Summer is almost here, and believe it or not, now is a great time to insulate. An adequate amount of insulation will keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Figuring out which type of insulation to use is so much easier when you have an idea of what the different types are, how effective they are, and where they are used. A high R-value is a good thing. It is a measure of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry. The higher the R-value the less heat and cold air will escape your home.

One of the slightly more expensive options out there is residential foam insulation. However, you will recoup your costs over time with the additional savings in energy costs that you will get through using expanding foam. Because it expands to fill any spaces where air and moisture might enter the home, it is one of the best types available.

For something more affordable, you could get one of the forms of blow in insulation. Commonly used types include fiberglass (the most effective), mineral wool, and cellulose. You will need a thicker layer than you would if you used fiberglass or mineral wool batts, but this will save you some money and make it easier to insulate hard to reach areas.

One of the places you should be sure to insulate is your attic. Attic ceiling insulation is especially important since heat rises and you don’t want all your heat in the winter to go right out through your roof. You want it to be trapped in the house, keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.