What Is Fiberglass Insulation? How It Works and What It’s Made Of
It’s in millions of homes across the United States, in between the walls and filling the free space in our attics. It’s insulation, and in a lot of cases, it’s made from fiberglass. But what exactly is fiberglass insulation in Northern California, and why is it so common?
What is fiberglass?
Just as the name would suggest, fiberglass insulation in Northern California is made from glass. Of course, that glass has been minced, crunched, cracked and shredded until it’s in microscopic shards. At least, that was the traditional makeup of fiberglass. These days, fiberglass also includes minute particles of plastic, as well, to reinforce the insulating power of the material.
What makes fiberglass so great?
In very basic terms, fiberglass keeps your home at the temperature you want it to be by blocking the flow of cold air in the winter and warm air in the summer. Without sufficient insulation in your walls, hot and cold air can travel freely.
Of course, as most homeowners know, there are several different types of insulation on the market besides fiberglass. Options like cellulose and wool have become increasingly popular. So, how did we determine that fiberglass is the preferable alternative? We used what’s called the R-value, the metric that judges thermal resistance. Another way to put it is that R-value is a measurement of how well a substance keeps warm air where it’s supposed to be.
Cotton has an R-value of up to 3.4 for every inch. Cellulose insulation maxes out at an R-value of up to 3.8 per inch. When it’s properly installed, fiberglass insulation has an R-value of a whopping 5.25 per inch.
Fiberglass has real value
You may not realize it, but airflow can account for as much as 40 percent of your home’s energy loss. That means if your home is improperly insulated, you could be losing a lot of money every month. Because of its R-value, fiberglass insulation not only curbs that monthly loss, but it also pays for itself in the long term.
In fact, fiberglass has an average return on investment of about 107 percent.
Fiberglass lasts
Perhaps the most compelling reason to choose fiberglass insulation is its sheer staying power. When cellulose is installed in a home, it quickly settles, sometimes as much as 20 percent. That means the R-value you get when cellulose is blown in isn’t the same one it provides a year later.
Compare this to fiberglass, which settles, on average, by as little as one percent. It stays that way, too. Once it’s installed, fiberglass can last for as long as 15 years.
Find out the fiberglass difference
Looking for fiberglass insulation in Northern California? Look no further than Ace Insulation Inc. Not in the market for fiberglass? No problem! We have years of experience offering the area’s most comprehensive and reliable insulation services for commercial and residential customers alike.
We’re proud to offer first-rate service at an extremely affordable price because your comfort is important to us. It’s that simple. Visit us online or give us a call today. We’re here for you!
Categorised in: Fiberglass insulation