With global warming on the rise, it is a duty for every household to be energy wise. Reducing consumption of power saves money. Insulation is an eco-friendly way to keep warm during the winters, without letting your power meter soar. It’s a funny thing to notice, most people don’t pay attention to save energy and get the insulation at a cheaper price. Insulation is really a cost effective way to save money and stay warm in winters.

Insulation is pretty easy to do so you might consider doing it yourself. For some, professional help is required. If you are opting for professional help, the contractor in charge of insulation will asses your home and advise you about what type of material to use for insulation. Hiring an energy auditor can help you identify the insulation requirements of your house. Professional help is advised in case the house is really old, since older houses relatively use more energy for heating purpose.

If you wish to do yourself, follow these points. By correctly identifying the amount of insulation you already have, you can decide how much more insulation you can add. Choose the type of material that best meets your insulation requirements. There are loose fibres, granules, batts or blown in cellulose that can be used for the purpose. Always notice the R value. This is an indicator of the insulating capacity of the material used. Higher R value means greater insulation.

Attic, is the best place to start the insulation since it is easy to reach. For attic insulation, you may opt for blanket type or blown in type, which are also very popular. Ceiling insulation can also be done with such materials. Be careful if you are using vermiculite insulation though, since it comes with asbestos which can be harmful. While insulating, some particularly troublesome places around the house like electrical wiring, plumbing pipes and wall cracks need to be taken care.

Handling old electrical wiring can be really challenging while insulating. Also, insulation can cause wires to overheat, which is why it is not wise to use thermal insulation around electrical wiring. It is better to trim the spaces around the wires. Leaks in walls are another major reason why insulation loss occurs. It is important to have walls resistant to water and wind. Good drainage conditions and ventilation in the house are the factors that should be considered while adding insulation. So, as you might have guessed, adding insulating requires a lot of calculated thinking. Be sure to know what you are doing before getting down to insulating your house.