Tips For Improving Insulation In Your Older Home

When you buy an older home that hasn't had many upgrades over the years, one thing you'll want to check is the insulation. Older homes weren't nearly as well-insulated as newer homes are now. Plus, old fiberglass batt insulation can become matted, wet, or lose a lot of its ability to insulate. Adequate insulation can really make a difference in your utility bills and your comfort. Here are some tips for improving the insulation in your older house.

Check The Condition Of Current Insulation

If the attic floor is unfinished, you'll see the fiberglass batt insulation, which makes it easy to examine. You may also find the exposed insulation in the ceiling of your basement or crawlspace. The material should be fluffy. If it's old, it may be compacted, especially if mice and rats have been in it. If water has leaked on it, the insulation may be damp and matted together. If the insulation is damaged in any way, it should be pulled out and replaced with new insulation. If the fiberglass is still clean and fluffy, you can add new insulation on top of it, to increase the energy efficiency of your home.

Seal Air Leaks In Walls

Before you add new insulation, you want to seal air leaks in your attic, crawlspace, and walls of your home. This is tedious work, but it can be done with caulk, weatherstripping, or spray foam. Unless the air leaks are sealed, new insulation won't do much to keep your home warmer.

Add New Insulation

You have a few choices, when it comes to adding insulation to your home. Blown-in insulation has some advantages over fiberglass batt and spray foam. Blown insulation is ideal for adding more protection to outside walls. You don't even need to disturb the drywall. The insulation contractor can drill a small hole in the outside of an exterior wall, and blow the insulation into the wall cavity. This enhanced insulation will greatly reduce heat transfer, so your home stays warmer in the winter.

Blown-in insulation is ideal for the attic, too. It can be blown into corners and areas of the attic that have an odd shape fiberglass batt insulation can't conform to. This type of insulation is a convenient way to add more protection to an older home. An insulation contractor can add the blown insulation in a quick and easy process, to get your home ready for winter.

New insulation will go a long way towards making your home more comfortable and your power bills lower, but when you have an older home, you face energy challenges. For instance, your doors and windows may be old and drafty. You may want to have an energy audit or buy a thermal camera to check your home for air leaks, so you know what areas of your home need additional work to improve your home's energy efficiency.

For more information, talk to companies like All Weather Shield Inc.


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