Your home’s insulation is one of its most important features, especially in the winter. It keeps you warm, reduces energy loss, and saves you money on your heating bills. But it’s also one of the most overlooked home upgrades—around 90% of houses in the United States are underinsulated!
If insulation is so important, why do so many homeowners neglect it? We think it’s because there are too many myths floating around about insulation, its benefits, and its cost.
To clear things up, we’re debunking the most common myths about home insulation, providing you with accurate information and practical tips to ensure your home stays warm and energy efficient this winter.
Myth #1: Insulation Stops All Heat Loss
Fact: Insulation helps stop heat from escaping your home in the winter, but it doesn’t prevent heat loss entirely. Heat moves in many different ways, including through materials (this is called conduction) and through the air (this is called convection). Insulation only slows down conductive heat loss; it can’t do anything about heat that moves through air. To stop convective heat loss, you need to seal the gaps, cracks, and openings that let air flow freely into and out of your home.
Standard insulation companies don’t go the extra mile to air seal before insulating your home, which significantly reduces its effectiveness. Home Energy Medics take a holistic approach that includes comprehensive air sealing to ensure your insulation is working to its full potential, improving comfort and, ultimately, saving you money.
Myth #2: All Insulation Materials Are the Same
Fact: Most of us think about insulation as the pink, fluffy stuff you can buy at Home Depot. But that’s not the only type of insulation there is. There are several types of insulation, and different materials are suited to different parts of the home. Blown-in cellulose insulation, for example, is great for filling large areas, like your attic floor. Spray foam insulation, meanwhile, expands to fill the entire area it’s installed in and can be great for oddly shaped or hard-to-reach areas.
Choosing the best insulation for your home is a science that requires careful consideration. Home Energy Medics takes this process seriously. We provide comprehensive testing that leaves nothing to guesswork so we can recommend the best types of insulation for every area in your home.
Myth #3: You Don’t Have to Insulate a New Home
Fact: If you live in a relatively new house, built in the last 20 years or so, you probably have some insulation. But that doesn’t mean you have enough. Most new houses are built with basic insulation because it’s required by code, but it may not be enough to maximize comfort and energy efficiency. If you’re dealing with comfort problems or high energy bills in a new house, we encourage you to schedule a full energy audit, which includes a comprehensive insulation evaluation as well as a whole-home evaluation. We go above and beyond a standard insulation inspection to find out how much insulation you have, measure its effectiveness, and pinpoint areas where it’s lacking.
Myth 4: Insulation Is All About the Walls
Fact: Your exterior walls should be insulated, but they’re not the biggest source of heat loss in a house. Your attic and basement/crawl space are much bigger problems, especially in the winter. Heat rises naturally, so if your attic isn’t properly insulated, warm air will leak right out of your home. Similarly, a poorly insulated crawl space or basement will let cold air seep into your living spaces, leading to problems like drafts and cold floors.
Of course, every house is different. That’s why we start with testing. We use diagnostic tools, including blower door testing and infrared imaging, to find out exactly where your house is losing heat so that we can make targeted insulated improvements based on facts, not guesswork.
Myth #5: Insulation Is Too Expensive
Fact: Upgrading your insulation is an investment, but it’s one of the most cost-effective home improvements you can make because it pays for itself through energy bill savings. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling bills with proper insulation and air sealing. And the long-term comfort benefits are priceless.
Plus, insulation and air sealing are eligible for rebates and tax credits that make them significantly more affordable. You can save $1,200 a year on eligible insulation and air sealing expenses with the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit. You may also be eligible for up to $10,000 in insulation rebates from Dominion Energy or the EmPower Maryland program. Home Energy Medics is a participating contractor with local rebate programs and can help you maximize your savings.