Winter is when we tend to think about home insulation because it presents the greatest need, but if you’re considering upgrade decisions, beware these four insulation myths. Break free of them and you’ll be warmer, wiser and wealthier.
Insulation myth #1: R values accurately reflect real-world energy performance
R value is the most common yardstick for measuring thermal insulation performance, but there’s a problem. What you see on insulation packaging are R values based on lab analysis, which uses testing that completely eliminates air movement from results.
This matters a lot with fluffy insulation materials because air movement greatly lowers real-world insulation performance. Drafts and air currents often happen within wall cavities and attics, meaning performance can be significantly lower than advertised values.
On the other hand, insulation products that don’t allow air movement through them (spray foams and rigid foams, for instance) have real-world insulation values almost identical to what you see on packaging and advertising. Their performance doesn’t decline.
Air-impervious insulations can be more than twice as effective as air-porous insulations of the same R value under real-world conditions.
Insulation myth #2: Vapour barriers trap moisture
The purpose of a vapour barrier is to stop warm, moist, indoor air from infiltrating fibre-type insulation during cold weather and condensing. Visible moisture or frost on the inside of a vapour barrier is either caused by a leaky vapour barrier or moisture migrating into the wall cavity from the outside. Leaky siding can cause this, and it often happens in basements that are apparently leak-free.
Vapour barriers are essential for any kind of insulation that air can pass through. Never do the foolish thing of slashing a vapour barrier that you find has moisture behind it or forgetting to install a vapour barrier in the first place. Today’s best vapour barriers prevent moisture from moving into wall cavities while also letting trapped moisture escape.
Insulation myth #3: Spray foam Is bad
Back in the 1970s, urea formaldehyde spray foam was used to insulate homes. This proved to be a problem because authorities didn’t fully understand the dangers of urea formaldehyde off-gassing at the time.
Just don’t let yourself think that all spray foam is harmful today. That’s too simplistic. Despite media reports that conjure fear, properly applied spray foam delivers safe results and outstanding air sealing. Nothing else works as well as closed-cell spray foam for sealing and insulating.
Insulation myth #4: Batt insulation is good for cathedral ceilings
Stuffing batts between rafters in a cathedral ceiling and covering them with vapour barrier is common but risky because there’s no place for condensation to escape if it builds up within the roof structure. And it probably will build up.
Unlike walls, roofs are more likely to have air leaks that lead to internal condensation and frost during winter. That’s why it’s not unusual for water to leak down through cathedral ceilings in spring, as a winter’s worth of frost melts and trickles out.
Cathedral ceilings insulated with batts need open vent space from eaves to peak to prevent cold weather condensation, or they need to be insulated with spray foam.
Insulating properly isn’t as straightforward as it looks and it’s easy to understand why. Heat loss is invisible, insulation products are usually hidden, and the physics of air movement and condensation are widely misunderstood.
But with a better understanding, you’ll be much closer to optimizing the energy performance of your home.
Government financial help for insulation
There are often programs available aimed at boosting the energy performance of houses. This could mean a rebate on your replacement windows and other energy upgrades.
Visit naimacanada.ca for a current list of all energy-related rebate programs across the country.
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