Spray foam insulation creates a tight seal to block air leaks and increase home energy efficiency, blocking gaps and cracks that would allow heat into your attic otherwise.
Spray foam insulation makes life simpler by eliminating the need for attic ventilation to dry excess moisture that accumulates over time in an attic space. With traditional insulation materials, this issue would arise but with spray foam insulation this no longer poses a problem.
Air Circulation
Many spray foam insulation contractors don’t clearly explain attic ventilation or how it relates to their products. Some even make the mistaken assumption that spray foam insulation eliminates the need for venting – this is an incorrect and potentially hazardous assumption.
Proper attic ventilation is a critical element of installing spray foam insulation. Without it, gable vents, whirlybirds, and other forms of attic ventilation won’t function effectively.
Without adequate ventilation, homes will not be able to effectively remove excess heat from their attic space, leading to energy waste and energy loss as well as mold and mildew growth that threatens indoor air quality. Proper attic ventilation is essential to creating safe and energy-efficient homes; thus homeowners must understand its importance for installation processes as well as be aware of common misconceptions related to spray foam attic ventilation.
Humidity Control
Sprayed foam insulation installed in an attic can create an air barrier to isolate it from the rest of your home and create an energy efficiency strategy. However, improper installation could result in humidity issues.
Ventilation in an unfinished attic with floor insulation is vital to maintaining an even temperature between the house and attic, thus necessitating soffit and ridge vents to prevent condensation that results from the disparate temperatures in both environments.
Closed-cell spray foam offers the ideal air and moisture barrier, making it the ideal choice for an unvented attic. However, to ensure optimal ventilation levels don’t suffer, make sure your contractor closely adheres to ICC-ES installation requirements or risks attic mold and mildew as well as sagging or rotted rafters.
Mold & Mildew Prevention
Mold infestation in your home can have serious repercussions. For those living with preexisting respiratory conditions such as asthma, mold spores can trigger attacks
and make breathing difficult; additionally, they may lead to coughing, wheezing, and lightheadedness as well as other health complications.
To reduce humidity levels in your home, the best approach is to install spray foam insulation and regularly check areas for leaks or other sources of moisture production. In addition, ensure your gutters are working correctly to divert rainwater away from its foundation and away from your property.
Spray foam insulation completely seals a space and removes its favorable conditions for mold growth, making it more difficult for it to thrive and spread in attics and basements. Therefore, spray foam insulation is often chosen as the optimal choice in such spaces, though prior to installing spray foam insulation it should first be rid of existing mold before proceeding further with installation.
Spray Foam Insulation Energy Efficiency
Spray foam insulation represents one of the highest returns on investments when it comes to energy efficiency upgrades in any home. It helps lower heating costs by creating an effective thermal barrier in your attic that keeps warm air from escaping into living spaces; thus decreasing heating system load, leading to reduced bills and extended lifespan for HVAC equipment.
Insulation can also help manage humidity by preventing condensation from forming on surfaces in your home mitigating mold growth, and helping protect crawl spaces and attics from becoming humid environments that require regular dehumidification services.
Spray foam insulation creates an air seal to block outdoor air from coming in while keeping conditioned air inside, saving energy costs. However, its full potential only becomes evident when applied across an entire home and not just one part.
Therefore, when considering spray foam insulation solutions as part of home energy efficiency upgrades it is vital that we insulate all parts equally if at all possible.