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Ecotelligent Homes is an award-winning insulation contractor serving homeowners in the Metro Detroit area since 2009 with professionally installed cellulose blown in insulation and closed cell spray foam insulation. Our skilled and trained on-staff insulation crews install the following insulation services to meet ENERGY STAR standards and help your family enjoy a comfortable home all year long:

Spray Foam Insulation

Cellulose Insulation

Attic Insulation

Crawlspace Insulation

Air Sealing

Rim Joist Insulation

DOES YOUR METRO DETROIT HOME HAVE COLD AND DRAFTY ROOMS DURING THE WINTER?

Stop looking for the best space heater to improve the comfort of your cold and drafty rooms. A space heater is an inefficient Band-Aid that ultimately does not answer the question of ‘how to heat a cold room?’. Air sealing and insulation improvements professionally installed by Ecotelligent Homes will answer your question of ‘how to warm up a cold room?’ and will help your family enjoy year-round comfort and energy savings.

IS IT TOO WARM TO SLEEP IN YOUR ROOM IN THE SUMMER?

Summers can be hot and humid in Michigan--that's why families in Royal Oak bungalows, Bloomfield Township colonials, and Plymouth cape cods have all asked us ‘how to cool down at night?’ and ‘how to keep the house cool?’. They are impressed with how comfortable their homes are after Ecotelligent Homes installs air sealing and insulating, and you can be too.

Call 248-291-7815 for Ecotelligent Homes to professionally install your insulation for year round comfort!

Blog Posts

Why Is My Upstairs So Hot?

This may hit home: In the summer, your rooms upstairs get way hotter than the rest of the house, even with the air conditioner running. Then winter comes, and the upstairs temperature drops by five to ten degrees compared to the main floor. More than almost anything else, our clients tell us about temperature swings […]

What is a Michigan Basement?

What is a Michigan Basement? Crawlspace Insulation, Insulation Estimated reading time: 4 minutes Growing up or living in Michigan, you have likely heard the term “Michigan basement.” While it is likely you have heard the term, do you know what it means? In this article, we will explore what a Michigan basement is and how […]

Home Insulation Health Hazards

Home Insulation Health Hazards Cellulose Insulation, Insulation, Spray Foam Insulation Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Insulation is a necessity to keep our home at a safe temperature during cold Michigan winters and comfortable during its searing summers. While home insulation is overall beneficial for our home, it does have downsides when it comes to our […]

Case Studies

Historic Home Wyandotte

Overview Homeowners of a historic home in Wyandotte were suffering from a cold 2nd floor in the winter and a hot 2nd floor in the summer. Problem The homeowners knew they needed insulation but weren’t sure how to insulate the attic because of the furnace and duct work on the attic floor. Approach Ecotelligent Homes […]

Chris & Larisa

Overview Chris and Larisa were concerned about mold in the attic of their West Bloomfield home. Problem The Ecotelligent Homes team started with an energy audit. During the audit, we did find mold. Approach Ecotelligent worked with a partner company to remove the mold from the attic of Chris and Larisa’s home. Our team utilized […]

Robert & Tina

Overview Robert & Tina’s home has been in the family for generations. As the house aged, they noticed the temperature in the home becoming uncomfortable. Problem During a comprehensive energy audit, the Ecotelligent staff discovered a unique type of asbestos that only trained professionals would be able to notice. We also discovered a lack of […]

More Case Studies >

THE ECOTELLIGENT DIFFERENCE

Ecotelligent Homes is a home performance contractor, which means we are a one-stop-shop and we manage the project from start to finish. We follow a three-step process when assessing and improving the comfort and energy efficiency of your home.

Step1_web_99273ae87f15a7f2acd0e664b4bcdd79

We can identify the source of your comfort, health and efficiency issues and present you with a solution to resolve the problem at its root.

Step2_web_60f96cb7ca610fe3c4f01a06b9c3216e

Our licensed and insured team will install your improvements to industry-leading standards.

Our quality assurance check confirms the quality of our work and its impact on your home’s energy efficiency, comfort and health.

Why Is My Upstairs So Hot?

This may hit home:

In the summer, your rooms upstairs get way hotter than the rest of the house, even with the air conditioner running. Then winter comes, and the upstairs temperature drops by five to ten degrees compared to the main floor.

More than almost anything else, our clients tell us about temperature swings between floors. It happens all the time. In this article, we’ll answer the question, “Why is my upstairs so hot?” And more importantly, explain what you can do to finally feel comfortable at home.

If you have any questions about your home, start by giving us a call at (248) 291-7815, or send us a message anytime. We’re here to help.

Hot upstairs, cold downstairs: Why does it happen?

Here’s the first thing to say: Your house isn’t fundamentally flawed. Different parts of your home just have different needs for heating and cooling.

In the summer, we have long days and lots of sun in Michigan. Most of the sun’s energy falls directly on the roof. That’s why the roof and attic are always the hottest parts of an average home through the summer months.

Think about it like this – If your upper floor has a sloped or vaulted ceiling, then the rooms up there are only about four inches away from the hottest part of your home. Even if your central air conditioner is in perfect condition, the rooms will need high performing insulation and more cooling than the main floor to feel the same.

Upper rooms are more affected by outdoor conditions than rooms on the main floor. A downstairs room probably has one or two outside walls, but an upstairs room also has the roof and any attic space over it.

Here are the steps we suggest for most homeowners.

Start by scheduling a home energy audit. It’s the simplest and most effective way to figure out exactly how much air sealing and insulation you need to even out the temperatures between floors.
Seal up the gaps, holes and penetrations in your attic that let in both hot air in the summer and cold air through the winter months. You’ll also need to top off your insulation levels.
Improve air flow to your upper floor. The most cost effective approach is to seal your ducts and balance the overall duct system. In most cases, this delivers the extra air that you need to get a consistent temperature upstairs.
If you still have a hot upstairs, cold downstairs in the summer, you may need to install what’s called a “zonal” heating and cooling system such as a ductless heat pump, also known as a ductless mini-split. If all else fails, a ductless heat pump will do the trick.

Every home has its own needs. To see what works best for your home, book an estimate or energy audit, which will give you a full accounting of priorities, costs, and cash incentives. You can reach us at (248) 291-7815 or send us a message anytime.

AC not cooling upstairs: What to do?

1. Find the root causes with a home energy audit

It’s not always easy to know why one floor is so much hotter than another. That’s why we recommend starting with a home energy audit. We spend three to four hours finding the root causes of your comfort issues, so you can feel confident when you’re ready to start improving your home.

What does a home energy audit include?

Visual Inspection: Of course we do a visual inspection of all the nooks and crannies in your home, including the accessible parts of your attic and side attic.
IR Camera Scan: Taking it to the next level, we use an infrared camera to find the flaws in your insulation and sources of air leakage.
Blower Door Test: A blower door test allows us to measure exactly how much air is moving through your home. This is a key piece of information because it tells us how much air sealing we need to do. The goal is not to make your home as tight as possible, but rather, we want to hit an optimal range of air tightness – tight enough that you don’t feel uncomfortable, but not so tight that you see issues with mold, mildew, etc.

2. Seal up air leaks and add insulation

Here are three of the most common opportunities for air sealing an average attic in Michigan.

Recessed Lights: Recessed lights are rarely airtight and can allow a significant amount of hot air from your attic to enter your living space.
Attic Hatches: Attic hatches are often poorly insulated and sealed, creating a major opening for air leakage for most Michigan homeowners.
Plumbing Penetrations: Plumbing penetrations are pipes that run from your plumbing fixtures to the roof. We often find sizeable gaps around the penetrations that allow air to flow in and out of the attic.

To reduce air leakage in attics, we seal the leaks with caulk, foam, or weatherstripping. By sealing air leaks, we can prevent hot air in your attic from entering your living space.

This article isn’t a deep dive into insulation. Check out our insulation page from more. At a glance, you have a couple of options to insulate your attic, depending on whether or not you need storage.

If you need storage: We apply closed cell spray foam to your roof deck or attic slope, essentially brining the floor of your side attic inside the conditioned area of your home.
If you don’t need storage: We insulate attic kneewalls with closed cell spray foam and blow loose fill cellulose insulation onto the floor of your attic. This option is less expensive, but you lose usage of the attic floor for storage.

3. Balance your central air system

Because your upper floor is so much closer to your attic and roof – the hottest parts of your home – you need more airflow up there for the space to feel about the same as your first floor.

When we do a home energy audit, we run a pressure pan test to assess exactly how much air is moving through your vents upstairs. You’d be surprised at how large of a range in airflow we find. Some vents work well, but others barely at all.

Most homeowners in Michigan will see a massive improvement after we clean, seal, and balance the airflow in their duct systems. If cleaning, sealing, and balancing does not do the trick, you will most likely need to add a zonal heating and cooling system, such as a ductless heat pump.

AC not working upstairs: The bottom line

Temperature differences between floors are incredibly common but more fixable than most homeowners realize. If you’re tired of tossing and turning at night in an upstairs bedroom, give us a call: (248) 291-7815. We’re happy to help.

What is a Michigan Basement?

Ecotelligent Homes

Crawlspace Insulation, Insulation

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Growing up or living in Michigan, you have likely heard the term "Michigan basement." While it is likely you have heard the term, do you know what it means? In this article, we will explore what a Michigan basement is and how you can enhance the space to make it usable.

What is a Michigan basement?

In simple terms, a Michigan basement is a crawlspace that is converted into a basement. According to the State of Michigan's building glossary, a Michigan basement is a former crawlspace which has been dug out, generally to a depth of 5 to 7 feet to allow for a basement. The excavation begins approximately 2 feet in from the inside of the existing foundation walls in order to preserve the soundness of the existing foundation wall and footings.

Why is it called a Michigan basement?

The term Michigan basement is believed to have originated due to the prevalence of this particular style of basement construction in Michigan. Michigan basements are typically shallow and have a partial or low ceiling height compared to standard basements. They are often used for storage or utility purposes rather than as livable space.

The term Michigan basement is not a technical or official construction term. Similar types of basements with low ceilings or shallow depths can be found in other regions, but they are referred to by different names.

How do you insulate a Michigan basement?

There are multiple ways to insulate a Michigan basement. The most common options are closed cell spray foam, rigid foam board and open cell spray foam.

Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation

At Ecotelligent Homes, we recommend using closed cell spray foam insulation for a Michigan basement. With the way Michigan basements are built, there are often awkward angles and small spaces that need to be filled with insulation. Closed cell spray foam has the ability to get into these areas making it one of the best options for a Michigan basement.

Closed cell spray foam insulation filling the smallest gaps in a Michigan basement has multiple benefits:

- The floor of a Michigan basement is often unfinished and left as dirt or has poured concrete over it. If the floor is left as dirt, pests can take a liking to it. Closed cell spray foam can help prevent this from happening by covering the small areas where these bugs are likely to enter your home.
- Closed cell spray foam insulation in your Michigan basement can help enhance your home's air quality due to its air sealing properties and creating a vapor barrier. It will prevent unwanted pollutants from entering your home through the purous basement walls.
- The small areas in your basement rim joists can be filled with closed cell spray foam insulation to help prevent cold floors during Michigan's cooler months.

Moisture is a common issue in Michigan basements which is another reason why closed cell spray foam is a good choice for it. Using closed cell spray foam insulation can help create a moisture barrier and prevent mold and mildew from becoming an issue in your basement.

Rigid Foam Board Insulation

Rigid foam board insulation is a lightweight rigid panel made from various types of foam like expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS) or polyisocyanurate. Rigid foam board is easy to install but has downsides.

As mentioned, rigid foam board is easy to install as it is lightweight and can be cut into various sizes. Michigan basements typically do not have smooth walls meaning there will likely be gaps that allow unwanted air to enter or exit your home where the ridge material does not sit flush on the bumpy rock walls.

Open Cell Spray Foam Insulation

Open cell spray foam insulation has many of the same benefits as closed cell spray foam insulation with one major exception. Open cell spray foam insulation is vapor-permeable, meaning it allows moisture to pass through the material. If your Michigan basement is susceptible to water, open cell spray foam insulation will likely cause more problems for your home.

Open cell spray foam insulation can be installed directly on walls, but since it is less dense than closed cell spray foam, it will show wear and tear if left exposed and not covered by drywall.

Can you finish a Michigan basement?

Yes, you can finish a Michigan basement to make it a livable space as opposed to a storage area. A few things to consider when deciding to finish a Michigan basement:

- Ceiling height: Michigan basements have a lower ceiling height meaning excavation or lowering the floor, a costly endeavor, may be necessary.
- Egress requirements: A finished Michigan basement must have an emergency egress exit such as a window or door to make it habitable.
- Moisture: As mentioned, Michigan basements are known for moisture issues. These problems need to be addressed with closed cell spray foam prior to adding insulation.
- Heating and ventilation: Basements tend to be cooler than the upper levels of a home, so it is essential to consider heating and ventilation systems to maintain a comfortable temperature and adequate airflow in the finished space.

Is it time to insulate your Michigan basement?

Contact the Ecotelligent Homes team if you are interested in improving your home's comfort and storage space by insulating your Michigan basement.

Ecotelligent Homes

Since 2009, more than 3,000 Michigan homeowners have trusted Ecotelligent Homes to make their homes comfortable and efficient. If you want an energy audit, insulation, HVAC, or abatement services, give us a call anytime: (248) 291-7815. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Home Insulation Health Hazards

Ecotelligent Homes

Cellulose Insulation, Insulation, Spray Foam Insulation

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Insulation is a necessity to keep our home at a safe temperature during cold Michigan winters and comfortable during its searing summers. While home insulation is overall beneficial for our home, it does have downsides when it comes to our health. There are pros and cons to different types of insulation, but the health hazards are very similar for each. The drawbacks are primarily related to the installation process for most forms of insulation, which is why trained professionals need to complete this task. Learn about the potential health concerns of each insulation type.

What are the health concerns of spray foam insulation?

Spray foam insulation has gained popularity due to its energy efficiency, air sealing capabilities and fire resistance compared to other forms of insulation. Spray foam insulation that use a blowing agent, hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), during installation release heat-trapping chemicals that are hazardous to the environment and installers. Ecotelligent does not use HFCs during the installation process as it is being banned in many states. Other health concerns of spray foam insulation include:

Respiratory Irritation

During and immediately after the installation of spray foam insulation, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals may be released into the air. These chemicals can cause respiratory irritation, including symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.

Skin and Eye Problems

Direct contact with uncured spray foam insulation can cause skin and eye irritation. The chemicals present in the insulation may lead to redness, itching, rashes, or burning sensations on the skin. If the insulation comes into contact with the eyes, it can cause irritation, redness, and potential damage.

Off-Gassing of Chemicals

Spray foam insulation is typically composed of two liquid components that mix together during installation to create the foam. These components may contain isocyanates, which are chemicals known to be respiratory irritants and potential sensitizers. Off-gassing of these chemicals can occur for a period after installation, potentially contributing to indoor air quality concerns.

How to address the health concerns of closed-cell spray foam insulation

All spray foam insulation has an off-gassing period, but most spray foam manufacturers have tested and recommended installers utilize ventilation fans during the installation process to help reduce the length of this period. At Ecotelligent Homes, we use ventilation and recommend clients are not home during the installation and stay somewhere else the night of the installation to ensure they follow the manufacturers' recommendations.

Closed cell spray foam is a premium installation and should be installed by highly trained professionals to ensure the health and safety of the final product. Ecotelligent Homes staff members are Spray Foam Alliance Certified Installers. We follow the latest industry standards and keep the foam on ratio while controlling temperatures to help reduce the risk of bad foam and continuous off-gassing. This ensures the quality of the foam that is sprayed in your home.

What are the health concerns of cellulose insulation?

Cellulose insulation is a type of insulation made from recycled paper and treated with fire retardants. It typically has fewer health concerns compared to some other insulation materials. However, there are a few potential health issues associated with cellulose insulation installation and handling.

Respiratory Tenderness

During the installation process, cellulose insulation can generate dust particles that may be inhaled. Breathing in these airborne particles can cause respiratory irritation, leading to symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, throat irritation, and nasal congestion. Individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions may be more sensitive to these irritants.

Eye and Skin Annoyance

Direct contact with cellulose insulation fibers can cause skin irritation and redness. If the fibers come into contact with the eyes, they may lead to eye irritation, redness and potential damage. It is advisable to wear protective clothing and goggles when working with cellulose insulation.

How to address the health concerns of cellulose insulation

Blown in cellulose insulation and densely packed cellulose have minimal health risks. The main risks are related to the dust particles that can become airborne during the installation process. To limit the dust, Ecotelligent Homes uses cellulose insulation with binding material added to help reduce the dust generated during the installation. We also utilize drop cloths and plastic coverings inside your home and will typically run an air scrubber with a HEPA filter in the living space to capture the dust.

What are the health concerns of fiberglass insulation?

Fiberglass insulation is widely used in Michigan homes in the attic, walls, floors and ceilings. While it is not as safe as cellulose insulation it is generally considered safe, there are some health concerns associated with fiberglass insulation installation and handling which include:

Skin and Eye Irritation

It is important to wear appropriate protective clothing, including long sleeves, pants, gloves and goggles, when working with fiberglass insulation. Failure to do so can lead to skin and eye irritation. Direct contact with fiberglass insulation can lead to skin irritation, redness, itching and rashes. It can also irritate the eyes if fibers come into contact with them.

Respiratory Issues

Breathing in airborne fiberglass particles can bother the respiratory system, especially individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions like asthma. Exposure may lead to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, throat irritation and chest discomfort.

Inhalation of Fine Particles

Fiberglass insulation consists of tiny glass fibers, and if the material is disturbed during installation or removal, it can release fine particles into the air. Inhaling these particles may cause lung irritation or damage, although significant health risks from typical levels of fiberglass exposure are considered minimal.

What are the health concerns of vermiculite insulation?

Vermiculite insulation is no longer used in homes due to asbestos contamination, but it was widely popular between 1940 and 1990. Due to the asbestos, vermiculite insulation can be extremely harmful to your health. If you have vermiculite insulation in your home, these are the health risks associated with it.

Asbestos-Related Diseases

Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and long-term exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to serious health conditions, including asbestos-related diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. These diseases may develop many years after exposure and can be life-threatening.

Respiratory Concerns

Inhaling asbestos fibers released from vermiculite insulation can cause respiratory problems. The fibers are microscopic and can become lodged in the lungs, leading to inflammation, scarring, and the development of respiratory conditions such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

Environmental Contamination

Vermiculite insulation containing asbestos can release asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers can spread to other areas of the building, leading to potential exposure for occupants even in areas without direct insulation contact.

To minimize the potential health concerns associated with installing insulation or removing vermiculite insulation, it is advisable to hire trained professionals such as Ecotelligent who follow safety guidelines and best practices. Our team uses proper personal protective equipment, ensures good ventilation during installation when necessary and seals off the work area to prevent the spread of airborne particles. Contact the Ecotelligent Homes team today to learn more about our insulation options for your home.

Ecotelligent Homes

The Best Insulation Types for Soundproofing

Insulation’s primary function is to keep your home comfortable by preventing unwanted heat or air from entering and escaping. While this is most important, insulation does have additional benefits. Each form of insulation has its own unique benefits. One benefit of all forms of insulation share is that they have some ability to reduce noise, some doing better than others.

Insulation has two values that are important for soundproofing. The first is the Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) value, which means the insulation’s ability to absorb sound. The NRC value is on a scale from 0.0 to 1.0, with the higher the value being, the more sound it can absorb. The second is the Sound Transmission Class (STC), which measures how much sound the insulation blocks. The higher the value, the more noise the insulation can block. Read on to learn about the forms of insulation that can help decrease sound from traveling through a house.

Cotton Insulation

Cotton insulation, also known as denim insulation, is one of the best forms of soundproof insulation with its high NRC value. Cotton insulation is ideal for reducing noise, but it does have a lower R-value, meaning it isn’t ideal for colder climates. While it is considered eco-friendly insulation since it is made out of recycled denim, it is more expensive than other forms of insulation with a higher R-value.

What is the NRC of cotton insulation?

The NRC of cotton insulation is 1.15, the highest on our list.

What is the STC of cotton insulation?

Cotton insulation STC rating is 51.

Spray Foam Insulation

Closed cell spray foam insulation can help decrease sound that travels from room to room in your home. Spray foam insulation can get into small cracks and places. Getting into a home’s nooks and crannies helps prevent unwanted air from entering and exiting these areas, but it also prevents noise from traveling throughout a home. Spray foam insulation is frequently used in walls before drywall is placed as well as opened areas such as basement rim joists.

What is the NRC of spray foam insulation?

Spray foam insulation has an NRC rating of .70.

What is the STC of spray foam insulation?

The STC rating of spray foam insulation is 39.

Fiberglass Insulation

Fiberglass insulation is a popular choice for soundproofing. The glass fibers are densely packed together forming a porous material that can help absorb sound waves, thus blocking out noise. Fiberglass insulation is commonly used in ceilings to help decrease the sound of someone walking above you. It is also frequently used to insulate the walls of homes.

What is the NRC of fiberglass insulation?

Fiberglass insulation has an NRC rating of .9-.95.

What is the STC of fiberglass insulation?

Fiberglass insulation has a 39 STC rating.

Mineral Wool Insulation

Mineral wool insulation is made of rock fibers, similar to fiberglass insulation. It is denser than fiberglass making it more effective at reducing noise. When used for soundproofing, mineral wool insulation can help to reduce noise transmission through walls, floors, and ceilings by absorbing sound waves and reducing resonance. Mineral wool is an eco-friendly form of insulation, but it can be harder to find and not as easy to install.

What is the NRC of mineral wool insulation?

Mineral wool insulation is one of the best NRC values at .95 and up.

What is the STC of mineral wool insulation?

The STC rating of mineral wool insulation is 45.

Cellulose Insulation

Cellulose insulation is not as dense as other forms of insulation but does still provide some noise-reduction properties. It is one of the most cost-effective forms of insulation to help with soundproofing, especially when you consider its thermal insulation properties too. Cellulose insulation is excellent at blocking out road noise, making it a great choice to insulate exterior walls with. It can also help decrease sound from traveling from room to room when used on interior walls.

What is the NRC of cellulose insulation?

The NRC of cellulose insulation is .80 and up.

What is the STC of cellulose insulation?

Cellulose insulation has a 39 STC rating.

Interested in improving your home’s insulation?

Certain forms of insulation can help provide noise reduction, but no form of insulation can eliminate noise entirely. If you are looking for a way to decrease sound from traveling throughout your home while also improving your home’s comfort, contact Ecotelligent Homes.

What You Should Know About Injection Foam Insulation

Ecotelligent Homes

Cellulose Insulation, Insulation, Spray Foam Insulation

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

If you are looking for insulation options for existing walls, you might have learned that you have a few insulation options to choose from. One option that you’re probably frequently running into is injection foam insulation. In this blog post, we will go over what injection foam insulation is, its advantages and why you might want to think twice about having it installed.

What is injection foam insulation?

Injection foam insulation is used to fill closed cavities of a home. Injection foam is infused onto an area and does not expand. It is commonly used to fill closed cavities such as existing walls in older homes. If installing injection foam insulation to an existing wall, other forms of insulation must be removed as much as possible before it is installed.

What is the R-value of injection foam insulation?

The R-value of injection foam insulation is R-4.6 per inch. The R-value is the resistance the insulation material has to prevent heat transfer.

Are spray foam insulation and injection foam insulation the same thing?

No, spray foam insulation and injection foam insulation are not the same thing. Injection foam insulation has a lower R-value and does not expand. Spray foam insulation has a higher R-value to help decrease heat flow. It also expands after being applied to the material it is insulating. Spray foam insulation cannot be used in a closed cavity like injection foam insulation. Since spray foam insulation expands, it can potentially cause pressure on your home’s walls. Due to this, spray foam insulation is recommended for open areas such as studs or before drywall is put in place.

What are the advantages of injection foam insulation?

The main advantage of injection foam insulation is that drywall does not need to be removed to properly install it. The installation process for injection foam is quick, but it is important to have a professional install the insulation.

Injection foam insulation creates a barrier that many report decreases the spread of sound. This is especially true when installed on exterior walls.

By creating an air barrier, injection foam insulation can help improve your home’s indoor air quality. It prevents outdoor pollutants from entering the home. This can be true of other forms of insulation as well.

What are the disadvantages of injection foam insulation?

Injection foam insulation has a lower R-value than other forms of insulation. Closed cell spray foam insulation has an R-value of R-6.9 per inch. Closed cell spray foam insulation is ideal for remodeling and new construction-type walls with open studs as opposed to retrofitting existing homes.

If injection foam insulation is not mixed correctly, it can lead to excessive shrinkage. The shrinkage will cause cold pockets in your home’s walls and can lead to noticeable condensation on your walls. If the injection foam is not installed properly, it can leave gaps in the insulation causing cold pockets and potentially making your home uncomfortable due to air leaks.

Injection foam insulation can cause your drywall to crack or bow. This is more common if the drywall has already been repaired or reinforced.

Where is injection foam insulation used in a home?

Injection foam insulation is primarily injected into wall cavities. It fills areas around electrical wires and outlets, pipes and more. The injection is often done through exterior walls including vinyl siding, brick, stucco and more.

It is not commonly used in open areas such as your attic space and crawlspace.

What are my insulation options for an existing home?

If you are insulating an existing home where you will not be tearing down walls, the main options for insulation are cellulose insulation and injection foam insulation. Injection foam has advantages and disadvantages as mentioned above. Dense-pack cellulose insulation is an excellent option for existing homes though.

Dense pack cellulose insulation can be blown into existing walls through small holes under your walls' interior trim or holes in your drywall that will later be patched. With dense-pack cellulose insulation, there is not a concern of shrinkage like injection foam. Blown-in cellulose insulation is good for the environment as it is made from recycled paper as well as your home’s energy usage.

Interested in improving your home’s insulation?

Ecotelligent Homes can help you increase your home’s comfort by first completing an energy audit. During the audit, we will determine if your home’s insulation needs to be improved and can recommend spray foam insulation or cellulose insulation for areas that may need it. Contact us today to learn more.

Stay Cool! Upgrade Your Old Insulation

DOES YOUR METRO DETROIT HOME HAVE COLD AND DRAFTY ROOMS DURING THE WINTER?

IS IT TOO WARM TO SLEEP IN YOUR ROOM IN THE SUMMER?

Blog Posts

Why Is My Upstairs So Hot?

What is a Michigan Basement?

Home Insulation Health Hazards

Case Studies

Historic Home Wyandotte

Chris & Larisa

Robert & Tina

THE ECOTELLIGENT DIFFERENCE

Ecotelligent Homes

Get in touch today

Categories

Ecotelligent Homes

Get in touch today

Categories

Ecotelligent Homes

Get in touch today

Categories