Attic Insulation Phoenix

Having quality attic insulation in Phoenix is the key to keeping energy costs down year long. There are 4 main types of insulation used in attics. Each has their own uses and advantages. The four main types of attic insulation are spray foam, radiant barrier, blow-in, and rolled batt.

Properly insulating your attic helps keep the home more comfortable and saves on energy bills. In summer the attic is the guard between the intense heat and sun and the interior of your home. Taking steps to help your attic stay cooler will mean less heat is making it into your home.

Attic Insulation Types

Some homes have multiple types of insulation like pairing radiant barrier with blown-in insulation. We will talk about each of the types of insulation below in more detail.

Spray Foam Insulation

Spray foam is a great option for unvented attic applications. When applied by the best professionals it is one of the best options available for attic insulation. Not only is spray foam insulation an excellent insulator but it can create an air tight seal. This helps keep the energy from your home, in your home. Ducts typically leak about 40% of their energy into the attic. Studies have shown that a duct system that leaks even 20% of the air from your HVAC system means your system works 50% harder. This is big in terms of electricity and energy bills. Spray foam helps create the seal that helps keep your air conditioned air in your home. The foam also helps keep the temperature within 5 – 10 degrees of your home’s internal temperature.

Liquid Insulators

Liquid insulation materials can be poured, foamed in place, injected, or sprayed as a liquid. To reduce air leakage the foams can be installed under floors, blown into walls, or sprayed onto attic surfaces. When the right foam is installed correctly foam can seal up small gaps and boast twice as effective R values when compared to batt insulation. Home owners can start the process by using the small cans of foam to seal up small cracks and gaps. Professional insulation contractors seal up the rest of the gaps you may or may not know about when they install your foam insulation products.

Liquid Foam Insulation Types

In today’s market there are two main categories of liquid spray foam insulation. They are know by the names open and closed cell insulation. While both are made with polyurethane they differ in their details.

Open cell spray foam insulation differs chemically and develops into less dense foam. The foam is filled with air which makes the insulation have a spongy texture. The R value of open cell insulation is about R-3.7 per inch.

Closed cell spray foam insulation differs in the fact that the cells are not filled with air, but gas. The foam is also much more dense and each of the cells are closed. The gas contained in the foam helps it expand into all of the smaller cracks and crevices. Closed call insulation has a better R value than open cell, it boasts a R-6.2 per inch.

Choosing Your Foam

Which type of liquid insulation you choose will depend on your budget, and how you plan to use the insulation. Closed cell insulation has a much higher R-value and provides a better moisture barrier. It is however most costly and it should be factored into your budget should you choose to install it. Open cell is less expensive and lighter, however it should never be used below ground level.  Its open cell air spaces and sponge like consistency can absorb and store water.

Radiant Barrier Insulation

Radiant barrier is a great addition that is typically used with other types of insulation materials. The job that radiant barrier does is to simply reflect heat away from your home. This is useful yet different than the other insulators that slow the travel of heat. It is a layer of foil that is set between the attic floor and the standard insulation. Many times the standard insulation is on the floor of the attic, but it can be applied as a paint to the underside of the roof decking. This means there is room for spray foam or rolled batt insulation to be installed at the roof and leave the attic floor clear.

Radiant Barriers

The approach behind radiant barriers is different than other traditional insulation types. Traditional insulators resist conductive and convective types of heat transfer. Meaning the heat is physically transferred or vented into the living spaces. Radiant insulation differs in the fact that it reflects the energy instead of trying to slow it down. Installed in attics the radiant barrier simply reflects the energy away from the living space. The primary application for it is in the hotter climates like Arizona during the summer. The main advantage is reflecting the heat and reducing load on the air conditioning. Lower AC use leads to lower electricity bills.

Physics Of Radiant Heat

Radiant energy, or heat, moves in a straight line from surfaces and transfers the heat to anything solid that will absorb energy. The energy from the sun that heats your roof is radiant energy. The majority of the heat is they conducted through your roofing materials and into your attic. The energy is then in turn radiated down onto the attic floor and air ducts, which is what transfers heat into your living spaces. To stop the radiant transfer of energy into your home a highly reflective material is installed to reflect the energy. It is similar to one of those emergency blankets people use to survive winter storms. Only instead of reflecting the body’s heat to keep you warm, it is reflecting the sun’s energy away from you home to keep it cool. For radiant barriers to be effective there should be an air space the material is faced towards.

Adding a radiant barrier in hot climates where ducts are losing energy in hot attics the savings can be significant. Studies have shown that the savings of having a radiant barrier can result in as much as 5% to 10% in energy savings. The cooler attics spaces allow ducts to transfer cool air to the home more efficiently. This not only allows for reduced load on your AC system, but can even translate into needing a smaller air conditioning unit.

Blow-In Insulation

While blown in insulation is less expensive than rolled batt insulation it requires technicians to install it. The material is typically rock wool, cellulose, or even fiberglass.  The machines used to blow the insulation into the attic are fairly difficult to use and require training and skill. Making a nice even layer of insulation on the floor of the attic can be tricky but when done right it is a great insulator.

Rolled Batt Insulation

Rolled batt insulation does cost more than blown-in insulation, but it is quicker to install. This is because it comes in separate rolls. A staple gun, or a staple hammer is used to attach the rolls. While a lot of rolled batt insulation is made from fiberglass, there are examples made of cotton fiber. This is because there have been some concerns about fiberglass and potential carcinogens.

Attic Insulation Removal

Insulation can wear down over time. Insects and pests can damaged the insulation in your attic. Even water leaking into your attic can destroy insulation. To get the most of your insulation many times it is necessary to remove the old insulation from your attic. If you have a home that has old or damaged insulation Barrier Insulation does attic insulation removal for the Phoenix Valley.