Department of Energy: Spray Foam Insulation Superior

Although there are several different types of insulation on the market from which to choose, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has made the decision easy for homeowners.

DOE laboratories did case studies with the major types of insulation. The clear winner was closed-cell spray foam insulation.

Let’s look at the results:

Fiberglass insulation – provides an R-value of 3.2 per inch. Its efficiency rating (ER) is 32%. Thus, 3.5 inches in a 2×4 wall with a 32% ER is equivalent to R-value of 11.2.

By the way, R-value refers to the insulation’s capacity to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power.

Cellulose insulation – provides an R-value of 3.5 per inch. Its efficiency rating is 36%. Thus, 3.5 inches in a 2×4 wall with a 36% ER is equivalent to R-value of 12.74.

Open-cell foam insulation – provides an R-value of 3.5 per inch. Its efficiency rating is 44%. Thus, 3.5 inches in a 2×4 wall with a 44% ER is equivalent to an R-value of 13.72.

Closed-cell foam insulation – provides an R-value of 7 per inch. Its efficiency rating is 92% (more than double the ER of open-cell foam insulation and nearly three times the ER of fiberglass insulation). Thus, 3.5 inches in a 2×4 wall with a 92% ER is equivalent to an R-value of 63.7 (more than 4 ½ times the R-value of open-cell foam insulation and more than 5 ½ times the R-value of fiberglass insulation).

The DOE studies also noted that fiberglass insulation, cellulose insulation, and open-cell foam insulation all collect moisture. This can lead to mold and mildew outbreaks, which in turn can damage one’s home and lead to serious health problems.

The closed-cell foam insulation, on the other hand, does not collect moisture. In fact, mold does not promote mold growth. It offers no food value to mold and will not support bacteria or fungal growth. Nor is it a source of food for rodents or insects.

Spray Foam Stops Costly Air Leaks

According to the DOE, “Air infiltration can account for 30% or more of a home’s heating and cooling costs and contribute to problems with moisture, noise, dust, and the entry of pollutants, insects, and rodents. Reducing infiltration can significantly cut annual heating and cooling costs, improve building durability.”

The DOE goes on to say that the most common insulation, fiberglass, does not stop air infiltration. Closed-cell foam insulation does.

Another fact . . . commonly installed fiberglass insulation batts lose 28% of their labeled R-value over time – again, according to the DOE. Thus, you’re getting less bang for your buck.

Closed-cell foam insulation does not lose R-value over time.

Let’s Review

It’s obvious from DOE laboratory cases studies that the best home insulation on the market today is closed-cell spray foam insulation. Briefly, here are its major benefits pertaining to energy consumption:

• Provides greater insulation than traditional insulation . . . meaning less energy used and cheaper utility bills
• Provides high R-value per inch
• Provides greater energy efficiency
• Eliminates air infiltration
• Controls moisture and condensation . . . protecting the home from costly mold and mildew outbreaks

There you have it. Closed-cell spray foam is the very best insulation anyone can buy today. And it completely pays for itself in energy savings in a short period of time.

Learn All the Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation

In addition to significant energy savings, there are many other benefits of installing closed-cell spray foam insulation in one’s home. And we at Foam Kit Solutions are eager to explain them.

We can also tell you about the two options you have for installing spray foam insulation:

1) You can do it yourself and save money. . . with detailed instruction from Foam Kit Solutions, or

2) You can let us do it for you.

Call today at 1-330-837-7700.