Posted: February 20, 2018
During the record cold wave in January, quite a few customers told us they couldn’t get the temperature of their house as high as the thermostat setting. This is because when it gets extremely cold, your current system may simply not be able to keep your house as warm as you want it, perhaps because of its size or efficiency level. Another common reason for a chilly home can be traced to poor insulation levels.
With that in mind, here are tips from our home comfort experts to help make sure your home is adequately insulated. If you’re planning on installing a new system this year, our home comfort experts can also help you determine whether your home could benefit from additional or remediated insulation so you can get the most out of your investment.
When you’re insulating floors above unheated or uncooled garages, all possible sources of air leakage should be sealed first, This strategy has the added benefit of minimizing the danger of contaminants (from car exhaust, paint, solvents, gardening supplies, etc.) in the garage migrating into the conditioned space.
In addition to reducing heating costs, a properly insulated foundation will keep below-grade rooms more comfortable and prevent moisture problems, insect infestation, and radon infiltration.
Loose-fill or batt insulation is typically installed in an attic. Loose-fill insulation is usually less expensive to install than batt insulation, and provides better coverage when installed properly. We can help you to determine the proper level of insulation for your attic space.
If the ducts in your home are in unheated or non-air conditioned space, be sure that they are well sealed and insulated. Check them at least once a year. Ask us about our Aeroseal service.
Properly insulating your cathedral ceilings will allow ceiling temperatures to remain closer to room temperatures, providing an even distribution throughout your house.
Cathedral ceilings must provide space between the roof deck and home’s ceiling for adequate insulation and ventilation. This can be achieved through the use of truss joists, scissor truss framing or sufficiently large rafters.
It’s always a good idea to insulate part, if not all, of your basement. A properly insulated basement can save you money on heating and provide dry, comfortable extra living space. We recommend installing insulation in the basement ceiling, sealing off any foundation leaks, insulating rim joists and sill plates, which are major sources of heat loss in many homes.
In addition, seal around electrical outlets and any exterior venting to eliminate drafts and cold spots. If you are considering finishing your basement to create extra livable space, be sure to insulate the walls and the floor for extra comfort.
We hope the above suggestions are useful in maintaining a higher level of comfort in your home. Contact us if you have any questions about increasing your home’s comfort and saving money on your heating (and cooling) costs.