Almost every building has insulation, from your home to your office. It’s a vital part of a modern building’s infrastructure, and yet the average person knows little to nothing about it. Hopefully, this changes today, as the following discusses what insulation is, when it needs to be replaced, and how best to do so in a pinch.
If the following information reveals that you may have an insulation problem, make sure to contact any insulation companies Loveland, CO, or whatever your local area is, so they can look it over and do what needs to be done.
What It is
Insulation is the material in your walls that helps both keep extreme temperatures out while keeping interior temperatures stable. To make it simple, imagine that a home with good insulation acts the same way a good tumbler does, while a poorly or completely uninsulated building is like a regular cup.
Any liquid in the regular cup will change its temperature based on its environment, and will do so relatively quickly. A good tumbler, on the other hand, keeps that same liquid at whatever temperature it was when it entered the container for quite a while, multiple hours in some cases.
This is how you want your insulation to work: keep the exterior temperatures out while keeping your home at your desired temperature for as long as possible. There should be a good amount of insulation in every wall, ceiling, attic, basement, etc., for this very reason.
Different Insulation Materials
The best insulator is air, but that doesn’t mean insulation is obsolete. It just means that the material used for insulation must have a lot of tiny spaces for air to sit in. Since many materials can do this when used correctly, many different types of insulation are available. The most well-known type is blanket insulation, which is most commonly made of fiberglass.
However, it’s far from the only type. Concrete block insulation refers to the many materials that can be placed after the blocks are placed or incorporated into the concrete mix itself. Foam boards are used in the former case while foam beads are common for the latter purpose. Foam boards can also be used in walls or around attic doors and the like for better insulation as well.
Locations that may be difficult to properly insulate, like pre-existing walls or attics, may be filled with loose-fill insulation that can be blown into place pretty easily. Fiberglass, wool, cellulose and more can all be used for this purpose.
While these are a few examples of insulation, there are many more types available that each have a different purpose and application. This is why you should always contact a professional if you think there may be an insulation issue; they may not only know what issues in current insulation to look for, but also what other types to try and how to appropriately apply them.
When to Replace It
Knowing all of this, it may seem strange that insulation needs to be replaced every so often. Assuming nothing has gone wrong, it needs to be checked at least every twenty years or so. The reason why boils down to one thing: nothing lasts forever. Insulation will begin to decay, clump in strange ways and become less effective, etc.
You may need to replace it sooner, though. Leaks, flooding, pest infestations and more should all urge you to get your insulation checked or even fully replaced. When it comes time for insulation to be replaced, do some research to see what type will work best for your situation and consult an expert to see if they agree; they’ll have to install it, after all.
How to Deal With It
Insulation can be a complicated thing to mess with as each type and material comes with its own safety hazards, so you should always contact a professional when you need it messed with. However, there may be times when you have to handle it yourself to prevent a problem from getting worse.
Before safely handling insulation, make sure you’re wearing a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and gloves. If you’re not sure what type you’ll be dealing with, then wear a mask, helmet and goggles as well to protect your lungs and eyes from irritating dust. Do your best to limit how much dust you create.
When you’re done handling the insulation, carefully clean your clothing and safety gear. If dust gets in your eyes or you experience skin irritation, wash the area well and go to the doctor if the irritation doesn’t go away. And again, make sure to contact a professional as soon as possible.
