How To Properly Insulate Your Home

Most modern homes are insulated well, but some older homes
could stand to have some additional insulation put in. The
only way to figure out if you need more insulation is to
find out what the recommended R-values for insulation are
in your area. They vary from region to region. Then you
will want to check the amount of insulation you have in
your attic and basement or crawl space to see if it matches
the recommended levels of insulation.

There are various types of insulation you can buy:
blankets, batts, and loose cellulose insulation. They all
are good for different situations. In the attic you can use
any one of these types of insulations. Blankets can be used
in the attic as well. For walls, loose cellulose is often
used by blowing it into the wall spaces. In the basement,
you might want to try putting batts in between the floor
joists and along the walls.

Try to keep a good amount of ventilation in the attic and
crawl space. You don't want to over-insulate the space. If
you don't leave enough air space for insulation, warm air
can rise in the winter and condense in your attic into
moisture where it will end up trapped by too much
insulation. This can cause rotting. The same is true about
the basement, if you have too much insulation water can be
trapped and cause rotting. You should try to keep the
insulation away from any metal flues or recessed light
fixtures. Try to also keep it away from masonry chimneys.

For safety reasons, you should handle the fiberglass
insulation with gloves, goggles, and a respirator on. This
may seem like overkill but you don't want the fiberglass
particles getting into your lungs. Over the years, health
concerns from breathing in fiberglass fibers has increased
and should be taken into consideration when installing your
own insulation.

When insulation your home, don't forget your windows. They
should be weather-stripped to keep drafts from reducing the
energy efficiency of the house. In addition, if you see any
area that has cracks, try to caulk them up. If you have
enough money and want to invest in double-glazed windows,
these help to insulate the home against heat loss from the
windows.

Insulating your home is not a difficult task. There are
many different people who can help you get the information
you need from R-values for your area to the types of
insulation best suited for you job. As always, take your
own personal safety into account when choosing to install
the material. Try to follow the manufacturer's directions
and keep the ventilation clear so that moisture does not
accumulate and cause rot. After you have finished
insulating the basement and attic, take a look at your
windows and doors and see where some additional
weather-stripping might help. If you're still not happy
with the warmth of your home, then think about installing
double-glazed windows for added insulation value and home
efficiency.


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