If you are planning to insulate or replace the insulation in part of your home, you have a few options. Batts, foam and loose fill are three of the most common types of insulation. Each has its advantages, and using the right insulation for the right job can go a long way toward keeping the heat inside your house this winter.

Batts

Batts, also called roll or blanket insulation, are pre-cut sections of insulation made of fiberglass or rock wool. They are cut to specific sizes to fit in between studs and ceiling joists, and are designed for easy handling. Batts are available with or without a paper or foil sheet covering one side. Perhaps the type of insulation most familiar to homeowners, batts are most commonly used for insulating walls, attics, ceilings and floors.

Foam

Foam insulation is available in two forms: solid foam board and spray foam. Foam board is usually made of polystyrene or polyurethane. It can be cut to any size and shape you need, and can be used to insulate just about any part of the home. Spray foam is better suited to filling in hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, and is perfect for filling gaps and sealing up the cracks around doors and windows. it is typically made of latex or polyurethane, and is sprayed into place from a can or using special equipment.

Loose Fill

Also called blown-in insulation, loose fill is used in a manner similar to spray foam. It is made of fiberglass or recycled paper fibers, and is applied using specialized pneumatic equipment. Many homeowners use it to insulate hard-to reach places and odd-shaped cavities that would be difficult to fill using batts of foam board, but it can also be sprayed over existing insulation or used to fill wall cavities instead of batts.

For more information on insulation, and for all your home heating and cooling needs, contact Stewart’s Heating and Air Conditioning. We have been proudly serving the Triangle area of North Carolina since the 1970s.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about insulation and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Stewart’s Heating and Air Conditioning services the Triangle area of North Carolina. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!