Germantown, MD Insulation

Did you know that the average age of a home in Montgomery County, Maryland is 44 years old?  There was a big surge in the 60s, 70s and 80s and only 1% of the homes in Montgomery County were built after 2010.  There are roughly 260,000 single family homes in Montgomery County, Maryland.

If you live in Germantown, Maryland chances are you need insulation based on the age of your home!

Before you spend money on replacement windows or on a new HVAC unit, please get an energy audit. 

Energy audits evaluate for the following:

1. Home air leakage points

2. Air sealing opportunities

3. Insulation level & effectiveness

Take the whole house approach to remodeling.  Find the correct solutions for high energy bills and comfort issues. 

Create a priority list.

Learn about the 6 most common sources of home comfort issues.

Get a free copy of Hometrust Remodeling's home efficiency report.

Regardless of which material and application was used in houses built in Germantown, Maryland, insulation is not fully effective unless it is installed properly. Insulation works because it incorporates air pockets that slows the conduction of heat. This resistance to heat flow is measured by the R-value of the material.  However, most insulation in a Germantown, MD homes does not stop air flow.  Thus, for most insulation to be effective in a house in Germantown, a separate air barrier or skin is needed to stop the flow of air. For the air barrier itself to be effective, it must be contiguous and continuous across the entire building envelope and it must be perfectly aligned with the insulation. 

Comfort in both winter and summer is related to four factors in Germantown, Maryland:

1. Air temperature
2. Relative humidity
3. Radiant temperature
4. Air movement
  
For every cubic foot of air that enters a cubic foot leaves, taking the heating or cooling energy with it.  If air sealing is missing at the attic floor in a Germantown, MD house then it is likely to function less efficiently and uncomfortable.  For most insulation to be effective air sealing is needed to stop the flow of air. Most Germantown attics are insulated to between. R-10-30 (5-15") and there is no air sealing.  Increasing the R-value to 49 as recommended for the Germantown, MD area will improve comfort and efficiency.  Any attic access point to the attic such as a push up hatch should be treated by sealing and insulating. Recessed lights should be covered and sealed at the attic floor prior to adding insulation.  Baffles should be extended/added where necessary to maintain attic ventilation for the climate in Germantown, MD.