Insulation. You've probably used this word quite a few times in your life, even if you don't exactly remember in what context and even if you haven’t paid a great deal of attention to it. But even if you do remember, and even if you have paid attention, you probably have no idea where the word itself comes from. Sometimes, investigating the past and origins of a word can be quite interesting and help shed some light on its meaning and interpretation.
Ready? Let's dive in.
Insu-what? Insula!
We work with insulation every day, all day long. We tend to peoples' attics, making sure they're properly protected and that nothing can get in or out, without invitation, so to speak. We provide many related services, starting with proper installation after making sure the designated area is clean and ready, moving on to providing ongoing professional maintenance services, and ending with removing outdated, ineffective materials and putting in new ones. But we ourselves have never stopped to think about the origins of the word we so commonly use. So, without further ado, here's what we've all been expecting.
Latin Insulation
You're probably familiar with the word peninsula, which is used to describe a piece of land that extends from the mainland but is mostly surrounded by water. A peninsula is pretty similar to an island, differing in that that an island is completely surrounded by water and completely separated from its surroundings. Since an island in Latin is "Insula", you can figure out the rest on your own. To insulate, means "to make like an island", which means to make something completely separated or detached from its surroundings, and in our case, making your attic completely detached from anything on the outside (heat, rodents, wind, etc.).
Now that we're done with our etymology lesson of the day, you're a lot smarter about the origins of insulation and we've probably reminded you it's time to inspect its condition. So don't wait too long, call us today at Attic Cleaning Orange if you want your attic to remain isolated like an island.