How Investing in Spray Insulation Can Save You Money

The decision to use spray insulation in your home is a no-brainer. Anyone who lives in a climate that sees very hot or cold temperatures knows that living inside of a house with no or poor insulation can feel worse than being outdoors. The more complicated choice lies within picking one or more of the many options that are out there.

If you've ever seen a house being built, you may have noticed giant stacks of fluffy, bright pink or yellow mystery material outside. What you were looking at was fiberglass insulation material, the most commonly used type of insulation.

Another type you may be less familiar with would have looked more like a guy in Ghostbuster gear shooting an expanding marshmallow-like foam into the structure of a house. This is spray insulation.

Spray insulation is the most effective insulation available on the market today. It is typically made of either polyurethane or a newer material called Icynene. The cost of the raw materials needed to make these products is quite high, which makes this not only the most effective but also the most expensive option.

Don't let the price tag frighten you, though. Like everything else in life, you get what you pay for. Estimates of a 50 to 60 percent reduction in energy costs have been reported from households with polystyrene or Icynene foam insulation. The money saved on electric bills and the increase in quality of life will far exceed the price you paid for the original installation costs.

On top of that, you may also be eligible for a federal tax deduction. As with all tax law, the guidelines change every year. But in 2011, the government included home insulation improvements in its list of services that qualified for tax deductions. A credit of up to $500 was offered, depending on the costs of materials.

The goal is to reduce energy use and to encourage environmentally-friendly behavior. Their guidelines do not specifically mandate the use of spray insulation over other methods. However, they do require that the work be an upgrade that will meet the demands of the United States Department of Energy's new standards for home insulation.

As stated before, spray insulation is the best and would therefore be the most efficient way to meet those standards. This is because it boasts a higher "R-value" per inch than any other insulating material.

The R-value is a scientific measure of the heat (or cold) a material can resist. R-value is the most crucial factor when choosing a type of insulation for your home, especially if you're trying to get a tax credit. The Department of Energy's standards are climate-specific guidelines regarding the R-value required to receive a tax deduction in each region.

Residents of the Northern states, for example, require insulation with a higher R-value than homeowners in the Midwest because they need a stronger barrier to block the harsh cold. It may sound confusing now, but a qualified spray insulation company should already be aware of these guidelines, so do not hesitate to ask.