How to Improve Your Insulation

Insulating your home can effectively reduce your energy bills. If you’d like to see how your monthly expenses go down, you should consider an insulation upgrade. Adding further insulation to your house can retain heat inside and keep cold air from entering your home.

If you want to get the most out of your house, you should invest in insulation. Before doing so, it is important to get informed on the topic. There are different materials used for insulating your home and each one has its benefits according to your location.

We have also provided information so you can get to know how a house functions and where its most vulnerable spots are. Discover how insulation can make your home more comfortable.

The Most Important Places

Location is essential to real estate, and it plays a major role when insulating your home. No house is built with perfect insulation, so it’s smart to invest in it. The goal of this process is to minimize the amount of air that enters your home.

The Basement

To do this effectively, you should start with the basement. By insulating it, you create a shielding barrier against the layers of earth outside. This can not only make your basement cozier, but it will also reduce energy consumption and protect the foundation of your house.

If your house is old, it’s most likely that its basement isn’t insulated. Whether you’re using the space or not, insulating it is important for your overall house isolation.

Walls

Applying insulation to your exterior walls is important as it creates a tight seal against outside elements. Rooms and walls that are cold to the touch are a sign of weak insulation. Cold floors indicate poor protection in the space below or the room in which it's uncomfortable to stand.

Doors and Windows​

Air leaks are the curse of anyone who is concerned with maximizing energy efficiency and reducing the electricity bill. If your doors and windows are poorly insulated, then you might need higher-quality insulation.

Entryway doors can be insulated with weatherstripping and a door sweep. In this way, you’ll restrict the air that leaves and enters your home when you open the door. What’s more, this method will also seal cracks around the frame.

There are two options for treating windows. One is to apply weatherstripping or caulk. Installing blinds and shades can also help you preserve warm air. The second option is to replace old windows with new, energy-efficient models.

Roof

In an uninsulated house, a quarter of heat is lost through the roofing system. Insulating your loft, attic, or flat roof is a smart investment. It will help you reduce heat loss and, therefore, your energy bills.

If your roof is already insulated, you should consider if the amount of insulation is sufficient. A new house insulated to current building regulations would have 50% more insulation than a house built 5 years ago.

Types of Material

Now that you know where to add insulation, it’s important to decide what type is right for your home. Except for the location of the upgrade, the most important thing to consider is the R-value of the used material.

R-value measures the material’s resistance to heat. An important part of choosing the type of insulation for you is the local climate. The type of material you choose depends not only on its effectiveness but on your budget as well. For more information about R-value, check out our separate article on the topic.

Fiberglass Insulation

Pros: reliable and affordable; resistant to fire and moisture buildup.

Cons: has a lower R-value and should be installed properly for maximum efficiency.

Mineral Wool Insulation

Pros: resistant to fire; dampens sound.

Cons: poor moisture resistance. (Not a good choice if you live in a wetter location)

Cellulose Insulation

Pros: resistant to fire; higher R-value than fiberglass.

Cons: short life - settles over time and degrades when exposed to moisture.

Spray Foam Insulation

Pros: has the highest R-value of all materials; resistant to air and moisture buildup; long-lasting.

Cons: the most expensive out of all insulation materials.

Improve your Insulation Today

It’s a bad idea to install insulation by yourself because you can easily be disappointed with the result. It’s in your best interest to work with an experienced insulation contractor to maximize the benefits of an upgrade.

YourHomeFix is committed to improving your home’s efficiency and reducing your monthly energy bill. Our experts are knowledgeable, and we treat your home like we would our own.

Whether you need new insulation or another home-related service, we can help you achieve your goals following your budget. Contact us if you are ready to make home improvements.