NAIMA Offers Insulation Tips To Home Owners Repairing Or Rebuilding Hurricane-Damaged Homes

Alexandria, VA (November 15, 2005) - With the recent devastation from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma in the Southeastern United States, homeowners may have questions about what to do with wet or damaged fiber glass or rock and slag wool insulation. The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) has a number of free resources and guides on its website, www.SimplyInsulate.com, to aide homeowners with building decisions and provide tips on choosing and installing insulation. 

Wet Insulation

NAIMA, along with The American Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), advises homeowners to remove and replace fiber glass insulation that has been wetted from rising flood waters, since the water may be contaminated. Fiber glass or rock and slag batt insulations are unique in that, if they are wetted from a clean water source such as a potable water pipe, they can be removed, dried out and reused. All loose-fill insulations of any kind that are wetted should be removed and replaced, since they can lose their insulating properties, or R-value, when wet. And, some loose-fill insulations such as cellulose, which are treated with chemical fire retardants, can also lose their ability to resist fire after being wetted.

Insulation Pays

When homeowners are rebuilding, they should install insulation to the proper R-value. In most areas of the country the Department of Energy and NAIMA advise installing an R-49 in the attic. In the extreme southern portions of the country, an R-38 is appropriate. For more on the proper levels of insulation in a certain area, and for information on wall, basement and crawlspace insulation recommendations, visit www.SimplyInsulate.com. Homeowners installing insulation may also qualify for a tax credit or rebate.  NAIMA’s website, www.SimplyInsulate.com, provides homeowners with information on Federal, state and local tax incentives and rebates for energy efficiency upgrades.

Insulation is an investment that pays for itself many times over. The initial costs to install insulation are typically recouped in three to seven years depending on how much you already have and how much more you add, and fiber glass and mineral wool insulation continues to save energy and help lower bills for the life of the home.  Savings may vary. Find out why in the seller's fact sheet.

SimplyInsulate.com provides answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), including:

• Recommended R-values for insulation in each state
• Where to put insulation
• Information on how to find and choose a contractor
• Local and state tax incentives and rebates for adding insulation to your home

Homeowners can find free publications on SimplyInsulate.com which deal with:

• Installing fiber glass batt and loose-fill insulation (English and Spanish)
• Comparisons of various insulation products
• Labeling and advertising of home insulation
• Insulation and fire safety
• Insulation for noise control