Air Sealing & Insulation
Heat moves from warm areas to colder areas and insulation will slow the movement of the heat. Ecohome Solutions thoroughly inspects your insulation with a thermal scanner and blower door to pinpoint areas of inadequate insulation.
The ability of insulation to slow the movement of heat is measured by R-value. Higher R-values mean more insulating power. Different R-values are recommended for walls, attics, basements and crawlspaces. In Boise, insulation in the attic should have an R-value of 50. Installing the right insulation in the right place is important, but equally as important is installing the insulation properly. For example, small gaps around the insulation in a wall or crawl space can lower the insulation value by 30%.
We also encourage all homeowners to seal the leaks in the envelope of the home before insulating. Insulation is not an air barrier and if even the smallest amount of air flows through and around the insulation; the effective R value of the insulation is reduced exponentially. In fact, adding more insulation to an attic can actually make a home more inefficient if it has a high level of air leaks.