If you suspect vermiculite insulation is in your home, the safest thing is to leave the material alone. If you decide to remove or must otherwise disturb the material due to a renovation project, the Ohio Department of Health recommends that you first contact an Asbestos Hazard Evaluation Specialist to determine if the insulation is asbestos containing. If the insulation is determined to be asbestos containing then contact a licensed Asbestos Hazard Abatement Contractor in your area.

It is our opinion that this material is overrated, underperforming, and too expensive. There is no technical basis to claim an r-value more than 3 ½ per inch. Radiantec products are compatible with these products, but Radiantec does not sell this special type of subflooring material. It is quite expensive. This subfloor heating method will put out more heat, but if the area does not need the extra heat, then the money is not well spent. It will not be more energy efficient. See similar questions...

In past months there have been several news articles regarding the issue of vermiculite and possible contamination with asbestos. Initially, the articles focused primarily on minerals that were mined out of a single vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana. This mine reportedly was the source for vermiculite contaminated with a certain rare kind of asbestos. See similar questions...

Ground source heat pump systems will reduce your heating and cooling costs regardless of how well your home is insulated. However, insulating and weatherizing are key factors in gaining the maximum amount of savings from any type of heating and cooling system. See similar questions...

Existing homes can easily have insulation installed in most ceilings and under timber floors, space permitting. However, walls and vaulted ceilings can only be insulated during the recladding or replastering process. See similar questions...

It is a requirement to report on the depth and type of the attic insulation, however we cannot tell you with certainty the amount of insulation in the exterior walls. See similar questions...

The amount of insulation in a home varies depending upon where you live. NAIMA has developed recommended levels of insulation for various climate zones. These recommendations are based on recommendations from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the International Energy Conservation Code which is the model building code for the United States. Click here to visit SimplyInsulate.com to learn about what zone your home is in and how much you insulation you need. See similar questions...

BioBased Insulation, the manufacturer of BioBased 501, is rapidly expanding nationwide, adding certified dealers in all regions of the country. If you are interested in having our insulation installed in a home or business, call BioBased Insulation at (800) 803-5189 to find the certified dealer nearest you. See similar questions...

Click on the Department of Energy Link to The Left. Enter the information requested. This will provide you with the recommend "R" value for your area. See similar questions...

You can check with your local utilities. Most local utility companies have websites that include energy rebates information. See similar questions...

Do Not Disturb It! Any disturbance has the potential to release asbestos fibers into the air. Limiting the number of trips to the attic and shortening the length of those trips can help limit your potential exposure. Do not try to remove the insulation by yourself. Hire professionals trained and certified to safely remove the material. See similar questions...

A reflective insulation reduces radiant heat transfer across air spaces by use of one or more high reflective/low emittance surfaces (Reflectivity of 90% or higher - Emissivity of 10% or less). This rate of heat transfer can be quantified in an R-value (for a specific application). See similar questions...

Look at the insulation without disturbing it. Commercial vermiculate can range in size from very fine particles to large (course) pieces nearly one inch long. Vermiculate attic insulation is a light weight, pebble-like, pour-in or add-on (loose) product and is usually light brown or gold in color. It's texture is often compared to "popcorn"and can often be re-shaped when pressed together with the fingers. See similar questions...

Since R-values are cumulative, there is no need to remove what you already have. By layering two different batts together, you get the combined R-value of both batts. For example, two layers of R-19 batts will give you a total of R-38. Be sure to use unfaced R-19, R-25 or R-30 fiber glass batts and lay them cross-wise to the existing insulation covering the joists. Do not put a product with a vapor retarder or facing on top of existing insulation. See similar questions...

Heritage has a standard R-20 wall insulation value. Heritage standard attic value is R-40. You may choose to Super Insulate your new home by increasing the walls to R-25 and the attic to R-50. See similar questions...

It is not necessary to wait unless you currently have roof damage that is causing moisture or other problems in your attic. See similar questions...

Just push the little buttons in BOINC Mananger for "Message Forum" or "HELP" - presto - right into here or Help Desk and no notices about anything. And its an art to tell people without insulting them. Which we surely don't want to do in a volunteer project... How about changing the page format to include a scrolling header or footer, say with a RED background on EVERY page in the domain (including the message boards, home page, etc. See similar questions...