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How Insulation Works
 To maintain comfort in your home, the heat lost in winter must be replaced by your heating system and the heat gained in summer must be removed by your air conditioner. Insulating ceilings, walls, and floors decreases this heat flow by providing an effective resistance to the flow of heat.
Heat flows naturally from a warmer to a cooler space. In winter, heat flow moves directly from heated living spaces to adjacent unheated attics, garages, and basements, or to the outdoors; or indirectly through interior ceilings, walls, and floors – wherever there is a difference in temperature. During the cooling season, heat flows from outdoors to the house interior.
Controls Sound
 Adding insulation beneath drywall in a typical wall configuration can increase the sound transmission coefficient STC rating. In most homes, walls between rooms are only marginally effective at blocking noise. Made of drywall and lumber alone, these interior or partition walls have poor Sound Transmission Class STC ratings. An STC rating is a number used to characterize the acoustic performance of a wall, floor or ceiling—the higher the STC rating, the less sound will be transmitted between rooms. By far the easiest and most economical method for controlling noise is to install insulation in the wall cavity. Click here for more info about sound control and insulation.
Controls Moisture
 A vapor-resistant membrane (commonly called a vapor retarder) attached to batt or roll insulation decreases the possibility of moisture vapor condensing to water within the structure.
Even though you need some moisture in the air you breathe, too much moisture in your home can cause problems. When moist air comes in contact with a cold surface, some of the moisture may leave the air and become liquid, or condense. If moisture condenses inside a wall, or in your attic, you will not be able to see the water, but it can cause a number of problems.
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