interestingly enough, the rooms that benefit the most from DIY spray foam insulation are the rooms that typically receive little to no attention at all, such as the attic, basement, and garage. The lack of insulation that is so common in these rooms allows these areas to serve as gateways to the air from outdoors, which then easily contributes to major energy loss.
Decreasing energy bills
Heating and cooling make up the majority of the average homeowner’s utility costs, almost half. It is easy to see how saving energy and saving money go hand in hand. Spending 600 dollars each year on heating and cooling becomes 3,000 dollars over the course of 5 years. This figure only gets worse as time goes on if nothing is done to decrease energy loss. Once the most sufficient sources of air leaks have been sealed off, the cost of maintaining desirable temperatures in the home will significantly be lowered.
The exact amount of money saved with DIY spray foam insulation depends on factors such as climate. In areas that do not have temperate climates, foam insulation can help reduce the costs of heating and cooling up to 20 percent. In addition, applying DIY spray foam insulation in the home may qualify you for a tax credit of 10 percent.
Increasing level of comfort
Does it seem like during months of extreme weather you just can't get the house to feel exactly the way you want it to? There are enough cracks and gaps in the walls, ceilings, and floors of the average home to affect the amount of air that is coming in and going out of the home. When air is exchanged in this way, the energy that is being used by the heating unit is being mixed with air from outside, leading to decreased comfort. Essentially, the heating unit is working to compete with the temperature outside to create the desired temperature in the home.
The more trips you make to the thermostat, the less control you really have over it feels like in your own home. The elimination of the unwanted exchange of air with DIY spray foam insulation allows you to gain (or regain) control of the indoor temperature, decrease the amount of money spent on energy, and decrease the amount of energy used in the home.