Temporary Insulation for Wall – Will It Work Well?

Insulating the walls of your home is an important step that helps you save on energy costs and stay comfortable. There are several options available when it comes to insulating your wall. However, if you don’t have access to resources like adequate time or money, you might not be able to complete the project as quickly or as efficiently as you would like. That is where temporary insulation comes into play.

Installing temporary insulation in your walls is a simple and cost-effective way to insulate them until you can get around to finishing the insulation project permanently.

This quick guide will go over all that you need to know about temporary insulation for walls, its pros and its cons, and how it can help improve your home efficiency until you can finish the project properly later on. Read on to find out more!

Insulation is necessary for any home, especially in colder climates. When it comes to walls, the right type of insulation will not only keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, but also help prevent condensation on your walls.

What is Temporary Wall Insulation?

Temporary wall insulation is a type of insulation that you can mount on your wall to seal it off to make it more energy efficient at the same time considering its advantage of the affordability and saving time.

This type of insulation is not only designed to be installed in areas that need insulation but also where installation of permanent wall insulation is not possible. Temporary wall insulation is an effective solution for those who don’t have the resources (time and money) to install permanent wall insulation.

This type of insulation is very much cheaper than permanent wall insulation and can be installed and removed when you wish, depending on your needs. Temporary wall insulation comes in various forms like spray insulation, fiberglass insulation, and polystyrene insulation. It can also be installed in both new and old homes. You must choose insulation that is designed to be installed temporarily so that you can have the ability to remove it once its purpose is accomplished.

Spray Insulation Type

Spray insulation expands to every crevice to seal even the smallest gap that may be present. It is considered to be the best form of insulation and the biggest saver of energy. This type of insulation is great for people who live in very cold areas that experience heavy winters. It is also great for houses that have vaulted ceilings

Spray insulation however has some major downsides, one of which is that it is not eco-friendly and it is also a fire hazard. In the presence of a fire, it burns up very fast and releases dark choking smoke. To overcome this, you can have sheetrock on the exterior so which will prevent the spray insulation from exploding and spreading the fire. You should also note that spray insulation is the most expensive type of insulation available.

Fiberglass Temporary Insulation

Fiberglass insulation downplays the disadvantage of spray insulation when it comes to hazards like fire because fire does not pass through the fiberglass at all, therefore blocking the fire from spreading. It is however not recommended for vaulted ceilings. Its major downside is that it leads to the absorption of humidity in between the walls, which then leads to the formation of molds along the damp walls. This is why it is not advisable to have fiberglass installed in extremely cold areas, like near the arctic or in vaulted ceilings.

Polystyrene Insulation Type

Polystyrene insulation on the other end is expanded into a foam material it is called Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) or Extruded Polystyrene (XPS). It takes advantage of the small pockets of air within its structure to reduce thermal conductivity, thus insulating the wall. Polystyrene is easily accessible and affordable for most homes, and it can also be cut with a home knife to easily fit all areas of a wall.

Polystyrene has a major drawback when it comes to compatibility with electrical wiring, this is major because it erodes the protective plastic coat of the wires, therefore, exposing them and this may lead to an electrical fault which may cause a fire or electric shock which may lead to death.

It also has the downside of not being eco-friendly because it cannot be recycled or broken down by any chemical agent. Apart from that, when it comes to absorption of moisture, polystyrene is very poor in absorbing it and therefore, any water absorbed by the foam will remain trapped there, which may lead to the formation of mold on the lining of the wall. Despite these reasons, polystyrene insulation remains a viable option after fiberglass.

How Does Temporary Wall Insulation Work?

Temporary wall insulation works by adding an extra layer of insulation material in between the walls of your home. This extra layer helps reduce heat loss through the walls of your home and ensures that you stay comfortable all year long.

Temporary insulation is highly effective at preventing heat loss through the walls of your home. In fact, it is about three times more effective at insulating the walls of your home compared to standard insulation.

This is because temporary insulation is designed to be installed in the wall cavities and around pipes, ducts, and wiring. It can typically be applied as a spray or putty-like substance and is sealed in the wall cavities or spread on the wall, or even squeezed in between wall cavities. This prevents heat from escaping through the walls.

Some types of insulation may also help in reducing noise levels and preventing pests from entering your walls and damaging your home, this is not however guaranteed, but you may benefit from it.

How to Install Temporary Wall Insulation

Installing temporary wall insulation is a simple process that should be completed in less than a day. You may need more time if you’re working with a large area, but it should not take more than a few hours.

The first step is to identify the areas of your house that need insulation the most. This can be done by inspecting your home and looking for drafts and areas where you notice a lot of heat loss. You can also use a thermal imaging gun to help you identify areas of your house that are losing heat.

Once you have identified the areas that need insulation the most, you can install the insulation in the walls of your house. To do so, you will need to follow the instructions on the packaging of the insulation you have purchased.

Pros of Using Temporary Wall Insulation

  • Quick and easy installation: Temporary wall insulation is quick and easy to install. It can be completed in less than a day and does not require a lot of work.
  • Much cheaper than permanent wall insulation: One of the best benefits of using temporary wall insulation is that it is a lot cheaper than installing permanent wall insulation. It is also much cheaper than removing the wall and installing permanent insulation.
  • No need to remove existing insulation: With permanent wall insulation, you will need to remove existing insulation, which can be a very time-consuming and tedious process. With temporary wall insulation, you do not have to remove existing insulation.
  • Can insulate any wall: Permanent wall insulation can only be applied to certain walls. Temporary wall insulation can be applied to any wall, which makes it more flexible.

Cons of Using Temporary Wall Insulation

  • Can be messy to install: Temporary wall insulation can be messy to install. It involves spraying or mixing a substance and applying it to your walls.
  • Not as effective as permanent wall insulation: Temporary wall insulation is not as effective as permanent wall insulation. It can reduce heat loss, but it does not provide the same level of insulation as permanent wall insulation.
  • Not as effective at sound and pests protection: Temporary wall insulation is not as effective at reducing sound or preventing pests from entering your home as permanent wall insulation.

Final Words

Temporary wall insulation is a great way to insulate your walls until you can get around to installing permanent insulation. It offers the advantage of thermal insulation and energy saving as much as cost-effectiveness and saving time.

Temporary insulation offers a quick, cheap, and easy to way installation and it can also be applied to any wall. However, temporary wall insulation is not as effective at insulating your walls as permanent wall insulation. It also is not as effective at reducing sound or keeping pests away from your home.

It is a great idea to look for a professional installer, but if you opt to install the insulation yourself, it is advisable to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the later and adhere to the safety precautions carefully keeping in mind the fire codes of your building.

We hope that this article will help you to choose the correct type of temporary insulation for your wall.