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How Insulation Makes a House a Better Home

Efficient insulation can make a big difference in a home. Get to know the basics of insulation and how you can benefit from it...

Posted On

  • May 09, 2016

With the continuous rise of utility bills and concerns on energy use, many home buyers look into energy efficient options to save electricity and money. One of the solutions people are considering is insulation. But how does insulation really affect a home?

If you’re looking into new homes in Tasmania, it’s a smart thing to learn about the basics of insulation.

What is insulation?

Insulation is a material or a combination of different types of materials that prevent the flow of heat. These materials simply act as a barrier to heat flow which has a significant effect in your home’s comfort and energy consumption.

Insulation materials are divided into two types: bulk and reflective.

  • Bulk insulation prevents the transfer of convected and conducted heat by trapping air within the pockets or layers of its structure. Materials used for bulk insulation include cellulose fibre, wool, glass wool, polyester and polystyrene.
  • Reflective insulation resists radiant heat flow because of its poor ability to re-radiate heat and high reflectivity. The material used for this type is often an aluminium foil laminated onto plastic or paper (available as sheets), multi-cell batts and concertina-type batts. These products are referred to as reflective foil laminates.

Composite bulk and reflective material is a combination of both types, and features their properties.

Why is it important?

Proper insulation offers a number of benefits, including:

  • Reduced workload of heating/cooling appliances. As insulation prevents heat from escaping or coming in, your cooling and heating appliances don’t have to work too hard.
  • Savings on energy bills. Less workload of appliances means lesser power consumption, which helps you save on utility bills.
  • Comfort all year round. With a properly insulated home, your interiors will remain relatively cool during summer and warm during the cold season, ensuring comfort the whole year.
  • Reduced noise pollution. Insulation absorbs loud or unwanted noise, which is advantageous for homeowners who want a quiet environment.

Which areas of the house need insulation?

For optimum efficiency, insulation must be installed in areas where heat is likely to enter or escape. These include the ceiling, roof, walls and floors. Roofs and ceilings play an important role in insulation as they help minimise heat loss or gain. The walls, specifically the external side, also have a role in the transfer of convected or conducted heat. Houses built in locations with temperate climates should also have their floors insulated.

When should insulation be installed?

The best time to insulate a home is during construction, which makes the building energy efficient. At Tasbuilt Homes, our builders in Hobart provide premium insulation for our prefabricated homes. We insulate ceilings, walls and floors and double glaze windows as a standard inclusion of our building process to ensure effective insulation throughout.

Want a well-insulated future home? Tasbuilt Homes has a team of expert builders in Tasmania. We take pride in the fact that our modular homes are built for comfort, with thermal ratings that meet and exceed council requirements. Call us up today to discuss your options.

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