Home Insulation

​As a homeowner, you should know that insulation’s value goes beyond keeping the home warm in winter, cool during summer, and year-round to muffle sound from the outdoors.

Home Insulation
By Pierre Mouchette | Real Property Experts LLC

Most likely, if your home was built before 1980, it is not insulated to modern energy efficiency standards.  Only about 20-percent of such dwellings are due to homeowner renovations.  As a homeowner, you should know that insulation’s value goes beyond the following:

• keeping the home warm in the winter
• keeping the cool in, during the summer
• year-round it helps to muffle sound from the outdoors

Installing insulation pays for itself!
 
How Do I Know if I Have Enough Insulation?
A professional energy auditor can use special tools to determine where air leaks and heat loss occur.  You can hire a company to perform one for you, or you might even find a local utility or governmental agency that offers an audit free of charge or at low cost. 
Homeowners can also measure the existing insulation if access to it is available.  To do so, find the depth or thickness of the insulation and then multiply it by the R-value it offers.  You then have the total R-value.  Compare your insulation total to ENERGY STAR’s recommended insulation levels or use the Department of Energy’s R-value recommendations calculator.
 
What Insulation to Choose?
To select an insulation product, you need to factor in where you are installing it, how much of the product it takes to provide the R-value you desire, and whether you can install it yourself or need a professional.
Insulation - the most common insulation for the DIYer is rigid foam insulation (a sheet of 4-feet wide and 8-feet long); and fiberglass batts or rolls that are cut to length and either stapled in place through the paper facing or friction-fit between framing. 
Other options include:

• Spray foam in a can (for smaller areas).
• Professionally sprayed foam insulation (for larger areas).
• Professionally blown-in insulation in different forms for other areas.

 
Home Insulation - Windows and Doors
Today’s windows and doors are insulated.  When replacing, take your time and shop around.  Also, if you choose to hire a contractor for any work, make sure to get an estimate and investigate the contractor’s reputation. 
Retaining heat indoors in the winter and cool during the summer can be aided by selecting replacement windows and doors.  Careful planning, getting plenty of information, and taking your time generally helps any job turn out better.
Suggestions for Existing Windows and Doors:

• Install weather-stripping around the door frame.  This prevents air from leaking around the door when it is completely closed.
  
  
• Attach door sweeps to every entry door and storm door.  Made from rubber or a variety of metals, sweeps prevent air leakage when the door is closed.
  
  
• Hang storm doors, if possible, to help insulate your entry door.
  
  
• Replace old, poorly fitting doors with newer, more energy-efficient doors.  Wood doors are inefficient, transferring temperature differences readily.  Insulated steel or fiberglass doors tend to be more efficient.  A storm door helps protect your wood door if you prefer to keep the wood.
  
  
• Build an overhang or install awnings above your doors and windows.  Not only will it block much of the hot summer sun, but it also helps break the wind and shelters the openings from rain, which can lead to mildew and rot.
  
  
• Check each window in your home to ensure it closes wholly and correctly.  Do the window locks pull the sashes together tightly?
  
  
• Look for mildew and rot surrounding the window.  Inspect for broken or missing locks, cranks, or other window elements.  Clean, repair, or replace as necessary.
  
  
• Weather-strip windows to reduce airflow around the moving parts.
  
  
• Stand back from each window and door and look closely.  Can you see daylight around the window or door?  For smaller gaps, run a bead of caulk down the length to fill and seal the void.  Expanding foam insulation works well for larger areas as it fills, seals, and insulates.  Use a unique window-and-door formula that expands less than regular types.  Follow the product instructions and trim any overflow to eliminate protruding foam.
  
  
• Repair or replace broken or cracked glass panes on older windows.  Apply putty to the seams between the framing and glass panes as appropriate.
  
  
• Replace old, single-pane windows with newer, energy-efficient double-paned windows as your budget allows.
  
  
• When purchasing windows, doors, or skylights, look for ENERGY STAR® rated products.  The windows' features are a Low-E (emissivity) coating, inert gas filling between the panes, insulated sashes, and spectrally selective layers.  A U-value (a measure of resistance to heat transfer) rating of 0.30 or less and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) rating of the same or less also translate to high energy efficiency.
  
  
• Install storm windows to boost the energy efficiency of any window, especially older ones.
  
  
• Consider investing in window film.  Specially designed window films will block ultraviolet (UV) light transmission and insulate the glass.  You can also find films that increase your home security, making windows shatter-resistant.

 
Home Insulation - Other Energy-Efficient Ideas
As you continue to read about energy-efficient ideas, you will appreciate how some minor fixes will make a change in your energy consumption.  Lower bills, better air quality, and more comfortable temperatures – the advantages of making your home energy efficient far outweigh the drawbacks in time and hassle.

• Install foam or rubber gaskets around light switches and wall outlets located on an exterior wall.  Inexpensive and easy to DIY, they will block a significant source of heat and air loss.
  
  
• Find any opening in your wall or floor, such as around cable and phone lines, and seal around it.  Expanding foam or even fiberglass shoved inside the hole will block air while allowing you to remove the string or cord when desired.
  
  
• Weather-strip and insulate your attic hatch or door.  To insulate it, all you need to do is attach a sheet of foam insulation on the attic side of the door and allow it to overlap the opening so it seals against the frame when closed.
  
  
• Fill foundation cracks and openings with caulk.
  
  
• Check kitchen and bathroom vent dampers, along with laundry vents and other openings, to ensure they close tightly.  Repair as necessary.
  
  
• Install a chimney block to eliminate heat loss through your fireplace if you do not use it often. Make sure the damper closes tightly.
  
  
• Weather-strip your garage door and insulate the door as well.  Reflective insulation or rigid foam board work best.
  
  
• Landscape your property.  The careful placement of deciduous trees and shrubbery can help block sunlight and insulate your home’s walls.
  
  
• Winterize and weatherproof your home annually.