Disadvantages of insulation
While insulation has a lot advantages it also has some disadvantages. Some type of insulation materials although very effective can be expensive to install. Some insulation materials are also dependent on climate change and their effectiveness may change with the weather. Most lose their effectiveness due tocold weather. No type of insulation will be able to completely stop heat transfer.
Rain penetration
Wall insulation does not totally prevent rainwater from getting in. Rainwater creates moisture that causes dampness. This causes the insulation to lose its effectiveness. Fiberglass is also vulnerable to moisture. When it is wet it loses its insulating properties until it dries out.Presence of moisture in fiberglass encourages mold growth. Mold causes unhealthy air quality which may cause allergies in some people.
Health risks
Some insulation materials are dangerous to people’s health. Asbestos for example is known to cause lung and gastrointestinal tract cancer. Fiberglass can cause skin allergies from chemicals used to bind the fibers together. Inhaling fibers can cause damage to the lungs affecting the ability to breathe. Other insulation materials may cause damage to the environment. Rockwool is also unhealthy and people should wear dust masks when installing. Styrene which is a foam insulator may cause eye and respiratory irritation.
Reduced ability
Some types of insulation decrease in their insulating ability over time. Cellulose for example decreases its ability when it absorbs moisture. Fiberglass insulation can settle overtime. This means that its effectiveness drops. The R-value that measures the ability of heat to pass through the insulation. Drops as the insulation settles. Spray foam contracts with age and pulls away from framing.
High energy use
Some insulation materials like cellulose are made from recycled materials. Fiberglass on the other hand is made from new materials. Fiberglass therefore uses more energy to produce than cellulose. This means that fiberglass is expensive to install. Rockwool is also another expensive insulating material.
Poor quality of work
This occurs when the people installing the insulation do it wrongly. The inability to fit insulation materials in spots you want to reduce heat transfer will decrease the effectiveness.Incorrect installation such as leaving gaps may result in a product not achieving its function. Some insulation materials such as structural insulated panels are difficult to cut and therefore difficult to fit around pipes.
Environmental issues
Fiberglass releases dust into the environment which may cause people to be sick. Spray foam may cause environmental damage when it uses ozone depleting chemicals. Batts and blankets which have phenol formaldehyde can cause cancer.
A house that is properly insulated can save you a lot of costs. Most problems with insulation may arise from the installation. To avoid problems caused by condensation it is advisable to use a vapor barrier. This will stop vapor from penetrating the walls. Some also required to be put in layers because they may thin out therefore becoming ineffective. When using spray foam, it is important to use those that require chlorine as a binding agent to avoid using ozone depleting chemicals.














