If you are concerned about energy efficiency, then follow these tips to finish insulating your home!
This is the time of the year when the weather finally starts to turn colder. The leaves are falling more and more quickly, and the trees are bare again. Soon enough, snowflakes will be falling instead. On cold nights, it’s much more enjoyable to cozy up by a fire pit in your backyard or the fireplace in your living room. Even so, keeping the warmth inside can be a challenge. If you are concerned about energy efficiency, then follow these tips to finish insulating your home!
Insulating Your Attic
Let’s start at the top and work our way down. So first up on our list is the attic. We get it: most of the time, this part of your house falls into the age-old trap of “out of sight, out of mind” which is just unfortunate. All of that aside, you should make insulating your attic one of your priorities. Although you might not think so, it has a bigger impact on your home’s energy efficiency than you might think. Insufficient insulation allows more heat to escape; it also means that your residential HVAC system needs to work even harder.
Insulating the Walls
The walls help hold up your home’s roof. Sadly, they also represent another avenue for the heat to flee. Windows and small gaps in the walls can create these untenable conditions. Double-glazing, caulking, and cavity wall insulation can all help reduce associated heat loss.
Insulating the Floor
Believe it or not, the floor can allow warm air to escape. That’s why you need to account for the flooring’s effect on how energy-efficient your home is. Under-floor radiant heating makes a huge difference when you don’t want to wear socks or slippers but you still want your feet to be nice and toasty. Insulating the floor stops heat loss and decreases the amount of heat conduction that happens.
Insulating the Crawlspace
Another way to ensure your home has a stronger energy envelope is to consider even the smallest places, like any crawlspaces under your roof. The crawlspace tends to be extremely damp, which invites the presence of animal pests along with rampant mold and mildew. Fill up the joists with fiberglass insulation or closed-cell spray foam to help deal with the problems of thermal and moisture protection.
Insulating the Basement
Whether you use your basement for storage, a game room, or even as an in-law suite, you will want to make sure that it is fully insulated. Down here, the joists will need more insulation; that’s why you’ve got to pay attention to relevant R-values of the insulator materials that you choose. Again, spray foam provides the best value for the money.
What Else Should You Know?
Finally, let’s discuss some other factors that are worth mentioning. Think about your home’s overall design – that can affect the types of insulation you select as you strive to improve energy efficiency. Fibers, beads, and foam could be potential fire hazards. During this process, focus on cleanliness, dryness, and structural integrity.
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William E. Kingswell has remained a distinguished provider of commercial and residential heating and cooling services since 1937. We have provided an unmatched level of customer service to all of our clients, and we enjoy being the preferred HVAC equipment distributor of countless customers. We offer a comprehensive range of high-quality heat pumps, boilers, unit heaters, HVAC accessories, and more. William E. Kingswell works with businesses and homeowners throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, including Baltimore, Frederick, Annapolis, Fairfax, Manassas, Richmond, Fredericksburg, Virginia Beach, and Leesburg. To learn more about our extensive range of SpacePak, Concord, Allied Commercial, and Bard HVAC equipment, give us a call at 301-937-1900 or contact us today!
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