Did you know you might be able to save $200 to $400 a year on your annual heating costs? Heating a home can use 45% of a homeowner’s average energy consumption, so losing heat to leaking ducts and uninsulated spaces get expensive. According to the EPA, homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs by adding insulation to existing homes.
Read on to learn five easy ways to improve your home insulation.
1. Install Loose Fill in Attic
Loose-fill insulation contains particles of blown fiberglass, cellulose, or mineral wool. It can fill any area, even irregularly shaped spaces, and flow around obstructions. Rent a machine from your local hardware store to install it yourself, or hire a contractor to do a professional job.
2. Blow Loose Fill into Walls
Although you might think that heat escapes mostly through the ceiling, it can actually leak out in all directions, including walls and floors. Hire a professional to blow insulation into existing wall spaces to create a blanket of warmth around your home. You can also have it installed in the gaps between heated and unheated areas, such as between a garage and an upstairs room.
3. Lay Out Batt Blankets or Rolls
Batt insulation, which looks like blankets or rolls of blown fiberglass, lies between attic joists to trap heat in the rooms below. Batts are both easy to install and relatively inexpensive, so you can do this project yourself.
You may be thinking about using loft boards in the attic to add storage and another layer of protection against cold. If you install loft boards, make sure the boards are high enough that they don’t compress existing insulation, because compressing the insulation reduces its effectiveness. You also need to allow enough space between the insulation and the boards to allow for good airflow so that moisture is not trapped inside the insulation.
4. Spray Foam
Spray foam can be applied to almost any crevice or cavity and expands to fill existing space. Use it to add insulation inside existing finished areas. Spray foam insulation can also be used to seal gaps that allow hot air to escape, such as around light fixtures or window sills.
5. Insulate Ducts
If your heating ducts leak, or if they pass through unheated areas, you may be losing as much as 60% of your heated air before it even reaches the register. This makes duct repair one of the best ways to insulate your house.
Tackle leaking ducts by sealing small gaps with mastic, which works better and lasts longer than duct tape. Insulate ducts against extreme temperature differences by wrapping them in batt insulation, or covering them with preformed duct insulation that slides over the ducts.
Choose the Right Home Insulation
If you want to feel warmer inside your home, or you want to save money on heating costs, you have several options for home insulation. Whether you install batts as a DIY project, or hire someone to blow insulation into hard-to-reach areas, or simply seal leaks with spray foam, you can find ways to stop your home from losing heat. You’ll increase your comfort while reducing your bills.
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