Understanding Insulation

Understanding Insulation

Submitted by: Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic GI 0121, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc, a New Jersey home inspection company

One of the ways a house loses and gains heat is through conduction. Conduction is the movement of heat through solid objects, such as walls, the ground, floors and ceilings. Heat always moves toward the cold, trying to equalize the temperature, and does move through solid material. Heat inside a warm house will always try to escape and, in the summer, the heat outside tries to get in.


Insulation in floors, ceilings and walls is helpful because it traps tiny pockets of air that retard the transfer of heat. Insulation won\'t stop heat entirely, but will slow it down.


Insulation\'s effectiveness is indicated by its ``R-value,\'\' which is its ability to resist heat flow from warmer to cooler areas. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation. It is important to remember that a material\'s insulating ability is based on R-value, not thickness.


Types of Insulation


Batts and blankets