How much do you think you know about your attic insulation? While you might just consider it another step on your home improvement list – or a problem you need to fix urgently – consider it instead from another angle. During our time as insulation installers, we’ve heard a few interesting facts and piece of trivia about insulation. What we’ve picked up might just feed your appetite for random knowledge – or come in handy during your next trivia night. Read on for a few interesting things to know about insulation.
What’s in a Word?
When we talk about etymology, we’re discussing the study of word origins. This means where they came from, how their meanings developed, and how they might have changed in usage over time. So, where did the word “insulation” come from? Putting the spotlight on the verb “insulate,” we can see that it connects to the Late Latin insulatus, which means “made like an island.” That phrase come from insula or “island.”
So, what does an island have to do with comfortable indoor home temperatures? Well, consider this. Islands are isolated – detached from other pieces of land on all sides and surrounded by water. In a similar way, insulation keeps your indoor air temperature and quality from being affected by the outdoors. This specific usage might have come into common usage in the 1700s.
A Trip Through History
When did human beings begin to figure out how to insulate our homes? Well, as it turns out, even earlier than you might imagine! Early efforts towards insulation may be traced back even as far as prehistoric times – when early humans sheltered against the elements by using fur, animal skins, and plant materials. These resources were helpful, as they trapped air between molecules and reduced heat transfer – much like modern attic insulation!
Another interesting example you might consider? Igloos! Those who used these types of shelters – like the Inuit peoples, along with residents of Canada’s Central Artic and some of Greenland – managed to stay comfortable despite creating a home in the snow. This is accomplished by those same basis insulation principles! Igloos are constructed of compressed snow blocks – not solid ice. This allows for plenty of air pockets trapped between ice crystals that create snow. The shelter both creates a barrier from the wind and helps to stop the transfer of heat. While this may not feel as warm as inside your own well-insulated home, an igloo can be much better than the frigid, negative-degree temperatures outside!
The Origins of Fiberglass
You may have noticed that fiberglass is a common material for insulation – among having plenty of other practical uses. But how did fiberglass get its start? The earliest patent for the material – given in 1880 – was held by Hermann Hammesfahr, a Prussian inventor. Later, in 1932, a researcher at Owens-Illinois named Games Slayter developed a method for using compressed air and molten glass to mass-produce fiberglass strands. Later joined by the Corning company to become Owens Corning, this same producer develops the fiberglass insulation we know and love today!
Keeping your home’s indoor temperature comfortable can be tricky – but not for expert insulation installers! When your home needs fiberglass insulation extraction and replacement, call on Attic Man, the name you can trust! New fiberglass insulation can keep your home much more comfortable than the inside of any igloo or prehistoric dwelling. So, don’t delay when comfort and savings are right around the corner. Call to schedule your free quote today!