9 Fun Facts About Insulation

Many homeowners don’t realize how important insulation is for their home. Insulation not only reduces the transfer of sounds, but also reduces the transfer of heat to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Because energy costs have risen in the past century, a properly insulated home is a must. Here are some fun facts about insulation from our heating and cooling service company:
1. Dirty homes
The earliest form of insulation was during the Middle Ages, when the walls of homes were stuffed with mud and straw to keep out the cold.
2. Early asbestos
Asbestos insulation originated in Ancient Greece. The term translates to mean “inextinguishable.”
3. A step toward better health
In the mid-1970s, home improvement companies traded asbestos insulation for fiberglass insulation after finding out the harmful effects asbestos has on lungs.
4. Whoops!
Fiberglass was invented when a young researcher named Dale Kleist attempted to create a vacuum-tight seal between two pieces of glass and a high-pressure jet of air shot through and turned them into fibers.
5. Losing energy
Today, an un-insulated home can lose up to 60% of its energy through walls and the attic.
6. R-values
Insulation is measured using an “R-value,” which refers to its resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better it will insulate.
7. Jean insulation?
Some of today’s environmentally friendly insulation materials include recycled cotton denim, paper or plant cellulose, and sheep wool.
8. A name for those blankets
Large blanket pieces of fiberglass insulation are called “batts.”
9. Varieties
There are around 10 different types of insulation that you can use to keep your home comfortable and energy efficient.
At Oliver, we offer home insulation including spray foam, blown fiberglass, blown-in, radiant barrier, rigid foam, injection foam, and cellulose. If you believe your home is under-insulated or improperly insulated, give us a call. We’ll help you figure things out.
Blog BONUS
Do you have rooms over a garage that are constantly cold? Watch how proper insulation and air sealing solved this homeowner’s common problem:
If your home has problems with hot and cold spots like this, schedule an appointment for a free in-home analysis performed by one of the Oliver experts.