Insulation and air leaks makes up a huge area where you could potentially improve how your home fares with energy waste. If you aren’t up-to-date with insulation in your home, you might be wasting plenty of money on energy. Take some of the following tips in stride – there is a lot of information that simply can’t be covered presently.
Photo: Walmart stores
Photo: Walmart stores
Is Your Home Insulated?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, only 20% of homes build before 1980 are well insulated; older homes can be quite susceptible to lost energy due to insulation.
If you haven’t put much thought towards insulating your home – and saving money by doing so – consider some of the following reasons:
- You pay too much on energy bills. It’s one thing to save a bit on home insurance, but sometimes other areas are more pressing – you might see a much more drastic effect with insulating your home.
- Comfort: If you’re hot in the summer and cold in the winter, your home could have something to do with it. You will get to enjoy the benefits of having a more stable temperature indoors.
- Noise: Insulation will muffle the sound outside of your home.
Insulating Your Home
A book could perhaps be written on the types of insulation, what you can do to insulate your home, and advice with insulation on a new home. That being said, here are some tips that can only get you started:
- Look for insulation materials with a higher R-value, which measures how well your home will resist the transfer of heat. For instance, foam insulation can range from R-4 to R-6.5 based on thickness, which is quite good.
- Always consider climate, building design, and budget when choosing insulation R-values for your home.
- Ventilation can help reduce cooling bills and with moisture control. You can ventilate your attic with vents along the ceiling cavity, though you shouldn’t ventilate your attic if you have insulation on the underside of the roof. If you are able to do it, insulating your attic can translate as one of the best cost-effective ways to make your home more comfortable.
- Check with a qualified contractor for more information about insulating your home, as well as executing such plans.
Sealing Air Leaks
Related to insulation is the importance of sealing air leaks. You can of course imagine the impact that air leaks can have on your home. Saving money by making sure your home is well-insulated can save hundreds of dollars annually.
Look to caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows, as well as caulk and seal air leaks where electrical wiring, ducting, and plumbing goes through walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits over cabinets. There are a number of other items to look for, such as dirty spots in your insulation, ceiling paint, and carpet, as well as installing storm windows over single-pane windows (or replace with double-pane or more efficient windows).
For insulation and air leaks, you should consult with your contractor. This is one area that is incredibly deep and could use the eyes and experience of such a professional. Don’t hesitate to contact one today to reap the many rewards of this area of saving energy.
