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Best Insulation For Hot Climates

If you are searching for the best insulation for hot climates, you are probably living in Arizona and starting to feel the summer’s bite. While the purpose of insulation is to keep homes and business comfortable all year long, it is considerably hotter in the Phoenix, Arizona area, so which insulation is best for hot dry climates?

There are 4 main categories of insulation available to install in your home or business in hot climates. These are spray foam, radiant barrier, loose fill, and rolled batt. Which of these will be best for your property depends on what is already there and your budget.

1. Spray Foam Insulation

Spray foam insulation is by far the best type of insulation for hot climates as it has considerably higher R-values than other insulation types. The R-Value of insulation is a rating of how well it does its job. Spray foam insulation is highly sought after because it has incredible R-value per inch. This means that in exterior walls that are only 4 inches deep spray foam can deliver an effective layer of insulation in less space. Best of all spray foam expands into gaps and cracks which seals the air leaks in your home.

2. Radiant Barrier

Radiant barrier is a great option for hot climates as it doesn’t try to slow the heat from passing through the materials, it simply reflects the energy. Radiant barrier is popular when adding a second layer of protection inside attics to keep HVAC ducting cool. When the attic is more mild the ducts can carry the cold air more effectively to the rooms that need it.

3. Loose Fill Insulation

Loose fill insulation is a great option for attic floors and walls. It is very popular for retrofitting old walls which either have no insulation, or have insulation that has sagged with age. Loose fill is installed by a machine which blows it into the spaces needed. This is why it is also known as Blown In Insulation

4. Rolled Batt Insulation

Rolled batt insulation is one of the most common insulation types and generally what Americans think of when they imagine what insulation is like. It comes in pink or yellow rolls and is installed in between rafters and wall studs. Staple guns are used to tack the sections in place through the paper backing the insulation is installed in. Rolled batt is a great option for budget sensitive insulation projects.

What Is The Best Wall Insulation For Hot Climates?

Loose Fill insulation is the best wall insulation for hot climates.

What Is The Best Roof Insulation For Hot Climates?

Blown In Insulation is the best roof insulation for hot climates. However, radiant barrier should be installed as well to keep the heat from getting into your attic.

What Is The Best Insulation?

The best insulation for your home or business depends on your needs and budget. While the most effective insulation type is spray foam insulation, it does come with a higher cost of installation. Business and Homeowners installing new insulation should weigh their options against their budget and seek the professional opinion about their property’s insulation needs.

Your local insulation contractor will be able to inspect what insulation you already have and make cost effective recommendations which fit your property, your budget, and your priorities. If you are in the Phoenix Valley and looking for insulation contractors to help you with your insulation project you should consider Barrier Insulation of Phoenix. We install every type of insulation you can imagine including spray foam, blown in insulation and more. We also have many 5-star Reviews from our satisfied customers. If you have questions or would like to schedule insulation services please get a hold of us.

Call Today – 602-499-2922

Installing Spray Foam Insulation Right

installing-spray-foam-insulation-right-arizona

Spray foam insulation, or polyurethane foam is an amazing insulator when it is applied correctly. However in the wrong or inexperienced hands it can be a sticky situation.

Homeowners tend to be more afraid to use this insulation type than they should be. There is a lot of skewed reviews and flawed science that leads to the horror stories that fill up the internet. While there are some real reasons that spray foam insulation causes people problems, it is due to improper application. Spray foam insulation’s real story is one of an incredible insulation option with very rare failures.

Spray foam insulation is also taken too lightly by some insulation companies in the country. Since the mid nineties when spray foam started seeing more installations it has been a nearly miraculous solution for insulation. The easy of application and amazing ability to stop conductive heat has lead to its near magical reputation among insulation contractors.

Doing It Right

With over 20 years of applications the mysterious nature and wonder of an easy to spray on and effective insulator has worn off. This has lead to a diminished level of quality application. The factors that affect the quality of the spray foam insulation contribute to the quality of and durability of the foam.

The mixture is a sometimes finicky, highly sophisticated chemical composite that is typically prepared at a site with various conditions. The preparation of the mixture along with the care that is given to its application directly contribute to the final quality of the insulation layer. If corners are cut or workers are not focused, you can end up with a serious mess. When it is done right you have an amazingly effective barrier of insulation that helps cut your energy costs.

Spray Foam Steps

Getting the application of spray foam insulation right, takes focus and professionalism. These are the key areas that are focused on to ensure proper installation and years of energy savings.

Hire The Right Installer

Everything that happens in the installation of your spray of depends upon who you hire. On top of selecting licensed, bonded, insured installers homeowners should consider the installers and company’s reputation for quality, safety, and service ethic. Getting the right people to do the job helps make sure the job is done right.

Choose The Right Foam

There are different manufacturers of foam, and there are different variants. There is such a thing as closed cell, and open cell spray foams. They both have advantages and disadvantages. Close cell tends to be the best insulator; however it does cost more than open cell. Open cell spray foam however is water permeable and can be good in installations that require a level of breathability.

Prep The Site

Crews need easy access to the work areas and have as clear a work area as possible. This helps get the job done right and makes sure that everyone is safe. Removing old insulation is a common part of this process. This is especially true if the surface that spray foam is being applied to has batt insulation stapled in place. Other types of insulation on the floor of the attic might be able to stay and increase the overall thermal performance of the home’s insulation. Any insulation that is old or damaged should be removed to help keep the air quality in the home healthy. After installation and during the curing period which lasts about a day ventilation is a common element of spray foam application.

Right Ratio Foam

Spray foam is nearly always made up of two parts of liquid components. The two are heated together on site and cause a chemical reaction that forms the foam. The attention to detail taken at this step is the deciding factor for air quality. Imbalanced mixtures lead to air quality problems, and are the very reason that only trained, and professional technicians should be performing spray foam mixing and application.

Apply Foam At Correct Temperatures

Spray foam bonds best to surfaces in a range of temperatures. This varies by product but spray foam should not be applied if the surface or air temperatures are excessively cold. The quality of the adhesion relies on this element to be paid attention to.

Quality Control Inspections

Even the best technicians may not get 100% coverage and that air tight seal that spray foam insulation is famous for, and that is why quality inspections are done. The spray foam can be tricky to apply evenly and the inspection phase of an installation is a step to catch and fix all gaps or voids in the layer of insulation. Meeting this common problem head on helps make the best spray foam insulation applications in the industry and helps homeowners get the biggest bang from their insulation buck.

Phoenix Valley Spray Foam Insulation

If you live in the Phoenix area and would like to hear more about spray foam insulation installation, or schedule your home for a new coating of insulation that will help save on energy give us a call at 602-499-2922 or 923-931-0637.

Basement Insulation Phoenix

The Roof is usually the focus of home insulation projects. But with more and more Arizona residents finishing their basements and using them as part of the livable space, it is necessary and cost effective to insulate our basements. They need to be dry and air conditioned to be comfortable and clean spaces. Dry basements and crawlspaces are less likely to end up with termites or other pests. Even if the basement is being used solely for storage it needs to be kept dry to avoid dust mites and mold.

Insulating Basement Walls

The walls of your basement need to be insulated with insulation that isn’t sensitive to water. The insulation needs to create a barrier between the interior air and the cold basement walls. If the warmer air inside our basements is allowed to come into contact with the cooler concrete it will create condensation. Condensation can lead to mold developing, and some molds carry with them dangerous airborne spores that can cause respiratory conditions. The concrete elements that are below the ground are always in contact with the soil around your home. This makes them cold all year long, especially if there isn’t any insulation around the foundation of your home.

Spray Foam insulation is the best choice for basement insulation. The type of spray form that is used should be somewhat vapor permeable. The higher the value of vapor permeability the lower risk you will have excessive moisture in your basement walls.

Different types of insulation have different levels of vapor permeability. For example 10 inches of open cell spray foam will allow as much drying as 2 inches of unfaced extruded polystyrene. 4 inches of unfaced expanded polystyrene allows the same vapor permeability as 3 inches of closed call spray foam insulation. Depending on your budget and needs find out exactly how much you will need to ensure the basement walls will be insulated but will still dry properly.

Insulating Basement Ceiling

We all know that heat rises, but we often forget that it also expands to cooler areas through conduction and radiation. If the basement isn’t used or conditioned not having insulation in the basement ceiling could be costing you on your energy bills. This is from the heated or cooled air in the living space getting through the floor of the home into the unused basement.

If the basement is used or indirectly heated by a water heater, heating system, or other heat producing appliance it needs to be properly insulated at the walls. Insulating the ceiling of basements that are dedicated living space is unnecessary and counterproductive as the basement temperature should be close to the temperature of the upper floors of the house.

Insulating Basement Floors

If you are designing your own home you can choose to have the basement floor insulated by having insulation under the foundation itself. Rigid insulation underneath the basement floor slab is the best way to insulation the basement floor. While the savings isn’t as significant as insulating basement walls, it is enough to keep the basement drier, and significantly more comfortable. A polyethylene sheet acts as a vapor barrier and should be located over the rigid insulation and in direct contact with the bottom of the concrete slab.

If you are just finishing your basement or improving the comfort and insulation you can install insulation over the concrete slab. First you need to check to make sure you have any water or moisture damage. Installing insulation or an improved floor with water or moisture problems will do nothing but encourage mold growth. After you have ensured there are no water issues you can install a subfloor. This step makes room to install the insulation. Popular insulation flooring options include foam board, fiberglass, and modular flooring systems.

Crawlspace Insulation

Crawlspaces are like tiny basements under sections of some homes. They allow room for repair people like plumbers to perform repairs without having to tear up the floor. Crawlspaces are generally vented to the outside which means that you will have to fight the cold and the heat from getting into your home with insulation. It is best to insulate the crawlspace from below the floor, inside the crawlspace. Any pipes or vents in this area should also be insulated and sealed up.

Basement Insulation Installation

Barrier insulation is a whole home insulation company serving the entire Phoenix valley. If you are building a new home and want to start it out with the best insulation available, or if you have a home that just needs new, upgraded insulation to save on those energy bills, give us a call today!

How Does Insulation Work?

How Does Insulation Work Phoenix Arizona

A fact of life in the greater Phoenix area is heat, pure unfiltered heat. Before the AC is on we know that we need to insulate our houses and businesses. We know that insulation works and saves us thousands of dollars in electrical bills. But how does insulation actually work?

How Insulation Works

Understanding the concept of heat flow is the basis for understanding how insulation works. The three mechanisms that heat transfers are radiation, conduction and convection. Convection is the method that heat moves through gases and liquids, like the air in your attic. Radiant heat moves in a straight line and when it hits anything solid it heats it up and that object absorbs the energy. Lastly is Conduction, just like electricity moving through copper wires heat moves through materials. Just like when you are cooking and the handle to your pot or pan is sometimes quite warm. The heat from the sun when it moves through the air (convection) will hit your roof and start to heat it up (radiant), then heat will start to transfer through the roofing material (conduction) and into your home, unless you’ve got something to stop it … . insulation.

The majority of insulation choices function by slowing down the conductive heat flow, and some of the convective heat flow. Reflective insulation and radiant barriers beat the heat by cutting down the radiant heat gain. These must face an air space to be effective.

Despite which method of heat is finding its way into your home physics dictate that heat flows from warm to cold until they are equal, having not temperature difference. That means for your home heat trying to get in during the summer and back out during the winter.

Types of Insulation

Insulation for your home comes in a variety of materials. Each have their pros and cons. Some are just easier on the budget up front, but the more effective long term solutions cost a couple extra dollars during installation but pay off big over the years. These insulating materials can be made from things like rock and slag wool, cellulose, fiberglass and other natural fibers. It can also be produced in rigid foam boards and sleek foils. Thick and bulky materials help slow conductive heat, and even some of the convection. The rigid foam boards trap air to help stop conductive heat. Reflective insulation systems and radiant barriers reflect the heat away from where you spend your time. This makes them especially useful here in Phoenix.

Rolls and Batts – these are flexible sheets that are produced from mineral fibers, like fiberglass or rock wool. These come in a variety of sizes that fit the spaces between the studs that constitute the spaces between walls and roof trusses.

Loose-Fill Insulation – Like rolls and batts the loose-fill insulation can be made from fiberglass and rock wool but in addition it can be made from cellulose and come in the form of lose fibers or fiber pellets. It’s distributed into the attics using specialized equipment that helps create a even and well distributed layer for maximum efficiency.

Foam In Place Insulation – This is the best option for maximum home efficiency. These spray in options are sprayed directly onto the surfaces in your roof and expand to seal the minor gaps and hold your air in and keep that heat out.

Cutting your electric bill is something everyone wants, and when you’re ready to save some money give the experts at Barrier Insulation a call at (602) 499-2922

Garage Insulation For Increased Energy Efficiency

If you are looking to enhance the energy efficiency of your home in Phoenix, AZ, one step you may want to consider that could render great saving on your energy bill is, insulating your garage. Typical garages are not insulated and can become extremely cold in the winter time and extremely hot in the summers. These extremes can damage and warp things you may have stored in your garage and ever add wear and tear to your vehicles that are experiencing the temperature fluctuations in your garage. The temperatures in your garage affect the temps in your home if your garage is attached to your house. The air can pass into your home, causing your central air system to work harder in order to sustain the interior temperature that you set it to maintain.

Having your garage properly insulated will help tremendously to keep your home and garage comfortable on top of enhancing your home’s energy efficiency. Aside from having your garage outfitted with an insulation system there are steps that can be taken to enhance the effect that the insulation system will have on your garage. One of these steps is to have a lightly colored garage door. Lighter shades and colors will reflect light and heat away from your garage whereas darker colors and shades will absorb heat and cause your garage to heat up tremendously.

Having a ventilated garage door is another option as the vents will allow air to constantly circulate throughout your garage instead of remaining static. Still air will remain hot and promote rising temperatures as it effectively compounds on itself instead of flowing freely. Air flow along with a garage door that reflects heat and light will help your chosen insulation system transform the energy efficiency traits and qualities as well as the comfort level of your homes attached garage.

Is Your Home Garage Properly Insulated?

Barrier Insulation, Inc is the leading insulation contractor in Glendale, AZ & Phoenix, AZ and can install insulation in your home’s garage to increase your homes energy efficiency and save you money. See why adding insulation to your home garage has the best return on your investment. Give us a call at (602)499-2922 or (623)931-0637 today!

Tips for Saving Energy

Energy efficiency is growing ever more important in a day and age when our resources are dwindling and our way of life is getting more in line with what is best for the planet. Scientific advancements are constantly being applied to various areas of our every day lives and our ability to utilize the energy that we generate is improving exponentially. This means there are opportunities to save money on energy that are greater than ever before. Not all of us have the means to utilize these scientific advancements right away, but there are steps you can take to save money in order to put it towards these improvements that can greatly improve your every day life. Here are some tips:

To Reduce Heat:

During the warmer months, prevent as much natural light from entering your home as possible. The more light that enters your home, the more heat it will carry along with it. Keeping blinds and shades closed is highly recommended
Extend any window awnings to provide more shade around your windows
Use light bulbs that are more energy efficient. Standard light bulbs operate at warm temperatures that can raise the temperature inside your home.
Close the doors and cooling vents in any rooms that are not being used regularly. Open the vents and doors as needed.
BBQ as much as possible instead of using the oven inside of your home. Ovens produce massive levels of heat by their very nature and avoiding that heat radiating throughout the interior of your home is impossible.

Thermostat Tips:

Pick a comfortable setting and leave your thermostat locked on that setting at all times. It is much easier to maintain a temperature than it is to use heat or cooling to achieve a new temp level. If need be, change it only when you wake up and before you lay down for bed in the evening.
Contrary to what most believe, setting your thermostat to lower or higher temperatures in order to heat or cool faster does not work. Your central air unit will heat and cool at a steady rate which means that all you are doing is prolonging the time it will be running on top of setting yourself up to be uncomfortable once the temp it was set for is reached. The only way to fix that would be to set a new comfortable temp and make your system work to achieve it.
Keep heat producing appliances away from the thermostat. The heat that radiates from them will cause the thermostat to get false reading which will cause it to activate or deactivate depending on if you are heating or cooling.

Utilizing these tips can help you save a lot of money over time on your energy bills giving you more financial liquidity and freedom. On top of that you can use the savings to pay for improvements that can further increase the energy efficiency of your home via upgrades to things like insulation and appliances related to your central air system. In this day and age, updating your home to modern standards in regard to appliances, electrical systems, insulation, ventilation, and the materials used in the home can skyrocket your home’s ability to use energy efficiently. These kinds of improvements pay for themselves over time, making them a no brainer. The toughest part may be figuring out how to make the initial investments, but making certain behavioral changes can give you your starting capital for your series of home improvements.

9 Ways to Increase Energy Efficiency Part 4

Back again with the conclusion of our 4 part series on ways that you can increase your home’s energy efficiency with tips seven through nine. If you haven’t read parts one –three, please do so in order to complete the picture of energy efficiency that we’re trying to paint. With that said, here we go.

Advanced Lighting Technology: Equipping your home with energy efficient LED and fluorescent bulbs throughout will go a long way in saving you money on you energy bill and because of the fact that you won’t need to replace light bulbs for years because of the longevity of the advanced bulbs. You can find one of these bulbs to fit any light fixture in your home.
Upgrading Appliances: Using modern versions of household appliances will have a major effect, especially when combined with the other tips in this series. New appliances will not only use less electricity to function, they use less water (applicable appliances only), dryers have sensors to tell them when to stop a dry cycle, and new power strips will put the icing on your energy efficiency cake.
Equip Your Home To Be Able to Produce Renewable Energy: Adding solor panels or a wind turbine to your property will increase the overall value of your home and property, it will save you money each month and may even MAKE you money! Some city and town governments offer incentives to those who choose to modify their home with renewable energy producing additions and some will even purchase excess electricity you contribute to the power grid.

This concludes our series on raising your home’s energy efficiency without interrupting your everyday lifestyle. Read parts one-three and watch your energy bill plummet as you install these changes into your home!

9 Ways to Increase Energy Efficiency Part 3

Here we go with part 3 of our series of tips for increasing your home’s energy efficiency. We have covered four tips so far in the series and will be hitting you with two more today! Energy efficiency has a direct correlation to your bank account because it heavily impacts your energy bill and how expensive or cheap it will routinely be. We highly recommend reading every part of this series in order to transform and maximize the energy efficiency of your home.

Heating and Cooling Upgrades

Upgrading your heating and cooling system to a more modern model will immediately upgrade the energy efficiency of your home as soon as it is powered on. Some older homes will see a major difference if they are using old and outdated appliances that are the electrical equivalent of gas guzzling vehicles. Having power bills in the neighborhood of $400 is absurd and should not be experienced with the advancements available in 2015. For instance, gas furnaces are roughly 25% more efficient now than they were in the 70’s. There are new versions of appliances and new methods of installation and insulating that have developed over the past ten years that can not only change the efficiency with which your home operates, they will increase the overall value of your property immensely. Modernizing your home is always a good idea, especially if you have owned it for a while or if you recently bought an older home.

Water Heater Adjustments

Water heaters can often get lost as part of the scenery in a home rather than an appliance you would actively interact with. Often times, they aren’t even in a location that is regularly visible so the old ‘out of sight, out of mind’ adage is definitely at play. For such an overlooked appliance, the water heater checks in as the second largest consumer of energy in any home. Making sure the heater is set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (the most efficient setting) and that it is well insulated to conserve energy will pay dividends whenever you power bill arrives.

Stay tuned for our next two tips in part four of our series in our next entry!

9 Ways to Increase Energy Efficiency Part 2

We are back this week with the next two steps in our continuing blog entry on ways you can increase your home’s energy efficiency. You can always look back to part one for the first two steps that we have covered thus far. Once you have taken in that information you’ll be ready to move along with us to steps 3 & 4!

Have your home put through an Energy Audit:

An energy audit will help you understand exactly how your home is using energy and what amount of energy it is consuming. Identifying areas where you may be wasting energy can prove to be incredibly valuable and save you a lot of money once you correct the wasteful behavior. You can run home energy audits online for free, so there really is no reason to pass up this option! There are several on line energy audits available online and your current power company may even have online tools for you to use.

Weatherization:

Weatherizing is the most cost effective way to raise your home’s energy efficiency and it is also one of the methods that will have the most immediate impact. Weatherization works equally well in both warmer and colder climates because it keeps the outside environment from influencing or outright changing the indoor environment within your home. Air sealing windows and doors will cover holes you had no idea even existed greatly increasing your home’s barrier against the elements. Another great way to weatherize your home is by adding insulation or upgrading your already existing insulation to a more modern and efficient type. Air sealing and upgrading insulation will provide a night and day difference in your homes comfort level and energy consumption.

Stay tuned as we will be back soon with the next two steps for increasing your homes energy efficiency!

Blown-In Insulation vs. Batt Insulation

When it comes to insulation, there are several types that are prominently used for various reasons. When you are considering which type of insulation you want to go with knowing the nuances of each type and how they compare to each other. In this blog entry we are going to compare Batt insulation to Blown-in insulation. These are two of the most commonly used insulation types and may very well be the style that you end up choosing.

Blown-In Insulation: This insulation type requires a professional technician with the necessary equipment to install it. The main advantage of blown-in insulation is the fact it can be blown into tight places that would be otherwise hard to insulate. Blown-in insulation is made from cellulose which is an affordable material that is safer to be exposed to than fiberglass. This insulation type can compact over time, which will cause it to lose overall efficiency, which is one of its few cons. Blown-in insulation should be strongly considered as it is both highly effective, more versatile in where it can be placed, as well as being affordable.

Batt Insulation: Batt is one of the most widely spread types of insulation available today. The reason for this is its low cost and how easy it is to install. Batt insulation comes in a foam roll that is meant to be cut into the shapes of the spaces you intend to insulate. This style does have its limitations as it is not suitable for crawl spaces and other hard to reach areas that should be insulated. Installation needs to be handled needs to be handled very carefully as any missteps can greatly affect the energy efficiency of the insulation in a negative way. Batt insulation is also prone to becoming compacted which can greatly harm its ability to effectively insulate.