When buying a home, making sure that it is energy efficient is very important. You wouldn’t want to purchase a home that is lacking in energy efficiency. The cost increase could affect your wallet well after you purchase the home. During the home inspection, make sure that the walls have insulation. Do you insulate interior walls? Yes, if you want to reduce noise, create higher energy efficiency, and add some fire control.
Let’s take a look below at what all of that might mean.
Why Should You Insulate The Interior Walls?
Believe it or not, when you add insulation to your interior walls can provide your home with many added benefits. Let’s take a look below at what those benefits might be.
-
-
- Sound dampening – Adding insulation to your interior walls will create added soundproofing between your walls and other interior rooms. This will keep your home theater sound from blaring into the other rooms.
-
- Energy-efficient – Insulation in your interior walls will reduce heat transfer and heat and cool air transferred from room to room. This can save on your utility bill. This helps in rooms that are not being used all year round, such as your guest rooms or storage rooms.
-
- Fire control – Adding the right insulation to your interior walls can reduce the spread of fire. Mineral wool insulation is fire-resistant and will not spread flames. Also, fiberglass and cellulose insulation are noncombustible but could spread some flames.
- Party walls – These are typically walls that divide a duplex or apartment. The building code requires that the insulation is fire-rated as well as the joint compound, tape, and drywall for the wall. If you are making any repairs or changes to existing interior walls such as a “party wall” you must consult your local building authority.
-
What Are My Options?
Luckily for the homeowner, there are a variety of insulations available to them. In some cases, what is used in the attic is often used in the interior walls. Keep in mind that some insulations are easier for homeowners to install and could be a do-it-yourself project. Let’s take a look below at what the insulation options are.
-
-
- Mineral wool insulation – Fire retardant and comes in all three forms. You can install it as a batt of insulation, blown-in insulation, or rolls of insulation. This insulation typically lasts between 30 and 80 years.
-
- Cellulose insulation – This can last 20 to 30 years if maintained properly. Cellulose is a recycled material and is very eco-friendly. It can also block air movement, which helps save on your utility bills.
-
- Fiberglass insulation – This insulation is long-lasting if it is not disturbed or damaged by water. The typical lifespan ranges between 80 and 100 years. The added moisture will reduce the lifespan to 15 to 20 years.
- Spray foam insulation – This is the most reliable and popular insulation of the group. Once it is sprayed in, it will not move unless you cut it out or it is messed up by animals. This type of insulation is not eco-friendly.
-
Other Recommended Maintenace
Now that you are aware of what to use for insulating your walls, this might be a good time to read up on how much insulation you need in your attic. Also, not having enough insulation could cost you some energy efficiency.
Next, before you begin adding more insulation to your home, double-check which kind of insulation could be added on top of electrical wiring. You wouldn’t want to put insulation on electrical wires if it could start a fire.
Lastly, dealing with insulation should be done with care and precaution. In older homes, there is a potential for asbestos to be present in the insulation. Additionally, whether the insulation was used in the walls or the attic space, you want to take every precaution. Hire a professional to make sure the insulation is properly removed.
When Do I Call A Professional
Putting insulation into your interior walls can be a do-it-yourself project. However, it is not recommended with the building codes and needs for proper fire rating. Consequently, hiring a professional contractor to come in and either replace old insulation or add new insulation to your interior walls is a great idea. Reach out to your local home inspection team to ensure that all insulation in the home is properly installed.
Conclusion
When it comes to insulation in your interior walls this is a project that you want to ensure is done correctly. Your local home inspection team can come out and make sure that other systems are causing your insulation to break down too quickly. Also, insulation provides great energy efficiency and typically can keep fires from spreading from room to room. Call Waypoint Property Inspection to inspect your home in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Orlando, Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and surrounding areas.
