As temperatures begin to drop, the season of winter begins to become a reality, and this year homeowners have more incentive than before to keep frigid draughts out of their house. According to various sources, the expenses for electricity and natural gas in 2022 are becoming more and more costly compared to past years. As a result, now may be the ideal time to fix any of the troublesome locations in your home that may be letting in all of that cold air. There’s certainly at least one spot in your home that’s draughtier than the rest of the house, whether it’s via your windows, doors, attic, basement, or even the electrical outlets in your living room. Unfortunately, a home that lets in too much cold air puts more pressure on its HVAC system and is thus more expensive to heat. There are several ways for homeowners to winterize their home, some of which are relatively basic. DIY-savvy homeowners should have no trouble keeping the cold air outside where it belongs; but, in order to do so, you must first determine which portions of your home allow cold air to enter and need to be insulated.
Attic
Loose-fill or batt insulation is commonly put in an attic and it is definitely something that you should consider installing in your home. Loose-fill insulation is typically less expensive to install than batt insulation and, when done properly, provides superior coverage. To make sure that you are choosing the right type of insulation for your home, it is recommended that you do your own research and learn more about the many forms of insulation. Professionals say that you should measure the thickness of your attic insulation to see if you have enough. If it is less than an equivalent of R-30 (approximately 10 to 13 inches), you might possibly want to improve your current insulation by adding more. You should also seal any air leaks and perform any required roof and other repairs before insulating. You must remember to insulate and air seal your attic access if it is in a conditioned area of the house. Moreover, it is recommended that you insulate and air seal any knee walls in your home (vertical walls with attic space directly behind them). Furthermore, whether you’re building a new house or remodelling an existing one, you should make sure that any attic decking that provides extra storage space or a platform for a heating and/or cooling unit or hot water tank is raised above the ceiling joists to allow for proper insulation. If the air distribution system is located in the attic rather than the conditioned area, insulating the rafters will encapsulate the distribution system. Finally, if you live in a hot or warm region, you might want to consider placing a radiant barrier in your attic rafters to prevent heat gain throughout the summer.
Cathedral Ceiling
By properly insulating your cathedral ceilings, you will be able to keep ceiling temperatures closer to room temperatures, resulting in an equal temperature distribution throughout your living area. Cathedral ceilings must provide for proper insulation and ventilation between the roof deck and the home’s ceiling. This can be accomplished by utilising truss joists, scissor truss framework, or suitably big rafters. For example, cathedral ceilings built with 2×12 rafters offer space for conventional 10-inch batts (R-30) and ventilation. Cathedral ceilings with unvented (hot roof design) are also an option. Because there is no requirement for a vent area, the hot roof design enables for greater insulation to be added in the roof cavity. To avoid moisture penetration and roof damage, the roof cavity must be completely air sealed from the conditioned space below.
Because it provides the permeability rating generally necessary for usage in ceilings without attics, foil-faced batt insulation is commonly utilised in cathedral ceilings, as well. To keep the ventilation channel open, a vent baffle should be put between the insulation and the roof decking.
You may also install rigid foam insulation beneath the rafters to increase R-value and reduce thermal bridging through wood rafters. When utilised on the interior of a structure, rigid foam insulation must be coated with a fire-rated material. Half-inch drywall is generally adequate, but consult with local building inspectors before installing.
Unheated Garage
As recommended by various trained professionals, it is best that you seal all feasible sources of air leakage before insulating floors above unconditioned garages. This method has the extra benefit of lowering the threat of pollutants that come from whatever is in your garage, like your automobile exhaust, paint, solvents, gardening supplies and other items. Because of this, the air of your living area will not only be at the temperature you want it to be, but it may feel cleaner. You should also install an air barrier as well to prevent cold air from entering the garage from “short-circuiting” the insulation beneath the flooring.
Basement
A well insulated basement may save you money on heating and create a dry, pleasant living environment. In most circumstances, a basement with insulation put on its external walls should be considered a conditioned area. Even in an unconditioned basement, the basement is more linked to the rest of the home than to the outside, making basement wall insulation preferable to ceiling insulation. Adding insulation to the exterior of basement walls in new construction will benefit your home in a variety of ways. Some of these advantages include minimising thermal bridging and reducing heat loss through the foundation, protecting the damp-proof coating from damage during backfilling, providing some protection against moisture intrusion, combining the foundation into the thermal mass of the conditioned space, thereby reducing interior temperature swings, reducing the potential for condensation on basement surfaces, and conserving room area, when compared to installing insulation on the walls.
Crawl Space
Insulating your crawl space, whether ventilated or unventilated, may assist keep heat in your house, saving you money on energy costs. It also safeguards your pipes from very cold or hot temperatures. To ensure that your crawlspace does not let the air in your home escape, insulating this area must be done properly.
Sealing the area and insulating the foundation walls instead of the floor between the house and the crawlspace is a frequent approach to insulate unventilated crawl spaces. It enables the plumbing and ductwork to keep a constant temperature, regardless of whether it is summer or winter. Maintaining your crawlspace at an equal temperature ensures your air conditioner can heat or cool the home faster. This method, however, necessitates the use of an air barrier.
Insulating various parts of your home is crucial if you want to save both the energy you spent, as well as your money. Through insulation, you will be trapping the wanted air inside of your home, which maintains the temperature of your home and the comfortability it should provide. This will allow your HVAC system to not work as hard, thus saving you money are your monthly expenses. Some of the recommended places in your home that you should insulate include your attic, your ceiling, your garage, your basement and the crawl spaces in your home. If you plan on insulating your home, contact your local, trusted insulation services today!