Spray foam insulation is superior to fiberglass insulation (blown or batt) in a number of ways. It provides a higher R-value (resistance to heat flow) and greater energy efficiency. And while fiberglass may slow down air leakage, it doesn’t stop it. Spray foam stops air leakage for good – establishing an impenetrable air and moisture barrier.
Traditional insulation can lose its effectiveness over time; however, because it’s composed of powerful chemical products, spray foam performs exactly how it should for decades. It’s made of only two materials, polyurethane and isocyanate. When these two materials react, they expand and harden, so spray foam will never lose its shape. Once spray foam cures, it stays in one place and won’t sag or shift over time—even in extreme temperatures. Spray foam has a high R-value, meaning it’s heat resistant. When you choose spray foam installation, you can relax knowing you won’t have to upgrade or replace it for several years at a time.
The more mild, consistent, and even your home’s climate is, the better your household energy efficiency will typically be. When you have spray foam insulation installed around the house, its powerful sealing ability makes it much less likely for you to experience extreme temperatures, even during the hot North Carolina summer or the chilly winter. First and foremost, this means that you’ll have far more days when you don’t need to run your HVAC system at all, and those days will quickly accumulate to save you money on electricity bills. You’ll also have less need for space heaters, ceiling fans, box fans, or any other climate-controlling devices. While those pieces of equipment don’t typically use up too much energy, running them frequently can add up over time.
Why spend an unnecessary amount on your heat and cooling bills when you can get spray foam insulation?
Spray foam insulation may seem like an expensive option upfront, but you end up saving on energy expenses in the long run. According to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, “of the $2,000 the average American spends paying for energy annually, $200 to $400 could be going to waste from drafts, air leaks around openings, and outdated heating and cooling systems.” Fortunately, spray foam insultation expands, sealing up cracks and holes; therefore, utility systems won’t have to work so hard because they aren’t compensating for lost air. It’s hard to tell whether other insulation options will pay for themselves, but both open-cell and closed-cell spray foam often do between three and five years. An energy-efficient home often has a higher home value as well, as it looks more attractive to prospective homebuyers.
SPF or Spray Polyurethane insulation is sprayed onto the desired surface. The insulation expands as it starts to harden, filling up any holes or gaps present before. The foam also forms a tight bond with surfaces like walls and ceilings, eliminating air leakage through those areas.
Spray foam insulation provides excellent thermal performance and the highest R-value (a measure of thermal resistance) per inch for greater potential energy savings compared to other forms of insulation of comparable thickness. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating properties of a material.
Open and closed cell foam are two different types of spray foam insulation. They have different strengths and weaknesses, and one is not necessarily better than the other. It comes down to understanding the benefits of open cell vs closed cell foam and choosing the type that fits your needs.
Benefits of Closed Cell Foam
Closed cell foam is the best choice for robust insulating where space is an issue, as it can achieve 2x the R-Value of open cell inside a standard wall. Its rigid nature also adds to the structural integrity of the building and E84 fire rated versions are available. The closed cell also acts as a vapor barrier, so water and moisture will be less likely to get inside the home, and the foam itself is unharmed by water damage.
Can spray foam improve health conditions?
Yes, it can. With spray foam insulation, you will notice that your indoor air quality will improve significantly. Indoor air quality will be free of outside pollutants, such as dust, pollen, and other allergens. This specific type of insulation provides a healthier and draft-free environment, which has no harmful emissions.
Because of this, you and your family are given a cleaner environment, free from harmful emissions that can cause allergies and diseases.
Spray foam insulation can provide lifesaving benefits by providing a cleaner air quality in your home by creating an air tight barrier that reduces moisture infiltration, mold and mildew growth, pollutants and indoor allergens.
When we install spray foam insulation to a home or building, the unique property of the foam allows it to fill tiny cracks and spaces that other insulation can’t reach. Because of this, spray foam can reduce air and water vapor from entering your home, which helps to prevent and control mold and mildew build-up. By slowing or completely stopping these from growing, indoor air quality gets another boost, and you get the peace of mind of a healthier living space.
Spray foam insulation is a great way to increase the energy efficiency of your home and make it cleaner, healthier, quieter, more comfortable, and safer. It’s an excellent building material that can contribute to cost savings and be the answer to questions about green building, energy reduction, and indoor air quality. This type of insulation has many advantages that can provide a winning solution for new home builders and homeowners alike; the following are just five of them.
Spray foam insulation Improves the Energy Efficiency of Your Home
They are specifically designed to make your home more energy-efficient. They insulate better than ordinary insulation because it expands as it hardens into a tight seal around every surface of your walls and ceilings. Moreover, they off provide an excellent vapor barrier that prevents moisture from moving back and forth between indoor air and the outside, improving air quality and preventing buildup. spray foam insulation can reduce your energy consumption by 50% or more which means that you’ll have to run your heating and cooling systems less over time.
Spray foam insulation is quite a helpful method in ensuring that the air quality in your home is good. However, you need to contact a professional and ensure that the spray polyurethane foam being used is environmentally friendly. It’d be unwise to try and DIY spray foam insulation as it can easily worsen the air quality in your home when done by inexperienced hands.
Spray foam insulation helps to reduce indoor air pollution by creating a barrier between the home and pollutants outside. Spray foam is inert, which means it has no emissions of its own as it expands and hardens.
Conclusion
In summary, spray foam insulation can greatly affect the air quality indoors. It can be either for better or for worse, depending on the type of spray polyurethane foam used and whether you have an expert handling it. Take careful steps and allow a professional to take care of things.
You know how they say that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is? That’s a good rule of thumb. And it’s usually accurate — except in the case of spray foam insulation’s effect on air quality. In this case, the hype is real — and deserved: Spray foam insulation provides better indoor air quality for your business.
Another way that sprays foam insulation can help the overall energy efficiency of your home is by improving the indoor air quality. Because of the airtight seal that the foam creates, it’s nearly impossible for airborne contaminants from outside to make their way into your household. For one thing, that means that the air you and your family are breathing will be fresher and healthier. It also means that your HVAC air filters won’t become dirty or clogged up anywhere near as quickly.
When those filters become packed with dust, pollen, random debris, and other pollutants, it restricts the airflow of your heating and cooling appliances. That forces them to work much harder and burn through more energy while attempting to keep your home comfortable. The hampered airflow also increases the risk of the appliances suffering mechanical failures, which often lead to pricey repair bills. With top-notch home insulation, your HVAC air filters will remain clean for much longer, allowing your heating and cooling systems to stay healthy and energy-efficient.