When you think about insulation, you likely think about insulation in your attic or insulation in your home's exterior walls to prevent thermal transfer in summer. And when you read about insulation, these are the most likely topics that will be covered. There's some logic behind this because those exterior walls and the attic are major heat transfer points that greatly affect your home's energy efficiency. But this ignores another area in your home that needs insulation: the interior walls. While those might not have as great an effect on your home's energy needs, they do influence your comfort and your home's value.
Noise and Heat Transfer
Insulation in interior walls does two things. One is that it reduces thermal transfer between rooms, which is important if one of those rooms is, for example, on the west side of the house. Any heat that transfers into that room during summer, for example, can transfer again into other rooms. And you can control that to an extent with air conditioning and blackout curtains, but having insulation in the walls between the rooms still helps.
The second is noise insulation. If you have even plain wall insulation in the walls between rooms, you'll cut down on the amount of noise that travels between rooms. Unfortunately, as many new homeowners find out, a lot of homes in large, new developments don't have a whole lot of interior insulation, and walls seem paper thin.
This might not be a big concern of yours if you're the only person in the house, or if it's just you and your spouse or partner. In that case, you might decide that you don't need to add insulation to the interior walls. However, what if you decide to sell later, or what if you have a family and suddenly have kids to deal with? Then those thin walls could become a problem. It may be easier to insulate them now so you don't have to worry about them later.
Home Sharing and Guests
Quiet homes are a plus for people seeking home-sharing spaces through various companies, and many people seeking rooms to rent also want a quiet space. If you insulate the interior walls, you can offer a room that's truly on the more quiet side of things. Insulation won't eliminate all noise, but you're less likely to hear someone on the phone in the next room if you have good insulation. And if you're going to start renting rooms out, the last thing you need is a new person yakking on the phone all night and making you listen in the next room.
House Value
Finally, insulating the interior walls of your house may increase the home's value. Insulation in general is seen as a good feature. If you can show that your home has this extra noise and heat insulation between rooms, too, you may find buyers more willing to meet your price if you choose to sell.
While it's possible to insulate too much in a particular spot, having a professional install the insulation should let you avoid that problem. You'll also find the work is done more neatly and quickly when it's done professionally. Contact a residential insulation company to learn more.
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