| Insulation is the process of enclosing or
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| | prevent condensation in cold areas that
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| covering an object with a material that
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| | could result in damage (such as mold).
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| serves as a barrier and reduces (or
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| | Batts - similar to rolls but come in
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| blocks) the flow of energy, specifically
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| | lengths ranging from 4 to 8 feet.
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| heat. It is essentially used for the
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| | Blown - these are loose insulation that
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| following reasons:
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| | can be 'blown' into walls or ceilings.
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| -To reduce heat energy losses.
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| | -Cellulose. Another insulating material
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| -To prevent nearby objects from heating
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| | that is commonly used in households is
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| up.
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| | cellulose. It is a fibrous material made
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| Below are some examples where insulation
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| | from scrap or recycled paper (like
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| is typically used:
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| | newsprint or cardboard) that is shredded
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| -On appliances - stoves and ovens,
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| | and treated with chemicals that would
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| refrigerators and freezers, water
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| | make it resistant to fire and insects. It
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| heaters, water pipes, etc.
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| | is then applied (poured or blown-in) into
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| -On industrial applications.
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| | place, either as loose-fill or
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| When done properly, insulation can
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| | wet-sprayed with the use of a machine.
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| provide indoor comfort (by keeping your
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| | -Rock wool. As the name implies, rock
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| house cooler in the summer and warmer in
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| | wool is an insulating material that is
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| the winter) and energy efficiency.
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| | made from rock. Manufactured similarly to
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| Determining and buying the insulation
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| | that of a fiberglass (with molten rock
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| that is right for your household can be a
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| | replacing glass), rock wool can be in the
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| challenge. Below are some helpful hints
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| | form of a hollow brick or a porous
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| on how to go about buying the perfect
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| | concrete block.
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| insulation for your home.
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| | -Synthetic insulation. Synthetic
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| 1. What to insulate. The first thing to
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| | insulating materials are manufactured in
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| consider is to identify where the
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| | several forms, some of which are the
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| insulation will be installed or used. A
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| | following:
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| personal inspection of your home may be
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| | Polystyrene foam - usually as rigid,
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| sufficient, but it is still best to let
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| | pre-cut boards.
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| the qualified people (such as your
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| | Polyurethane foam - usually as boards or
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| contractor) do the job.
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| | foamed 'insitu' ("in position").
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| Depending on your (or an expert's)
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| | Spray-on expanding foam - similar to that
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| findings, your household might need any
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| | found in aerosol cans, it can completey
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| or all of the following insulation:
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| | seal and insulate even the smallest areas
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| -Wall/cavity wall insulation. Cavity wall
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| | in the house by 'poofing' up to as much
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| insulation prevents your house from being
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| | as 2 to 4 times the original size when
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| exposed to rapid temperature changes
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| | applied.
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| outside. Studies show that heat loss due
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| | Deciding on the right material to be used
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| to un-insulated walls can reach as much
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| | for installation largely depends on the
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| as 50%, and cavity wall insulation could
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| | area that requires installation. Below
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| possibly prevent 70% of this from
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| | are some of the standard insulating
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| happening.
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| | materials that are recommended for the
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| -Loft/roof insulation. Because hot air
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| | specific areas in your home:
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| rises, heat loss through the roof can
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| | -For loft or roof insulation
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| reach as much as 25%. This can be greatly
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| | *Mineral wool quilt
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| reduced with proper attic or loft
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| | *Blown mineral wool
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| insulation.
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| | *Blown cellulose fibre
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| -Duct/pipe insulation. Leaky ducts or
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| | -For duct or pipe insulation
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| pipes can contribute to an increase in
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| | *Mineral wool mat
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| your heating (or cooling) costs. They can
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| | *Pre-formed split foam insulation
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| also burst (or freeze), so it is also
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| | *Foil-faced fiberglass insulation
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| important to have them properly
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| | *Vinyl-faced insulation
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| insulated.
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| | *Ridged foam insulation
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| -Water cylinders/storage tanks. Hot water
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| | -For wall insulation
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| cylinders and cold water storage tanks
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| | *Blown-in cellulose
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| also need to be insulated to prevent them
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| | *Fiberglass (batt and roll) insulation
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| from being exposed to intense cold or
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| | 3. Check with an expert. Aside from your
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| heat.
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| | personal considerations, the key to
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| 2. What to use. Traditional insulating
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| | finding the perfect insulation for your
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| materials that are commonly-used in the
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| | home is to consult a professional who is
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| households are the following:
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| | knowledgeable in this field. It is still
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| -Fiberglass/fiberglass mats/mineral
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| | best to check with an expert, who could
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| fiber. Fiberglass is the most common and
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| | provide you with several options that
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| versatile type of insulating material
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| | would best suit your needs.
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| that is made from molten glass and spun
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| | Insulating your home may add to your
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| into microfibers.
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| | household expenses today, but in the long
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| Usually pink or yellow in color,
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| | run, it will not only save you money (by
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| fiberglass comes in 3 forms:
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| | lowering your utility bills); it will
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| Rolls - blankets of insulation that may
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| | also protect you and your property.
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| or may not have vapor barriers, which
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