How "Air Infiltration" Affects Fiberglass & Traditional Insulation Tests ("R-Value Myth")

It's a fact: air infiltration costs you money and makes your home uncomfortable, costly to cool and heat, and dangerous when it comes to encouraging the growth of mold and encouraging poor indoor air quality.

Leaks and drafts are known as "air infiltration", and the R value of traditional insulation like fiberglass is greatly diminished when gaps and cracks cause air leaks, rendering the insulation ineffective. Spray foam is the cure!

Debunking the Insulation Myth with the Truth about R Values

Fiberglass batts are the most common type of insulation in existing homes across the Northeast US. Homeowners who are taking the time to investigate alternatives to fiberglass, like spray foam insulation, quickly learn the true meaning of "R value" - the rating given to different types of home insulation.

You have likely heard of the term "R Value", but may not know exactly what it means or how it works. R value refers to an insulation material's ability to resist the transfer of heat or cold. 

Insulation's R value applies to each inch of insulation installed. Spray foam insulation sits at the top of the R value chart, with a rating of 6.5 to 8 per inch. In addition to having a higher R value than fiberglass (batts and rolls have a value of 3), it can be applied almost anywhere and seals the smallest cracks and gaps in any home.

It's important tor remember that R value is not the "be all and end all" of insulation, and the rating depends upon so many different factors that many professionals do not solely rely on it when making decisions about building insulation - and neither should you.

Leaks and drafts are known as "air infiltration", and the R value of traditional insulation like fiberglass is greatly diminished when gaps and cracks cause air leaks, rendering the insulation ineffective. Spray foam is the cure!

Making Spray Foam Affordable

Spray foam is clearly the superior choice in terms of R value, but many homeowners find the high cost of full-home insulating daunting and view it as an investment. At Doctor Energy Smart, we believe in making insulation affordable for everyone and offer options to suit any budget. With our thermal energy audit service, we provide imaging of your entire home that shows specific areas where air leaks and escapes, escalating your energy bills. We can target these "problem areas" with solutions like spray foam insulation and radiant foil insulation.

Further R Value Information

This informative article from All Tech Insulation and chart below provide further technical information about the resistance factor of insulation materials.