TAP INSULATION SERVICE PHILADELPHIA PA
Is it possible for insulation to make buildings more energy efficient while also offering protection against damaging pests? When a special type of insulation known as TAP is added to an attic, it absolutely is. Keep reading to learn more about TAP insulation, its benefits and how this revolutionary insulation can be installed in any residential or commercial building.
TAP INSULATION DETAILS
Thermal Acoustical Pest Control insulation, commonly referred to as TAP insulation, is a product that pulls double duty. It makes any building incredibly energy efficient, keeping the structure's occupants warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Concurrently, TAP insulation provides an effective barrier against pest infestations.
Most buildings do not have sufficient insulation. The addition of TAP over the top of existing insulation can make a significant difference in energy bills by providing an extra and more effective layer of protection. This is critical because most buildings that were built at least a decade ago have approximately one-third of the insulation that's now recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy.
In some buildings, insulation becomes damaged over time because of things like roof leaks and pest infestations. This means that it may be necessary to remove the existing insulation and replace it with TAP insulation.
This process is easier than most property owners realize because TAP insulation is blown into the attic rather than being unrolled like a blanket. Blowing in the insulation ensures that all of the nooks, crannies and oddly-shaped spaces are filled with insulation.
MATERIALS IN TAP INSULATION
TAP insulation is made from environmentally friendly materials. The insulation is derived from cellulose, an effective material for ensuring greater energy efficiency. Cellulose is made from recycled paper, which means that TAP insulation has earned the ENERGY STAR Seal and Insulate Mark as well as being UL classified.
The other main component in TAP insulation is a borate-based pest control product. Safe for humans, this product is absolutely lethal to bugs.
DOES TAP INSULATION KILL PESTS?
Property owners are surprised when they learn that TAP insulation is registered as a pesticide with the EPA. This signals not only the effectiveness of this product but also its specialized nature. This is insulation with a difference as it performs two critical services that no traditional insulation provides.
What makes TAP insulation so effective at killing bugs? A healthy dose of boric acid is added to the formula. For people, boric acid is about as dangerous as table salt. It won't harm any person who is in close contact with TAP insulation. The result of close contact between pests and TAP insulation is completely different.
As pests walk through TAP insulation, the boric acid becomes attached to their bodies. It does not easily fall off, so when the pests groom themselves, they are forced to ingest the boric acid. The vast majority of pests that are common in the Philadelphia area are incapable of excreting boric acid from their bodies. Accordingly, the substance accumulates in their digestive tract, filling them up so that they can no longer eat. The pest is killed through a combination of malnutrition and dehydration.
Before they die, it's possible for pests that have picked up boric acid on their bodies to carry this lethal substance back to their nests where it can affect other pests. Thus, the effect of TAP insulation on insect populations may be two fold.
These are some of the insects on which TAP insulation has been proven to be deadly:
• Ants
• Booklice
• Centipedes
• Cockroaches
• Crickets
• Earwigs
• Millipedes
• Pillbugs
• Silverfish
• Slugs
• Snails
• Stink bugs
• Termites
• And many others.
Property owners who are concerned about the structural damage and health risks that are posed by many of these pests may want to consider adding TAP insulation today.
COMPARING TAP TO TRADITIONAL INSULATION
When TAP insulation was being developed, its creators wanted to solve some of the problems that were inherent with traditional insulation. The old style of insulation usually was made from fiberglass. Manufactured in rolls, the insulation would be unrolled in sheets in an attic. Because the insulation was already in a rectangular shape, it did not always fill up all of the unusual and unique contours of the attic. This meant that the building was not as well-protected by the insulation as it should have been.
TAP insulation solves this problem because its loose particles are blown into the attic. This means that it can conform to absolutely any shape that it encounters, providing much more comprehensive protection.
Many professionals compare TAP insulation to an all-encompassing blanket. This blanket of insulation leaves no corner unprotected as it fits snugly around conduits and pipes and fills stud cavities with ease. Accordingly, using TAP insulation ensures less energy loss and fewer problems with pests.
A consistently high R-value is just another one of TAP insulation's main attractions. In fact, research has found that TAP insulation's R-value is 45-percent higher than the R-value of fiberglass insulation, even when that product is blown in. Additionally, TAP insulation does not settle with time, meaning that its R-value remains constant throughout its lifetime.
IS IT SAFE TO USE TAP INSULATION?
TAP insulation is a safe choice because it also features an effective fire retardant. In a fire, traditional insulation is liable to melt, which makes it a catalyst for a chimney-like effect that causes the fire to spread. TAP's fire retardant causes the surface of the insulation to char, which helps to minimize the fire's spread.
It also is comforting to know that TAP does not off gas like so many new components in buildings do. This means that people don't have to worry about inhaling harmful fumes.
THE BENEFITS OF CHOOSING TAP INSULATION
People may want to add TAP insulation to their building to take advantage of its ability to:
• Fight off pests
• Reduce indoor and outdoor noise
• Provide enhanced energy efficiency
• Control and retard the spread of fires
• Ensure savings on energy bills
• Provide an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional insulation
ADDING TAP INSULATION TO EXISTING INSULATION
People may worry that all of their existing insulation will need to be removed before TAP insulation can be installed, but this rarely is the case. Putting TAP over existing insulation simply ensures greater energy efficiency and savings on energy bills. With approximately a half day of work, it is possible to install TAP insulation over the top of the insulation that's already there.
HOW TO GET TAP INSULATION
TAP is only available through pest management professionals because it is registered with the EPA and state governments, so ask Newtown Termite & Pest Control about TAP services today.
Schedule a FREE estimate today.
